Association of polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokine genes with the development of head and neck cancer in Pakistani population

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the most common type of carcinoma and represents a major health problem in developing countries. HNC is a multifactorial condition associated with a variety of risk factors comprising genetic, environmental and life style. Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin genes might contribute to the development of HNC. Present study was conducted to investigate a possible association of HNC with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin genes (IL-8 rs4073 A/T, IL-4 rs2070874 C/T, IL-10 rs1800896 T/C, IL-10 rs180072 T/G, IL-6 rs1800796 C/G, IL-6 rs1800795 C/G, and IL-1-α rs17561 A/C) and oral hygiene in Pakistani Population. For this purpose, 231 cases and 219 controls were recruited. The SNPs were assessed through QuantStudio real time PCR system. Analysis of the data showed a significant association of IL-10 rs1800896 with HNC while other SNPs were not associated was HNC pathogenicity. Further, no significant association was observed between hygiene associated factors and HNC in the studied population. This study presents useful aspects of HNC in Pakistani cohort.