Interleukin (IL)-4 -590C>T polymorphism is not associated with the susceptibility of gastric cancer: An updated meta-analysis

• Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant disease with a poor outcome in which genetic background plays roles during pathogenesis.
• The polymorphism of IL-4 -590C>T may not be related with the susceptibility of GC.
• Further investigations on the relationship of IL-4 -590C>T and subtypes of GC are needed.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common cancer affecting patients around the world. The pathogenesis of gastric cancer has not been understood completely. Genetic mutations and the inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori (HP) seem to play important roles. The cytokine Interleukin-4 (IL-4) has effects in inflammation, allergies and cancer including GC. The association of IL-4 -590 C>T polymorphism and gastric cancer has been studied in different populations with inconsistent results. Here, we report this meta-analysis showing that the polymorphism of IL-4 -590C>T might not be associated with the GC susceptibility in both Asian and Caucasian populations.