Interleukin-23 receptor genetic variants contribute to susceptibility of multiple cancers

Aim: Interleukin-23 (IL-23) and IL-23 receptor (IL23R) play an important role during the T-helper 17 (Th17) cell-mediated inflammatory process as well as pathogenesis of multiple cancers. Several IL-23R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), especially rs6682925, rs10889677 and rs1884444 polymorphisms, are considered to have significant impacts on susceptibility of multiple cancers. A number of case-control studies have explored the role these genetic polymorphisms in development of carcinogenesis, but the conclusions are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to systematically investigate the associations between the three genetic variants and multiple cancer risk. Methods: A total often studies are eligible (12,211 patients and 14,650 controls). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence interval (95% Cl) were appropriately calculated using either fixed-effect model or random-effect model. Results: Significant associations between rs6682925 or rs10889677 polymorphism and cancer risk were found (OR = 1.11,95% CI = 1.03-121, P = 0.007; or OR = 0.85, 95% Cl = 0.71-0.92, P = 0.001). However, there was no such association between rs1884444 genotypes and cancer susceptibility (P>0.05). Conclusion: These findings reveal that the IL-23R rs6682925 and rs10889677 genetic variants play a more important part in pathogenesis of multiple cancers. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.