IL-10-1082 G>A: a risk for prostate cancer but may be protective against progression of prostate cancer in North Indian cohort

Chronic intraprostatic inflammation is suspected to play a major role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa). Polymorphisms in interleukin-10 (IL-10), a key anti-inflammatory cytokine gene can influence immune response and immune evasion of tumor cells. Its role as an anti-metastatic molecule is also well documented. Gene promoter polymorphisms in IL-10 (-1082 G > A and -819 C > T) was analyzed in 159 PCa patients and 259 healthy controls to investigate their potential association with susceptibility for PCa. Our results indicated that the heterozygous (GA) and homozygous mutant (AA) genotypes of IL-10 -1082 to be more prevalent among PCa patients in comparison to controls (GA: OR - 2.8, p = 0.011; AA: OR - 2.3, p = 0.037). More patients (92.5%) than controls (82.7%) were positive for the A allele (GA + AA: OR - 2.6, p = 0.015). We observed lower frequency of T(-819)-G(-1082) haplotype in patients without bone metastasis (4.4%, OR - 0.30, p = 0.019) in comparison to PCa patients with bone metastasis (12.6%). Our results support the emerging hypothesis that genetically determined immune activity may play a role in the pathophysiology of PCa. Our findings of high producer of IL-10 -1082 variants suggest initiation of PCa. Future studies in large cohort of different ethnicity PCa groups are warranted to establish definite associations with other cytokine gene polymorphisms.