Association of Interleukin-6 Gene Polymorphisms (rs1800796 and rs2069840) with Breast Cancer Susceptibility in an Iraqi Female Population

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a significant and growing health concern among women in Iraq. Although the role of inflammation in carcinogenesis has been established, the influence of specific genetic factors, such as polymorphisms in the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6), remains under-investigated in this population. Objective: This study aimed to invesstigate the association between two IL-6 gene polymorphisms, rs1800796 and rs2069840, and the risk of developing breast cancer in a cohort of Iraqi women. Material and Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 50 female patients dignosed with breast cancer and 50 healthy female controls. Genotyping for the rs1800796 and rs2069840 polymorphisms was performed using Tetra-ARMS PCR technique. Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-squared tests to assess the association between genotypes, alleles, and breast cancer risk. Results: The rs1800796 polymorphism has been strongly associated with breast cancer risk, with the GC genotype (odds ratio = 2.55), the CC genotype (odds ratio = 3.52), and the C allele (odds ratio = 1.82) all being associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Similarly, for the rs2069840 polymorphism, the GC genotype (odds ratio = 2.70), the CC genotype (odds ratio = 3.52), and the C allele (odds ratio = 2.26) were strongly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Conclusion: the finding suggest That IL-6 gene polymorphisms rs1800796 and rs2069840 were significant risk factors associated with breast cancer susceptibility in the studied Iraqi female population. These findings underscore the role of genetic inflammatory markers in breast cancer etiology and suggest population-specific genetic risk profiles.

Keywords: Breast Neoplasms, Interleukin-6, Risk Factors.