Do TNFA -308 G/A and IL6 -174 G/C Gene Polymorphisms Modulate Risk of Gallbladder Cancer in the North Indian Population?

Objectives: Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is highly aggressive neoplasm which arises in the background of gall stones and inflammation. GBC affects women 2-3 times more frequently than men. Pro-inflammatory TNFA and IL6 gene polymorphism has been associated with various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TNFA -308 (G/A) and IL6 -174 G/C polymorphisms within flanking region of the genes are associated with GBC susceptibility.

Methods: The promoter polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP in 200 healthy subjects and 124 GBC patients.

Results: Frequency distribution of TNFA -308 (G/A) and IL6 -174 G/C were not significantly different in GBC patients in comparison to healthy controls. However, frequency of TNFA -308 (G/A) polymorphism in female GBC patients without gallstone were significantly different (p-value= 0.006) when compared to healthy female subjects (OR=3.054; 95% CI=1.39-6.72).

Conclusion: These results suggest that TNFA -308 (G/A) polymorphism may influence the susceptibility of female gender gallbladder cancer in absence of gallstones while IL6 -174 G/C polymorphism does not seem to be playing significant role in the susceptibility to gallbladder cancer.