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Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 Dec;88(3):281-5.
The interleukin-6 gene: a susceptibility factor that
may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer
mortality.
FG Berger.
Department
of Biological Sciences, Coker Life Sciences Building, University of
South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA, berger@sc.edu.
Breast
cancer prognosis differs among racial and ethnic groups. Though the
incidence of breast cancer is lower in African-Americans than in
Caucasians, mortality is higher. While socioeconomic, psychosocial, and
lifestyle issues are undoubtedly important in such disparities, genetic
factors that differ among populations and that are involved in the
molecular pathways regulating tumor development may also play roles. In
this communication, I summarize recent investigations of the gene
encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), and
suggest that this gene is a susceptibility factor that determines
racial and/or ethnic differences in breast cancer survival. Published
studies of a G/C polymorphism at nucleotide -174 within the promoter
region of the IL-6gene are consistent with this suggestion. This
polymorphism alters expression of the cytokine. In addition, allele and
genotype frequencies at the -174 site differ dramatically among racial
and ethnic groups. Finally, the variant genotypes are associated with
alterations in breast cancer survival. In all, these observations argue
for additional studies of the IL-6 gene polymorphism as a predisposing
genetic factor that contributes to racial and ethnic differences in
breast cancer prognosis.
PubMed
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