Role of cytokine polymorphisms in the risk of distal gastric cancer development.

We review the current information concerning the role of cytokine polymorphisms and the risk of develop distal gastric cancer in different populations. We have included populations colonized with Helicobacter pylori as well as populations without colonization. We found that the study of polymorphisms alone seems insufficient to assess gastric cancer risk and it is necessary to examine environmental factors in different ethnic groups and geographic areas along with the study of H. pylori strains to define better the risk factors associated with distal gastric cancer.