IL-8-251A>T polymorphism is associated with breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

IL-8-251A>T polymorphisms have been reported to influence the risk for breast cancer in many studies; however, the results still remain controversial and ambiguous. The aim of this study was to determine more precise estimations for the relationship between IL-8-251A>T polymorphisms and the risk for breast cancer.

METHODS

Electronic searches for all publications were conducted on association between this variant and breast cancer in several databases through November 2010. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the strength of the association. Six studies were identified, including 1,880 breast cancer patients and 2,013 controls.

RESULTS

Overall, no significant associations between IL-8-251A>T polymorphism and breast cancer (codominant model: TA vs. AA OR = 1.075, 95%CI = 0.864-1.337; TT vs. AA, OR = 0.900, 95%CI = 0.598-1.354; dominant model: OR = 1.011, 95%CI = 0.783-1.304; and recessive model: OR = 0.854, 95%CI = 0.623-1.171). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significantly decreased risk was found for Africans (TT vs. AA OR = 0.541; 95%CI = 0.396-0.741; dominant model: OR = 0.737, 95%CI = 0.570-0.953; recessive model: OR = 0.594; 95%CI = 0.459-0.768). In the stratified analysis by control sources, significant association was observed in population-based studies (recessive model: OR = 0.692; 95%CI = 0.566-0.861).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests the IL-8-251A/T polymorphism is associated with breast cancer risk.