A polymorphism of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist plays a prominent role within the interleukin-1 gene cluster in vulvar carcinogenesis

Abstract Objective . The interleukin-1 (IL-1) family, that is, IL-1α and β and the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), is known to modulate various tumorgenic and tumorcidal effects in humans. Its biological function in squamous cell carcinogenesis of various anatomical sites has been stressed. Although various studies showed a certain association between genes encoding the IL-1 family and human malignancies, no data with respect to vulvar cancer have been published to date. Methods . We ascertained four polymorphisms of the IL-1α gene ( IL1A C[−889]T), the IL-1β gene ( IL1B promoter C[-511]T and IL1B exon 5 position +3953), and the IL-1RA gene ( IL1RN intron 2) in 68 patients with surgicall…