title: Polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 and the risk of ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies of ovarian cancer have suggested a role for inflammation in carcinogenesis. Data from a population-based case-control study in Hawaii were examined to assess the relation between polymorphisms in cytokines involved with the inflammatory response, specifically members of the interleukin (IL) family and the incidence of ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis of 182 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 219 controls focused on the polymorphisms in the following genes: IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18. Genotype data were obtained from blood samples collected in participants' homes, and reproductive, demographic, and lifestyle histories were collected during interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant odds ratios (ORs) for ovarian cancer by allelic variants in any of the IL genes after adjusting for age, ethnicity, education, oral contraceptive pill use, pregnancy, and history of tubal ligation. Although there was a significantly reduced risk of ovarian cancer risk among women with an IL-1alpha (-4845) T allele compared to women with two G alleles (OR: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.97) after adjustment for age and ethnicity, the trend was not significant (p = 0.10). Further examination of the data suggested that women with at least one IL-18 variant allele (a G to C transition at position -137) were at significantly decreased risk of advanced ovarian cancer (OR: 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.90) compared to women with the IL-18 GG genotype. There was a significant difference in the risk of ovarian cancer associated with the IL-18 C allele by stage at diagnosis (p = 0.04 for homogeneity in the ORs): cases with IL-18 GC or CC genotypes were less likely to be diagnosed at regional/distant stages. Analysis of the data within ethnic subgroups revealed a significant positive association of the heterozygous IL-18 GC genotype with ovarian cancer risk among Native Hawaiian women (OR: 9.96; 95% CI: 1.88-52.90). The OR for ovarian cancer was not significant for Native Hawaiian women homozygous for the IL-18 C allele, but only one case and control had the IL-18 CC genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, this study does not support an association of selected IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, or IL-18 polymorphisms with the risk for ovarian cancer. However, the IL-18 G137C variant may be a marker for ovarian cancer progression or metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Etiology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bushley
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McDuffie
authors.forename: Keith Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Lynne R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wilkens
authors.forename: Ko-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Roberta B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Ness
authors.forename: Marc T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins