The Involvement of Interleukin-10 Promoter Genetic Polymorphism in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma from North Africa

Objectives: Interleukin-10 (IL10) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases as well as in the pathogenesis of diverse tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study was designed to evaluate the importance of the functional promoter polymorphisms of IL10 (-1082 A>G and -592 A>C) in the development of NPC. Methods: A total of 384 patients with NPC were recruited into this study, together with 375 matched control subjects. Polymorphisms within the promoter region of IL10 gene were analysed using PCR-RFLP method. Results: We report a lack of association between IL10 polymorphisms and NPC in the overall population (P>0.05). However, the 1082 A>G polymorphism was significantly associated with the susceptibility to NPC among young patients (age <= 30 years). The GG genotype was found to be associated with a significantly higher risk of NPC as compared with the AA genotype among young patients (OR=2.534; 95% CI, 1.189-5.398, P=0.016). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate an association between IL10 -1082 GG genotype and NPC among young North African subjects. This difference in IL10 polymorphism association with different ages at the onset of NPC suggests that the younger and older onset patients are genetically different and may involve different mechanisms.