Background: The etiology of cervical cancer is associated with excessive-inflammation-mediated tumorigenesis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine, regulates inflammation and various physiological processes. We therefore aimed to evaluate the association of the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism with predisposition to cervical cancer.
Materials and methods: The present case-control study comprised 160 histopathologically confirmed cases of cervical cancer and 200 healthy controls. Polymorphism for the IL-6 gene was genotyped by amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: We observed a significant association of the IL-6 -174CC genotype with risk of cervical cancer (OR=3.16; p=0.014). An increased risk of developing stage I tumors was found in individuals with a heterozygous (GC) genotype (OR=3.63, p=0.003). In a case-only analysis, the risk was further increased in patients consuming tobacco products (OR=3.14; p=0.033).
Conclusion: The CC genotype in the IL-6 promoter region may confer a high risk of cervical cancer, which is further modulated in patients who are tobacco users.