Relationship of interleukin-8 gene polymorphisms with hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility and pathological development

Association of Four Interleukin-8 Polymorphisms (-251 A>T, +781 C>T, +1633 C>T, +2767 A>T) with Ovarian Cancer Risk: Focus on Menopausal Status and Endometriosis-Related Subtypes

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes and carcinogenesis. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-8 gene have been shown to alter the risks of lung, gastric, or hepatocellular carcinomas. To date, only one study examined the role of IL-8 SNPs in ovarian cancer (OC), suggesting an association between two IL-8 SNPs and OC risk. In this study, we investigated four common IL-8 SNPs, rs4073 (-251 A>T), rs2227306 (+781 C>T), rs2227543 (+1633 C>T), and rs1126647 (+2767 A>T), using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Our study included a cohort of 413 women of Central European descent, consisting of 200 OC patients and 213 healthy controls. The most common (73.5%) histological type was high-grade serous OC (HGSOC), whereas 28/200 (14%) patients had endometriosis-related (clear cell or endometrioid) OC subtypes (EROC). In postmenopausal women, three of the four investigated SNPs, rs4073 (-251 A>T), rs2227306 (+781 C>T), and rs2227543 (+1633 C>T), were associated with OC risk. Furthermore, we are the first to report a significant relationship between the T allele or TT genotype of SNP rs1126647 (+2767 A>T) and the EROC subtype (p = 0.02 in the co-dominant model). The TT homozygotes were found more than twice as often in EROC compared to other OC subtypes (39% vs. 19%, p = 0.015). None of the examined SNPs appeared to influence OC risk in premenopausal women, nor were they associated with the aggressive HGSOC subtype or the stage of disease at the initial diagnosis.

Baseline Interleukin-6 and -8 predict response and survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib monotherapy: an exploratory post hoc analysis of the SORAMIC trial

PURPOSE

To explore the potential correlation between baseline interleukin (IL) values and overall survival or objective response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving sorafenib.

METHODS

A subset of patients with HCC undergoing sorafenib monotherapy within a prospective multicenter phase II trial (SORAMIC, sorafenib treatment alone vs. combined with Y90 radioembolization) underwent baseline IL-6 and IL-8 assessment before treatment initiation. In this exploratory post hoc analysis, the best cut-off points for baseline IL-6 and IL-8 values predicting overall survival (OS) were evaluated, as well as correlation with the objective response.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients (43 male) with a median OS of 13.8 months were analyzed. Cut-off values of 8.58 and 57.9 pg/mL most effectively predicted overall survival for IL-6 and IL-8, respectively. Patients with high IL-6 (HR, 4.1 [1.9-8.9], p < 0.001) and IL-8 (HR, 2.4 [1.2-4.7], p = 0.009) had significantly shorter overall survival than patients with low IL values. Multivariate analysis confirmed IL-6 (HR, 2.99 [1.22-7.3], p = 0.017) and IL-8 (HR, 2.19 [1.02-4.7], p = 0.044) as independent predictors of OS. Baseline IL-6 and IL-8 with respective cut-off values predicted objective response rates according to mRECIST in a subset of 42 patients with follow-up imaging available (IL-6, 46.6% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.007; IL-8, 50.0% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

IL-6 and IL-8 baseline values predicted outcomes of sorafenib-treated patients in this well-characterized prospective cohort of the SORAMIC trial. We suggest that the respective cut-off values might serve for validation in larger cohorts, potentially offering guidance for improved patient selection.

Evaluation of interleukin 8 polymorphisms (-251T/A and +781C/T) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Aim of the study

We reported the association between interleukin 8 (IL-8) polymorphisms (-251T/A and +781C/T) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in a meta-analysis.

Material and methods

Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched until 21 November 2020. The analyses were performed by RevMan 5.3 software using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Also, the analysis of publication bias was performed by CMA 2.0 software.

