Interleukin-1 Alpha Polymorphisms during Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Article Type

Research Article

Published

March 05, 2026

Open Access

Yes

Ahmed T.H. Faris Al-Karkhi*

Department of Biology, College of Medicine, Al-Mustaqbal University, Babylon, Iraq

*Corresponding author:, Ahmed T.H. Faris Al-Karkhi, College of Medicine, Al-Mustaqbal University, 51001 Babylon, Iraq

Citation Al-Karkhi ATHF (2025) Interleukin-1 Alpha Polymorphisms during Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients Glob J Surg Surgical Res 1(2): 70-74.

Received Date: 21 May 2025; Accepted Date: 22 July 2025; Published Date: 01 August 2025

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Abstract

Objective: The IL-1 alpha -889 C>T polymorphism in the promoter region of IL-1 alpha has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Method: In 100 breast cancer patients, 70 tissue samples, and 50 control samples, the genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T promoter polymorphism were examined using RFLP and PCR.

Result: In the RFLP-PCR allele frequencies of IL-1 alpha -889 C>T in both healthy individuals and patients, the CT allele had a greater effect on leukemia patients than the TT allele (OR 1.28, 0.72). However, in patients with tissue-related tumors, the effect of the CT allele frequency was greater than that of the TT allele (1.00 vs. 0.33), while the opposite was true in patients with both malignant and benign tumors: the TT allele frequency had a greater effect than the CT allele (0.90 vs. 0.70).

Conclusion: According to the IL1 alpha -889 C>T gene score, the T allele was a risk factor in the blood at p = 0.002*, and the TT genotype showed a greater effect in the blood at p = 0.007*, with statistical significance only between patients with blood and tissue-related tumors.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, IL1 α; Polymorphism

Introduction

The diagnosis of soft tissue lesions of the breast is often challenging in routine practice. They can be roughly classified as benign or malignant tumors and encompass a wide range of histopathological abnormalities. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women [1]. The majority of breast lesions are found in females [2]. BRCA1/2, a nuclear phosphoprotein associated with DNA repair, is involved in both the cell cycle and the response to DNA damage [3]. Immune and inflammatory responses are initiated and regulated by the Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family of cytokines. [4] Both members of the IL-1 family exhibit similar biological activity, despite being encoded by different genes. This results in the duplication of IL-1R1 with itself [5]. Although epithelial cells and other cell types regularly express IL-1α under steady-state conditions, pro-inflammatory and stress-related events lead to its elevated expression. There are three ways in which this cytokine acts intracellularly [6]. Third, similar to transcription factors, IL-1α can translocate from the cytosol to the cell nucleus and perform intracellular functions [7-19]. Both sterile and pathogen-induced inflammation are initiated by IL-1α and T helper 17 (Th17) responses [4,11].

 IL-1α is a transcription factor located in the nucleus and regulates both normal cell growth and tumorigenesis. IL-1α acts as a “prognostic factor” [12-14], when cells die through processes such as necrosis. Images from breast ultrasound. Morphological and histological features are often used to differentiate between cancerous and benign tumors. A straightforward approach relies on highly skilled radiologists with extensive experience manually evaluating images for texture and morphological features to determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant [15-17] and classifying tumors as benign or malignant using classifiers based on morphological and textural features [18]. Benign breast changes are more common in women of reproductive age, peaking between the ages of 30 and 50. Conversely, during the postmenopausal phase [19]. Monitoring, counseling, and symptomatic relief are part of the management of benign breast changes in those at high risk for breast cancer. Histological, clinical, and radiographic examinations are used in diagnostic methods to exclude cancer. A comprehensive history and clinical evaluation are required in conjunction with diagnostic imaging directed at these symptoms. Fibrocystic breast changes, a very common benign disease affecting up to 50% of premenopausal women, are also referred to as fibrocystic mastopathy [20]. Fibrocystic mastopathy is associated with histopathological changes [21-23]. The polymorphisms of the IL1 alpha gene in the blood and tissues of breast cancer patients is the aim of this research.

Materials

A patient from BC provided 100 blood samples before starting treatment. The IL-1 alpha polymorphism -889 C>T was found in 50 healthy women's blood samples using DNA from both patients' and healthy people's whole blood. Between September 2021 and October 2022, women aged 14-66 who worked at AL-Hilla-Teaching Hospital, Imam Sadiq Hospital, and Marjan Hospital were included in the study.

IL-1 alpha -889 C>T Genotyping

As directed by the manufacturer, Magna Pure LC (Roche, Germany) was used to extract genomic DNA from 2 milliliters of peripheral blood leukocytes. PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) was used to determine each genotype. Using the forward primer (5′-TTACATATGAGCCTTC-CATG-3?) and the reverse primer (5′-AAGCTTGTTCTACCACCT-GAACTAGGC-3? ((17))), the IL-1a -889 C>T promoter polymorphism was identified. For the amplification of DNA samples from each patient and control group, 200 ng of DNA and 2.5 mmol/l Magnesium Chloride (MgCl) were added to a 50 μl reaction volume. Among the reagents utilized were Taq DNA polymerase (2.5 U/μl), oligonucleotide primers (10 pmol each), and Deoxyribonucleotide Triphosphates (dNTPs). An initial denaturation step at 94°C for five minutes preceded each of the 35 cycles of the PCR process, which included one minute at 94°C, one minute at 53.9°C, and two minutes at 72°C for extension. At 72°C, a last extension was performed for 5 minutes. Once the 108-bp PCR product was combined with the Nco I restriction enzyme, it was left overnight at 37°C. To differentiate the genotype, 25 µL of the digested sample was stained with ethidium bromide and then run through 3% agarose gel electrophoresis

Results

IL-1 alpha -889 C>T Promoter primer

A specific primer was used to produce the PCR result for the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene. The PCR result (band) for blood, tissue, and healthy individuals was 108 bp (Figures1&2).

