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The −174 G/C Polymorphism in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Promoter Region is Associated with Serum IL-6 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancers in Taiwan

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Abstract

Introduction

We investigated the associations between −174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene promoter and serum IL-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Results and Discussion

The frequency of the G allele was only 0.043, which is significantly lower compared to Western analogs. On grouping genotypes as G-positive (GG and CG) and G-negative (GG), the average IL-6 level and CEA levels were significantly lower in G-positive patients than in G-negative analogs (IL-6, 3.56 ± 4.38 vs. 15.38 ± 9.52 pg/ml, P = 0.021; CEA, 27.7 ± 25.7 vs. 157.7 ± 59.6 ng/ml, P = 0.012). The patients without the G allele had higher incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins (P = 0.003).

Conclusion

In conclusion, ethnicity affects the status of −174 G/C IL-6 polymorphism. This polymorphism status consequently influences the expressions of serum IL-6 and CEA and incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, 222 Maijin Road, Keelung, Taiwan

    Kun-Yun Yeh & Ying-Ying Li

  2. Institute of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Chang Gung University and Chang Gung Memory Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Ying-Ying Li & Ling-Ling Hsieh

  3. Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Keelung, Taiwan

    Jim-Ray Chen

  4. Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kwei Shan, Taiwan

    Rei-Ping Tang

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  1. Kun-Yun Yeh
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Yeh, KY., Li, YY., Hsieh, LL. et al. The −174 G/C Polymorphism in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Promoter Region is Associated with Serum IL-6 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancers in Taiwan. J Clin Immunol 30, 53–59 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-009-9324-6

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