title: Association of IL4, IL13, and IL4R polymorphisms with gastrointestinal cancer risk: A meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have suggested that IL4, IL13, and IL4R are associated with serum IgE levels and allergies, and common variants of these genes may alter cancer risk. To clarify these associations, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the associations of IL4, IL13, and IL4R polymorphisms with gastrointestinal cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 27 eligible case-control studies describing the associations of six polymorphisms of IL4, IL13, and IL4R with gastrointestinal cancer risk to calculate summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using five different genetic models. The Q-statistic and I2statistic were calculated to examine heterogeneity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL4 rs2070874 T allele seems to be associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer (OR 1.11; 95% CI, 1.00-1.24 for T allele vs. C allele). This association was significant in studies conducted outside of Asia (OR 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03-1.58 for T allele vs. C allele) and in studies investigating the association with gastric cancer (OR 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.34 for T allele vs. C allele). However, the IL4R rs1801275 heterozygote seems to be associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancer (OR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.96 for AG vs. AA). Other polymorphisms did not show any significant associations with gastrointestinal cancer risk in any of the genetic models and subgroup analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that certain polymorphisms of IL4 and IL4R may affect susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancer. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ae
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea. Electronic address: jskim@ncc.re.kr.
authors.forename: Jeongseon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C508598:IL4 protein, human; C504000:IL4R protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053662:Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Allergy; Gastrointestinal cancer; Meta-analysis; Polymorphism