Objectives: Cervical cancer is rated the second most common malignant tumor globally and is etiologically linked to human papillomavirus infection. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 are cytokines with anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of different alleles of IL-4 and IL-10 genes with risk of cervical cancer among passive smokers and users of oral contraceptives.
Materials and methods: We investigated the association of cervical cancer with 2 anti-inflammatory cytokine genes IL-4 and IL-10 using a case-control study. The study sample comprised 200 cases of cervical cancer and an equal number of matched controls who were investisgated by variable number of tandem repeat and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis.
Results: In this study we observed that the Rp1/Rp2 genotype of IL-4 marginally increased the risk of developing cervical cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.45-3.64; P=0.8]. In case of passive smokers we also found a marginal increase in the risk for cervical cancer with AC and combined AC+CC genotypes (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.90-3.34; P=0.1; and OR,1.7; 95% CI, 0.90-3.17; P=0.1, respectively). However, a nonsignificant association was observed between use of oral contraceptives and risk of cervical cancer with anti-inflammatory cytokine genotypes.
Conclusions: This study suggests that passive smokers among North Indian women having IL-4 Rp1/Rp2 and IL-10 (AC) genotypes had an increased risk for developing cervical cancer.