Results

Searching databases/sources, five articles including ten studies were entered into the meta-analysis. The pooled ORs for -251T/A polymorphism were 1.07 (p = 0.55), 1.04 (p = 0.75), 1.31 (p = 0.24), 1.24 (p = 0.31), and 1.85 (p = 0.29) for allele, homozygote, heterozygote, recessive and dominant models, respectively. With regards to +781C/T polymorphism, the pooled ORs were 0.74 (p = 0.07), 0.53 (p = 0.03), 0.83 (p = 0.41), 0.75 (p = 0.19), and 0.57 (p = 0.02) for allele, homozygote, heterozygote, recessive, and dominant models, respectively.

Conclusions

The findings of the meta-analysis showed a lack of significant association between IL-8 (-251T/A) polymorphism and the HCC risk, whereas the TT genotype of IL-8 (+781C/T) polymorphism had a protective role in HCC.

Impact of Angiogenesis- and Hypoxia-Associated Polymorphisms on Tumor Recurrence in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Surgical Resection

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma remains a leading cause of cancer-related death and the most common primary hepatic malignancy in the Western hemisphere. Previous research found that angiogenesis-related cytokines and elevated levels of interleukin 8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) shorten the expected time of survival. Moreover, factors of tumor angiogenesis- and hypoxia-driven signaling pathways are already associated with worse outcome in disease-free survival in several tumor entities. Our study investigates the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients based on a selection of ten different single-nucleotide polymorphisms from angiogenesis, carcinogenesis, and hypoxia pathways. Our study with 127 patients found supporting evidence that polymorphisms in angiogenesis-associated pathways corelate with disease-free survival and clinical outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

Tumor angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biology. Identifying molecular prognostic markers is critical to further improve treatment selection in these patients. The present study analyzed a subset of 10 germline polymorphisms involved in tumor angiogenesis pathways and their impact on prognosis in HCC patients undergoing partial hepatectomy in a curative intent. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues were obtained from 127 HCC patients at a German primary care hospital. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–restriction fragment length polymorphism-based protocols. Polymorphisms in interleukin-8 (IL-8) (rs4073; p = 0.047, log-rank test) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF C + 936T) (rs3025039; p = 0.045, log-rank test) were significantly associated with disease-free survival (DFS). After adjusting for covariates in the multivariable model, IL-8 T-251A (rs4073) (adjusted p = 0.010) and a combination of “high-expression” variants of rs4073 and rs3025039 (adjusted p = 0.034) remained significantly associated with DFS. High-expression variants of IL-8 T-251A may serve as an independent molecular marker of prognosis in patients undergoing surgical resection for HCC. Assessment of the patients’ individual genetic risks may help to identify patient subgroups at high risk for recurrence following curative-intent surgery.

Association of polymorphisms in interleukin-8 gene with cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a kind of chemokine that plays an important role in the development and progression of many human malignancies. Previous studies have uncovered that polymorphisms in IL-8 is associated with the risk of many cancer types, but the results were inconsistent and inconclusive. In the present study, we aimed to explore the roles of IL-8 polymorphisms (rs2227307, rs2227306, +678T/C, rs1126647, and +1633C/T) and cancer risk through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Potential source of heterogeneity was sought out through sensitivity analysis. Desirable data were extracted and registered into databases. Finally, a total of ten publications comprising of 22 case–control studies, including 4,259 cases and 7,006 controls were ultimately eligible for the meta-analysis. No significant association was uncovered for all the five polymorphisms and the overall cancer risk. However, in the stratification analysis by cancer type, a significantly decreased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was identified for rs2227306 polymorphism (T vs C: odds ratio [OR] =0.721, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.567–0.916, P_z=0.007; TT vs CC: OR =0.447, 95% CI =0.274–0.728, P_z=0.001; TT vs TC + CC: OR =0.480, 95% CI =0.304–0.760, P_z=0.002). In conclusion, our data shows that rs2227306 polymorphism plays a protective role in hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Future well-designed studies with a larger sample size are warranted to verify our findings.

