A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the <i><scp>IL</scp>1<scp>B</scp></i> gene is associated with risk of multiple myeloma

Abstract

Summary The cytokine interleukin‐1β ( IL 1 B ) is important for anti‐tumour immune response. Genetic variation may modify the expression of IL 1 B and thereby influence the risk of disease. We investigated genetic variations with functional importance in the IL 1 B and NFKB 1 genes in 348 population‐based samples of multiple myeloma ( MM ) and a random sample of 1700 individuals. Carriers of the variant T‐allele IL 1 B C ‐3737 T and carriers of the TGT haplotype were at lower risk of MM [relative risk ( RR ) 0·58 (95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 0·41–0·84) and RR 0·59 (95% CI 0·40–0·85), respectively]. No association with risk of MM was found for the NFKB 1 ‐ 94 ins/del polymorphism.