title: Positive association between IL-16 rs11556218 T/G polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a multifunctional cytokine which plays a key role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as in cancer. Genetic polymorphisms of IL-16 have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, associations remain inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was therefore carried out to establish a more conclusive association of IL-16 polymorphisms with cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies were searched through the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Wan fang electronic databases updated in October 2013. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the association between IL-16 polymorphisms and cancer risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight eligible studies (rs4778889 T/C: 8, rs11556218 T/G: 7, rs4072111 C/T: 6) that met our selection criteria were included. The meta-analysis indicated that rs11556218 T/G was associated with a significant increased risk of cancer (G vs. T, OR=1.321, 95% CI=1.142-1.528, P <0.001; TG vs. TT, OR=1.665, 95% CI=1.448-1.915, P<0.001; GG+TG vs. TT, OR=1.622, 95% CI=1.416-1.858, P<0.001),as well as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, in the subgroup of Chinese, significant associations were found between rs11556218 polymorphism and cancer risk. There was no statistically significant association between the other two variants (rs4778889, rs4072111) and risk of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-16 rs11556218 polymorphism is associated with increased cancer risk. Large well-designed studies involving various cancer types and different populations are now needed.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China E-mail : qinxue919@126.com.
authors: Cui-Ju
authors: CJ
authors: Mo
authors: Qi-Liu
authors: QL
authors: Peng
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Xie
authors: Tai-Jie
authors: TJ
authors: Li
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D019410:Interleukin-16