IL-27 −964A>G polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer: a case–control study

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-12 family which plays a key role in antitumor immunity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between a potentially functional polymorphism (rs153109, −964A>G) at the promoter of IL-27 and the risk of breast cancer in a Chinese population. We determined the genotypes of 326 breast cancer cases and 460 healthy controls by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between −964A>G polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility. There was no significant association between IL-27 −964A>G polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer. However, in the stratified analysis by menopausal history, IL-27 −964A>G polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women (GG vs. AA: OR = 0.48, 95 % CI = 0.26–0.89; G vs. A: OR = 0.75, 95 % CI = 0.59–0.97). Taken together, our study suggested that IL-27 −964A>G polymorphism may be a protective factor for breast cancer in premenopausal women.