BACKGROUND

Increased levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) have been observed in patients with oral cancer, possibly as a result of suppression of the immune response. Based on this, the -1082A/G polymorphism, which influences IL-10 gene expression level, was investigated in regard to its possible association with risk for oral cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The polymorphism was examined in DNA samples of 144 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 141 healthy controls of equivalent gender, age and ethnicity.

RESULTS

The detected allele frequencies for the high expression G allele were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (34.7% versus 21.3%, respectively, p=0.0004), as well as in patients that were smokers but not those that were heavy alcohol consumers. This highly significant difference in G allele frequency was mainly due to the increase of AG heterozygotes in patients compared to controls (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.84-5.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the high expression G allele of the -1082A/G polymorphism of the inflammation and angiogenesis-related IL-10 is strongly associated with increased risk for oral cancer.