Association between interleukin-4R and TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population

Aim Colorectal cancer is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The mechanisms of how different genetic make-ups of cytokines might influence the individual susceptibility to develop particular types of tumours are still unknown. The authors analysed the association between genetic polymorphisms in cytokine/cytokine receptor genes and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population. Method The authors assessed polymorphisms of the interleukin: IL-1, IL-1R, IL-2, IL-4, IL-4R, IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, IFN-gamma genes in Korean patients with colorectal cancer (n = 170) and in a normal healthy control group (n = 130) to investigate the association between theses cytokine gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer. Results The IL-4R 1902*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 2.0) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 1.8). The IL-4R 1902*C allele was associated with a decreased risk of both colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 0.51) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 0.5). The TFG-beta 1 10*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 2.3) and the TFG-beta 1 10*C allele with a decreased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 0.43). Conclusion These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of IL-4R and TGF-beta 1 are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population.