Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a central proinflammatory cytokine, may be involved in both development and progression of many human malignancies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate any associations of IL-6 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility and overall survival of osteosarcoma in a Chinese population. A total of 412 subjects, including 206 patients with osteosarcoma and 206 healthy controls, were recruited and were assessed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in this study. Significant differences of genotype distribution were observed between osteosarcoma cases and controls at the IL-6 -174 G/C genotypes. Compared with the homozygote GG, the heterozygous GC genotype was associated with significantly increased risk for osteosarcoma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-3.05, p = 0.028); the CC genotype was associated with increased risk for osteosarcoma (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.21-3.26, p = 0.022). Moreover, the genotype CC of IL-6 -174 G/C carried a higher risk of osteosarcoma metastasis and later Enneking stages, compared with the GG genotype. The IL-6 -174 G/C genotype was associated with risk for development and metastasis of osteosarcoma in Chinese Han population.
Keywords: IL-6; Osteosarcoma; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Susceptibility.