Abstract
Introduction:
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a circulating proinflammatory cytokine that fulfills an important role in the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Overexpression of IL-6, possibly due to the −174G>C and −596G>A polymorphisms in the IL6 gene, has been shown to be related to breast cancer (BC) and a more aggressive course of the disease.
Aim:
To determine the influence of the −174G>C and −596G>A polymorphisms of the IL6 gene on the circulating levels of IL-6 in BC patients from Jalisco, México.
Methodology:
Genotyping of the two polymorphisms was carried out on 208 BC patients and 219 healthy controls through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. In addition, the plasma IL-6 concentration levels were measured in the BC patients.
Results:
There was no significant association between BC and the IL-6 alleles and genotypes (−174G>C, p = 0.276; −596G>A, p = 0.762) under study. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the mean plasma IL-6 concentrations associated with the polymorphisms that were analyzed (−174G>C, p = 0.839; −596G>A, p = 0.848).
Conclusions:
No evidence was found that the analyzed polymorphisms are associated with the IL-6 expression or concentration in patients suffering from BC from Jalisco, Mexico.
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