Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) polymorphism in women with cervical cancer

Background: Several studies suggest that immunological components play a key role in the development of cervical cancer. Polymorphism in the IL-1 RA gene was associated with various malignant diseases. Data is lacking for cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study we analysed the polymorphism of IL-1RA in 113 women with cervical cancer and 107 with benign diseases. Genomic DNA fragments were amplified by PCR. Results: The distribution of genotype frequencies was different between the study and control group with respect to allele 2 heterozygotes (24.8% vs. 13.1%;p=0.04) but not in the frequencies of allele 113 and homozygous allele 2. There were no differences between IL-1 P,4 112 polymorphism and all other alleles in tumour stage, grading, recurrence status and age. Conclusion: This data supports the role for allele 2 of the gene encoding for IL1-PA as a genetic determinant Of cervical cancer.