title: Genetic polymorphisms -137 (rs187238) and -607 (rs1946518) in the interleukin-18 promoter may not be associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: This study meta-analyzed the literature on possible association of polymorphisms -137 (rs187238) and -607 (rs1946518) in the interleukin-18 (IL-18) promoter with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The analysis included 8 case-control studies on the -137 polymorphism (1,318 cases, 2,254 controls) and 7 case-control studies on the -607 polymorphism (1,262 cases, 1,696 controls). None of the five genetic models suggested a significant association between the -137 polymorphism and HCC risk: allelic model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.34, P = 0.97; recessive model, OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.65-1.46, P = 0.91; dominant model, OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.73-2.52, P = 0.34; homozygous model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.65-1.49, P = 0.95; heterozygous model, OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.66-1.48, P = 0.94. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analyses of Asian patients, Chinese patients, or patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. Similar results were also obtained for the -607 polymorphism across the entire study population as well as in the three subgroups. The available evidence suggests no significant association of the -137 or -607 polymorphisms with risk of HCC in general or specifically of HBV-related HCC. These conclusions should be verified in large, well-designed studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Zu-Shun
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Maternal &Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Shui-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Nanning First People's Hospital, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Le-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C000589760:IL18 protein, human; D020382:Interleukin-18