Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is likely to be closely correlated with the outbreak and progression of cancers though aiding tumors to free from the immune response. In previous studies, several polymorphisms sites including -1082A/G, -592A/C and -819T/C in the promoter region of IL-10 gene were proved to be involved in oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to further explore this association via a meta-analysis. There were four publications with 3783 cases and 4245 controls retrieved though electronic databases. The association among three IL-10 polymorphisms sites was estimated by summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) which were calculated using fixed-effect model. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity (Asian or Caucasian) was also performed for the analysis of IL-10-1082A/G polymorphism (three studies in Asians and one study in Caucasian). As a result, we found a moderately increased risk which was related to IL-10-1082A/G polymorphism in oral cancer under all the five contrasts [GG vs. AA: OR (95% CI)=2.95 (1.94-4.48); GG+AG vs. AA: OR (95% CI)=1.59 (1.35-1.86); GG vs. AG+AA: OR (95% CI)=2.59 (1.71-3.94); Allele G vs. Allele A: OR (95% CI)=1.68 (1.46-1.94); AG vs. AA: OR (95% CI)=1.53 (1.29-1.81)]. Additionally, the increased risk of oral cancer was also observed in Asians and Caucasians. However, the pooled data indicated that IL-10 -592A/C and -819T/C polymorphisms sites had no relationship with oral cancer risk. Taken together, the IL-10-1082A/G polymorphism site may act as a risk factor in oral cancer, and this issue still needs to be further verified.
Keywords: Interleukin-10; oral cancer; polymorphism; susceptibility.