Background: In the light of the known association between several carcinomas and the -590C/T polymorphism, which affects transcription of the antitumor interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of this polymorphism to the development of colorectal cancer.
Materials and methods: The -590C/T polymorphism was examined in DNA samples of 93 patients with colorectal cancer (adenocarcinomas) and 108 healthy controls of comparable ethnicity, age and gender.
Results: The detected allele and carrier frequencies for the high expression T allele in the patient group were significantly decreased in comparison with that of the control group (13.44% versus 22.22%, and 21.51% versus 36.11%, respectively, p<0.01). The same pattern was observed between controls and patients in initial cancer stages.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that IL-4 gene expression-related polymorphism is associated with the development of initial stages of colorectal cancer, while in advanced stages IL-4 levels appear to be less important.