Association of interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphism on the risk of cervix carcinogenesis in north Indian population.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common neoplastic diseases affecting women, with a combined worldwide incidence of almost half a million new cases. Considering the fact that IL-18 plays an important role in the interactions among T cells, NK cells, and macrophages and induces IFN-gamma production, efforts should be made to understand the clinical impact of IL-18 cytokine in patients with solid malignancies, as not much study has been conducted in cervix carcinoma. In this study, we have observed in GC genotype statistically significant marginal increased risk of developing of cervical cancer (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.17-2.76, p = 0.006). Similarly, when the GC with CC genotypes were combined results were once more statistically significant with borderline risk of developing cervix cancer (OR 1.6,95% CI 1.09-2.50, p = 0.01). Likewise, we found statistically significant increased risk between cases and controls in GC genotype and passive smokers with risk of cervical cancer (OR 4.3, 95%CI 2.13-8.99, p = 0.00001). Our investigation suggests that IL-18 gene -137 in different genotypes, as also in passive smokers, may increase risk of cervix carcinogenesis in north Indian women.