The (-590 C/T) polymorphism in the interleukin-4 gene is associated with increased risk for early stages of corolectal adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
In the light of the known association between several carcinomas and the -590C/T polymorphism, which affects transcription of the antitumor interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of this polymorphism to the development of colorectal cancer.


METHODS
The -590C/T polymorphism was examined in DNA samples of 93 patients with colorectal cancer (adenocarcinomas) and 108 healthy controls of comparable ethnicity, age and gender.


RESULTS
The detected allele and carrier frequencies for the high expression T allele in the patient group were significantly decreased in comparison with that of the control group (13.44% versus 22.22%, and 21.51% versus 36.11%, respectively, p<0.01). The same pattern was observed between controls and patients in initial cancer stages.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that IL-4 gene expression-related polymorphism is associated with the development of initial stages of colorectal cancer, while in advanced stages IL-4 levels appear to be less important.
Yannopoulos
Athanasios
A
First Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Laikon General Hospital, Mikras Asias 75, Athens GR-11527, Greece.
Nikiteas
Nikolaos
N
Chatzitheofylaktou
Agapi
A
Tsigris
Christos
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D015847:Interleukin-4