RETRACTED ARTICLE: Correlations of IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Abstract

The meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlations between common genetic polymorphisms in the IFN-γ gene and susceptibility to breast cancer. The following electronic databases were searched without language restrictions: MEDLINE (1966 ~ 2013), the Cochrane Library Database (issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980 ~ 2013), CINAHL (1982 ~ 2013), Web of Science (1945 ~ 2013), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (1982 ~ 2013). Meta-analysis was performed with the use of the STATA statistical software. Odds ratios (OR) with their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were calculated. Nine clinical case-control studies met all the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. A total of 1,182 breast cancer patients and 1,525 healthy controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Three functional polymorphisms were assessed, including rs2069705 C>T, rs2430561 T>A, and CA repeats 2/X. Our meta-analysis results indicated that IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms might be significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (allele model: OR = 1.37, 95 % CI = 1.03 ~ 1.83, P = 0.031; dominant model: OR = 1.55, 95 % CI = 1.01 ~ 2.37, P = 0.046; homozygous model: OR = 2.23, 95 % CI = 1.30 ~ 3.82, P = 0.004; respectively), especially the rs2430561 T>A polymorphism. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity suggested that genetic polymorphisms in the IFN-γ gene were closely correlated with increased breast cancer risk among Asians (allele model: OR = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.02 ~ 1.58, P = 0.017; dominant model: OR = 3.44, 95 % CI = 2.07 ~ 5.71, P < 0.001; recessive model: OR = 1.58, 95 % CI = 1.06 ~ 2.37, P = 0.025; homozygous model: OR = 1.83, 95 % CI = 1.19 ~ 2.80, P = 0.006; respectively), but not among Caucasians (all P > 0.05). Our meta-analysis supported the hypothesis that IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms may contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer, especially the rs2430561 T>A polymorphism among Asians.

Association of Interferon Gamma +874T/A Polymorphism and Leukemia Risk

“…Previous studies have showed the association between IFN-γ +874T/A polymorphism and cervical cancer, 35,36 bladder cancer, 37 liver cancer, 38 and breast cancer, 39 and suggested that T allele might be a protective genotype in cancer for TT genotype produces a high level of IFN-γ. Yet a recent meta-analysis showed no association between IFN-γ +874T/A polymorphism and cancer susceptibility, 40 at the same time, the other meta-analysis found positive association in cervical cancer and breast cancer, 23,26 which suggested that IFN-γ +874T/A polymorphism play different roles in different cancer types; therefore, the conclusion from a pooled analysis for association between IFN-γ +874T/A polymorphism and all cancer types may be unreliable. This meta-analysis confirmed this point.…”

“…21 Indeed, our finding is consistent with previous meta-analysis that T allele is a protect genotype among patients in breast cancer, cervical cancer, asthma, and leprosy. 23–26 …”

Risk allelic load in Th2 and Th3 cytokines genes as biomarker of susceptibility to HPV-16 positive cervical cancer: a case control study

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the IFNG SNP rs2069705 was significantly associated with decreased risk of CC. Studies so far have only investigated this SNP in connection with the risk of breast cancer and SLE [ 53 , 54 ]. Based on the evidence that the T allele is associated with a higher level of IFNG than the C allele the association of this SNP with this type of cancer is predictable, given that at breast cancer diagnosis, inflammatory cytokines are detected at elevated levels [ 54 ].…”

Influence of Circulating Tumour Cells on Production of IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-12 in Sera of Patients with Primary Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Before Treatment

“…IFN-γ is purportedly responsible for promoting apoptosis by enhancing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity and influencing p53 expression, associated with a protective role against cancer (11,26). It is furthermore presumed that IFN-γ genetic polymorphisms might even be significantly related to a higher risk of breast cancer (27). Therefore, significantly enhanced IFN-γ expression in patients with less differentiated (grade 2) and HER2/neu receptor-positive breast cancer may enhance tumour apoptosis, resulting in a more favourable outcome.…”