The -174 G/C polymorphism in interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter region is associated with serum IL-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with colorectal cancers in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the associations between -174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene promoter and serum IL-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of the G allele was only 0.043, which is significantly lower compared to Western analogs. On grouping genotypes as G-positive (GG and CG) and G-negative (GG), the average IL-6 level and CEA levels were significantly lower in G-positive patients than in G-negative analogs (IL-6, 3.56 +/- 4.38 vs. 15.38 +/- 9.52 pg/ml, P = 0.021; CEA, 27.7 +/- 25.7 vs. 157.7 +/- 59.6 ng/ml, P = 0.012). The patients without the G allele had higher incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, ethnicity affects the status of -174 G/C IL-6 polymorphism. This polymorphism status consequently influences the expressions of serum IL-6 and CEA and incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins.
Yeh
Kun-Yun
KY
Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Keelung, Taiwan. yehtyng@gmail.com
Li
Ying-Ying
YY
Hsieh
Ling-Ling
LL
Chen
Jim-Ray
JR
Tang
Rei-Ping
RP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013624:Taiwan
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015850:Interleukin-6