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Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphism is associated with decreased breast cancer risk.

Langsenlehner U, Krippl P, Renner W, Yazdani-Biuki B, Eder T, Köppel H, Wascher TC, Paulweber B, Samonigg H

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036, Graz, Austria. uwe.langsenlehner@klinikum.graz.at

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunosuppressive cytokine which may facilitate development of cancer by supporting tumor escape from the immune response. A [TCATA] haplotype formed by polymorphisms at positions -3575, -2763, -1082, -819 and -592 in the promoter of the IL-10 gene is a strong determinant for IL-10 expression. The presence of this haplotype can be determined by analysis of the -592C > A polymorphism. Aim of the present study was to analyze the role of the IL-10 [TCATA] haplotype for breast cancer. We performed a case-control study including 500 female patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer and 500 female, age-matched, healthy control subjects from population-based screening studies. The -592C > A polymorphism was determined by a 5'-nuclease assay (TaqMan). Frequency of the homozygous -592 AA genotype, indicating homozygosity for the [TCATA] haplotype, was 4.2% among patients and 7.3% among controls (p=0.038; odds ratio 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.97). IL-10 genotypes were not associated with tumor size, histological grading, estrogen or progesterone receptor status and age at diagnosis. Therefore we conclude that the IL-10 -592C > A promoter polymorphism may be associated with a reduced breast cancer risk.

Published 1 April 2005 in Breast Cancer Res Treat, 90(2): 113-5.
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