Association of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility and clinicopathologic development

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a human protein encoded by the ICAM-1 gene and is typically expressed on endothelial cells and immune cells. ICAM-1 is associated with episode, growth, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the association between ICAM-1 genetic variants and the risk of HCC is undetermined. In this study, we investigated the potential associations of ICAM-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to HCC and its clinicopathological characteristics. A total of 918 participants, including 613 controls participants and 305 patients with HCC, were selected for the analysis of ICAM-1 SNPs (rs3093030, rs5491, rs281432, and rs5498) by using real-time PCR genotyping. After adjusting for covariants of age, sex, and alcohol consumption, 125 smoker patients with HCC carrying at least one G genotype (AG and GG) in rs5498 were observed to have a higher HCC risk compared with 231 smoker control participants carrying the wild-type allele AA (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.713; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.091-2.690; P = 0.019). However, patients who possess at least one polymorphic allele of rs5498 are less prone to develop vascular invasive (AOR, 0.309; 95 % CI, 0.103-0.926; P = 0.036). The results suggest that the genetic polymorphism in ICAM-1 rs5498 SNPs with genotype AG and GG is associated with HCC risk among smokers. Moreover, gene and environment interactions of ICAM-1 rs5498 polymorphisms might alter susceptibility to liver cancer. Therefore, ICAM-1 rs5498 may serve as a marker to predict the vascular invasion risk in smoker patients with HCC.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 polymorphism is associated with liver cirrhosis in hepatocarcinoma

Background

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) polymorphisms are positively correlated with tumor progression in numerous malignant tumors. However, the association between FGFR4 genetic variants and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been determined. In this study, we investigated the potential associations of FGFR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with HCC susceptibility and its clinicopathological characteristics.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Four SNPs in FGFR4 (rs1966265, rs351855, rs2011077, and rs7708357) were analyzed among 884 participants, including 595 controls and 289 patients with HCC. The samples were further analyzed to clarify the associations between these gene polymorphisms and the risk of HCC, and the impact of these SNPs on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC. After adjusting for other covariants, HCC patients who carrying at least one A genotype (GA and AA) at rs351855 were observed to have a higher risk of liver cirrhosis compared with those carrying the wild-type genotype (GG) (OR: 2.113, 95% CI: 1.188–3.831). Moreover, the patients with at least one A genotype were particularly showed a high level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that genetic polymorphism in FGFR4 rs351855 may be associated with the risk of HCC coupled with liver cirrhosis and may markedly increase the AFP level in Taiwanese patients with HCC. In addition, this is the first study that evaluated the risk factors associated with FGFR4 polymorphism variants in Taiwanese patients with HCC.

Polymorphism of the IL-8 gene and the risk of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer still represents a challenge in gynecological oncology. Most patients are diagnosed in an advanced tumor stage. No specific screening or prevention strategies for ovarian cancer exist as of yet. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is a pro-inflammatory chemokine known for its angiogenetic activity, and is supposedly responsible for tumor-associated angiogenesis in several malignant tumors. The aim of the study was to investigate the susceptibility of patients with an IL-8 gene polymorphism to developing ovarian cancer. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (IL-8 -251, IL-8 +781, IL-8 +1633 and IL-8 +2767) of the IL-8 gene were screened, using the PCR method in 268 patients with ovarian cancer and 426 healthy women as a control group. Significant associations were noted in patients with the IL-8 +781 (T/T) genotype (p=0.0048) with increased frequencies of ovarian cancer, while women with the IL-8 +781 (C/C) allele suffer from ovarian cancer significantly less frequently (p=0.0003). Furthermore, the IL-8 +2767 (T/T) genotype is also associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer (p=0.0177). Our results indicate, for the first time, that IL-8 polymorphism is associated with ovarian cancer.

Role of VEGF-C gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma and its pathological development

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), an angiogenic/lymphangiogenic factor with high expression levels in tumor tissues, plays important roles in the development of several malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to examine whether VEGF-C gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to HCC and its clinicopathological development.

METHODS

Genetic polymorphisms of VEGF-C of 135 patients with HCC and 520 noncancer controls were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

We found that a significantly (P = 0.021) higher risk for HCC was shown in individuals with the VEGF-C rs1485766 A/A genotype compared to those with wild-type homozygotes; a high frequency of an advanced stage and a low frequency of being positive for cirrhosis were respectively shown in HCC patients with the VEGF-C rs7664413 CT/TT and rs3775194 GC/CC genotypes. Moreover, we found that the GGACA, GACTG, CGATG, and GGCTG haplotypes of five VEGF-C single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) combined were also related to the risk of HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the VEGF-C rs1485766 SNP and either of five haplotypes combined might contribute to a prediction of susceptibility to HCC. The genetic polymorphism of VEGF-C rs7664413 might be a predictive factor for advanced-stage HCC.

