Genetic variation in IL-6 rs1800796 and its association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma susceptibility in the Egyptian population.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are associated malignancies with different morphological, genetic, immunophenotypic, and clinical characteristics. Research on genetic susceptibility to NHL is needed to identify at-risk groups and define important disease pathways. Interleukins (ILs) are cytokines that play important immunomodulatory roles. IL-6 stimulates IgG production, exerts antiviral effects, and has been linked to various diseases. Research on IL-6 mutations and NHL is important due to the role of IL-6 in immune regulation and cancer pathogenesis; however, direct causative links remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the IL-6 genetic polymorphism at the rs1800796 locus and the risk of NHL in Egyptians using a case-control study. The study comprised 100 patients diagnosed with NHL and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Risk factors for NHL were associated with lower hemoglobin and albumin levels, increased aspartate aminotransferase, and substantial outcomes in kidney function tests. The study found an absence of the CC genotype in NHL patients, whereas it was found in five healthy volunteers, suggesting a weak potential protective association. The GG genotype was found in more patients than healthy individuals (84 vs. 75); however, no significant association was found. The G allele was found to be more dominant in NHL patients than controls (184 vs. 170; P=0.02). These findings suggest that individuals carrying the G allele may be at twice the risk of developing NHL compared with those carrying the C allele (OR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.07-3.85). The study found no significant association between the IL-6 polymorphism and clinical presentation, tumor stage, or relapse status in NHL patients. These results support the use of the IL-6 variation in the diagnosis and genetic screening of NHL but not for therapeutic choices.