An update of cytokine polymorphisms in head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The study of genetic polymorphisms in oncology has acquired great popularity in recent years, mainly as risk factors for the development and progression of different cancers, including those related to the persistence of inflammatory processes. The aim of this work is to realize a systematic review and meta-analysis of selected reports on inflammation-related molecules and their variants and the HNC risk to clarify and to do a more rigorous evaluation of this association. Data extraction, before December 2020, was carried out through the search engines PubMed, Scielo and Sciencedirect from the combination of the following keywords: “gene” “polymorphism” “cytokines” “interleukin” “TNF” “oral cancer” “dysplasia “Head and neck cancer”. A total of 44 and 31 full articles were included in the systematic review and metaanalysis, respectively. For each genotype pooled, the OR observed was IL4VTNR RP1/RP2 0.11 CIs 95% [0.05; 0.24]; IL4 590 CT 0.74 IC95% [0.61; 0.91]; IL6 174 CG (1.65 IC95% [1.16; 2.34], IL6 174 GG 0.57 IC95% [0.41; 0.79], IL8 251 TT 2.40 IC95% [1.39; 4.16], TGFβ 869 CT 2.02 IC95% [1.06; 3.87] reported a significant association between these polymorphisms and HCN risk. The SNPs as IL4VTNR RP2/RP2; IL4 590 CT; IL6 174 GG showed a protective role of mutated variants. To our knowledge, this is the most complete meta-analysis to date of the association between cytokines and other inflammatory molecules and their relationship with the risk of HNC. In conclusion, we can suggest that the presence of mutated variants of IL4, IL6; IL8, and SDF-1 are related to the risk of head and neck cancer. Suggesting that these mutations modify the normal expression of these genes, generating a favorable environment so that, together with environmental factors, cells are led to malignant phenotypes.