Objective: To evaluate whether polymorphism of the interleukin-4 gene exon 3, and of the interleukin-1beta gene exon 5 and promoter region, are associated with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder, as cytokines are hypothesized to be important in cancer formation.
Patients, subjects and methods: The study included 138 patients with TCC of urinary bladder and 105 healthy controls living in the same area. Each genetic polymorphism was typed using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis. Genotype distribution and allelic frequencies between patients and controls were compared.
Results: There were significant differences in genotype and allelic distribution of intron 3 RP1/RP2 polymorphism (P < 0.001), but no significant difference in genotype distribution or allelic frequencies of the interleukin-1beta gene polymorphism between patients with bladder cancer and controls.
Conclusion: The interleukin-4 gene intron 3 polymorphism is associated with bladder cancer and is a potential genetic marker in screening for the possible causes of bladder cancer.