title: Strong association of interleukin-6 -174 G>C promoter polymorphism with increased risk of oral cancer.
abstract: In view of the recently found contribution of factors associated with thrombosis and inflammation to carcinogenesis, we investigated the possible association of interleukin-6 (IL-6) with an increased risk of oral cancer. In DNA samples of 162 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 156 healthy controls of comparable ethnicity, age and sex, we studied the -174 G>C polymorphism in the IL-6 gene, which affects its transcription. C allele frequencies were significantly increased in patients compared to controls, 42.6% versus 23.1% (p<0.001). The CC homozygotes had a 7-fold greater risk of developing oral cancer (odds ratio 7.39, 95% CI 2.61-20.92), while the GC heterozygotes had a 4-fold greater risk (odds ratio 3.74, 95% CI 2.29-6.11). A significant increase in C alleles was observed in patients regardless of their smoking or alcohol consumption habits, early or advanced stage of cancer, and presence or absence of a family history for cancer or thrombophilia (p<0.001; Fisher's exact test). These findings suggest that the -174 G>C polymorphism, by affecting IL-6 gene expression, is strongly associated with oral oncogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. lvairakt@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vairaktaris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yiannopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vylliotis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yapijakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nkenke
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Serefoglou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ragos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsigris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vorris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Critselis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avgoustidis
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Neukam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6