Genetic polymorphism of Interleukin-16 and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BackgroundCommon genetic variants in inflammatory cytokine genes can affect the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Interleukin-16 (IL-16), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, plays a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases as well as in the pathogenesis of tumors.MethodsWe analyzed rs4778889 T/C, rs11556218 T/G, and rs4072111 C/T polymorphisms of IL-16 in 206 patients with NPC and 373 healthy controls in a Chinese population, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing methods.ResultsThe rs11556218 T/G polymorphism of IL-16 gene was significantly associated with the susceptibility to NPC. The TG genotype was associated with a significantly higher risk of NPC as compared with the TT genotype (OR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.18–2.36). Patients carrying the G allele had a significantly higher risk for developing NPC compared to individuals carrying the T allele (OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03–1.78).ConclusionsThis study shows an association between IL-16 gene polymorphisms and the risk of NPC, and our data suggests that IL-16 gene polymorphisms may be useful as genetic susceptibility markers for NPC.