Heterozygosity for interleukin-18 -607 A/C polymorphism is associated with risk for colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The possible contribution of interleukin-18 (IL-18) -607 A/C polymorphism towards the development of colorectal cancer was investigated.


METHODS
DNA samples of 84 patients with colorectal cancer (adenocarcinomas) and 89 healthy controls were examined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction followed by electrophoretic analysis. The resulting allele and genotype frequencies of patients were compared to those of the respective controls using Fischer's exact test and odds ratios.


RESULTS
The proportion of heterozygotes in the patient group was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (p < 0.01). This significant increase was detected independently of Dukes' tumor stage. Additionally, the carrier frequency of the mutant A allele was significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that heterozygotes for the IL-18 -607 A/C polymorphism exhibit increased risk for colorectal cancer development.
Nikiteas
Nikolaos
N
First Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Yannopoulos
Athanasios
A
Chatzitheofylaktou
Agapi
A
Tsigris
Christos
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D020382:Interleukin-18