Lack of association between IL-4 -588C>T polymorphism and NHL susceptibility

The relationship of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with the presence of interleukin-4 genetic polymorphism -588C>T has been reported with inconsistent results. The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the association between -588C>T polymorphism and NHL susceptibility. Two investigators independently searched Medline and the Cochrane Library up to September 20, 2013. Pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manage 5.0 and Stata 11. Of the six case-control studies selected for this meta-analysis, a total of 1,909 NHL cases and 1,834 controls were included. The combined results based on all studies suggested that -588C>T was not associated with NHL risk under all genetic models. When stratifying for race, no noteworthy associations were observed in mixed populations or Caucasians. This meta-analysis suggests that IL-4 -588C>T polymorphism might not be a risk factor for NHL risk. However, further well-designed studies are required to confirm our findings.