Association of interleukin-8 gene polymorphisms with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

Interleukin-8 (IL8) polymorphisms have been implicated in several cancers, but their roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are largely unknown. The present study was designed to explore the association between IL8 polymorphism and the risk of HCC in a Chinese population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL8 gene -251A/T, +781C/T, -353A/T and +678T/C were analyzed in 205 HCC patients and 208 healthy controls in a Chinese population. Serum levels of IL8 were detected in HCC patients and healthy controls. The association between IL8 polymorphisms and HCC risk was measured using the adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) from multiple logistic regression analysis. Haplotype analysis and gene-environment interaction analysis was also performed. The serum level of IL8 was significantly higher in HCC patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, no significant associations were found between -251A/T, +781C/T, -353A/T and +678T/C and HCC risk (all P > 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that A(251)-C(781)-A(353)-C(678) conferred decreased risk of HCC onset (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13-0.77). No significant interaction effects were found between the four SNPs and HBV infection, cirrhosis, gender smoking and alcohol consumption (all P > 0.05). No association between -251A/T, +781C/T, -353A/T and +678T/C of the IL8 gene and the risk of HCC was found in this Chinese population, and the SNPs did not display any interaction with several environmental factors with regard to HCC risk. However, it appears that A(251)-C(781)-A(353)-C(678) is perhaps a protective haplotype for HCC.

HapMap-based study of CIP2A gene polymorphisms and HCC susceptibility

CIP2A is a human oncoprotein that inhibits PP2A and stabilizes c-myc in human malignancies. Autoantibodies to CIP2A protein have been reported to be present in higher levels in sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than in sera of healthy individuals. The CIP2A gene has been demonstrated as a potential cancer susceptibility gene. To elucidate whether common CIP2A variants are associated with HCC susceptibility, we conducted a case-control study comprising 233 cases of HCC and 280 controls matched on age, gender and ethnicity in the Chinese Han population. Two haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (htSNPs) (rs2278911 and rs4855656) from the HapMap database were analyzed, which provide an almost complete coverage of the genetic variations in the CIP2A gene. We found that neither of these htSNPs and haplotypes were associated with the risk of HCC. However, an interaction was observed between hepatitis virus B and C infection (HBV and HCV) and the C carriers (TC or CC) of rs2278911 on HCC risk (OR=12.35; 95% CI, 4.93-19.87). No such association was found for rs4855656. Our study also demonstrated that two htSNPs (rs2278911 and rs4855656) in the CIP2A gene are not associated with the risk of HCC. HBV and HCV infection was found to exert a synergistic effect on the risk of HCC in individuals with the C carriers (TC or CC) of rs2278911 in the Chinese Han population.

Impact of interleukin-8 gene polymorphisms and environmental factors on oral cancer susceptibility in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), which is an angiogenic chemokine with a high expression level in tumor tissues, plays important roles in developing many human malignancies including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study was designed to examine the association of IL-8 gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of OSCC.

METHODS

A total of 270 patients with OSCC and 350 healthy control subjects were recruited. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-8 genes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) genotyping analysis.

RESULTS

Results showed that four IL-8 SNPs (-251 T/A, +781 C/T, +1633 C/T, and +2767 A/T) were not associated with oral cancer susceptibility as well as clinicopathological parameters. But among 345 smokers, IL-8 polymorphisms carriers with betel quid chewing were found to have a 17.41- to 23.14-fold risk to have oral cancer compared to IL-8 wild-type carriers without betel quid chewing. Among 262 betel quid chewers, IL-8 polymorphisms carriers with smoking have a 10.54- to 20.44-fold risk to have oral cancer compared to those who carried wild type without smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the combination of IL-8 gene polymorphisms and environmental carcinogens might be highly related to the risk of oral cancer.