Figure 1: IL-1 alpha -889 C>T, M: molecular DNA ladder, 1-17 pattern of PCR product electrophoreses 53.9, 85 volts, and one hour was the optimal annealing temperature.

Figure 2: M: DNA ladder and PCR product (108 bp) showing the electrophoresis pattern of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene PCR-RFLP on a PAGE gel using the restriction enzyme NocI. The TT homozygote genotype (92 bp) is observed in lanes 5, 9, and 10; the CC homozygote genotype (108 bp) appears in lanes 2, 3, and 8; while the heterozygote CT genotype (both 108 bp and 92 bp) is visible in lanes 1, 4, 6, 7, and 11. Electrophoresis was performed at 100 volts for one hour.

IL-1 alpha-889 genotype frequency detection Using PCR-RFLP, the C>T gene polymorphism linked to breast cancer (Tables 1-3)

Genotype IL-1g alpha -889 C>T

Blood patients

Healthy (control)

P- value

Odd ratio

CC

27(27%)

11(23%)

 

CT

22(30%)

27(40%)

0.51

1.44

TT

43(43%)

16(34%)

0.33

0.58

Total number

100

50

   

Allele frequency

C

84 (44%)

46 (45%)

 

T

16 (59%)

44 (41%)

0.36

0.78

Table 1: The allele and genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha-889 C>T gene polymorphism was analyzed in patients with blood-related breast cancers and compared to healthy controls.

Genotype IL-1 alpha -889 C>T

blood patients

Tissue patients

P- value

Odd ratio

CC

24(27%)

11(23%)

 

CT

22(30%)

27(40%)

0.01

22(30%)

TT

45(43%)

16(34%)

0.002

43(43%)

Total number

100

81

 

100

Allele frequency

C

77 (44%)

86 (56%)

 

T

16 (59%)

11 (41%)

0.007

21 (59%)

Table 2: Allele and genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha-889 C>T gene polymorphism have been studied in patients diagnosed with breast tissue cancers and those with blood-related conditions.

OR

CL 95%

P value

Benign

Blood

Malignant

Blood

Genotype

IL-1 alpha -889 C>T

 

20(34%)

12(29%)

CC

0.70(0.28-1.76)

0.46

26 (45%)

22(52%)

CT

0.90( 0.28-2.83)

0.85

12 (21%)

8 (19%)

TT

   

58

42

Total

       

Alleles

 

66(0.55)

46(0.55)

C

0.91( 0.52-1.61)

0.76

50(0.45)

38(0.45)

T

Table 3: Genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-1 alpha-889 C>T gene polymorphism in patients with benign and malignant blood and breast cancers.

Table 2 presents the allele frequencies of IL-1 alpha -889 C>T observed in the blood and tissue samples of patient participants. According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, the T and C allele frequencies were 77 (0.44) and 86 (0.56) in blood samples, and 16 (0.59) and 11 (0.41) in tissue samples, respectively. Table 3 presents the frequencies of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T allele in the blood of patients with both benign and malignant conditions. Using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, the allele frequencies for T and C were determined to be 46 (0.55) and 66(0.55) in patients with benign blood, and 38(0.45) and 46(0.55) in those with malignant blood.

Discussion

The genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene polymorphism in healthy individuals were 27 (27%) for TT, 22 (30%) for CT, and 11 (23%) for CC. In contrast, in blood patients, these frequencies were 43, 45, and 8, respectively (Table 1). Genotype CT patients experienced breast tumors roughly once more often than those with genotype TT (odd ratio = 1.20 and 0.77). The gene frequencies of IL-1 alpha -889 C>T were found to be non-significant, with P-values of 0.46 for CT and 0.76 for TT. Based on the data in Table 2, among patients with breast cancer, the distribution of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene polymorphism genotypes was as follows: TT in 15 patients (24%), CT in 30 patients (49%), and CC in 27 patients (33%). The frequencies of these genotypes revealed that TT showed a statistically significant P-value of 0.001 (p<0.05), whereas the CT and CC genotypes did not exhibit significance. Additionally, the prevalence of breast tumors was similar between individuals with the CT genotype and those with the TT genotype, with odds ratios of 1.00 and 0.33, respectively. The frequencies of the TT, CT, and CC genotypes for the IL-1 alpha-889 C>T gene polymorphism were 12 (21%), 26g (45%), and 20 (34%) respectively. In blood-bent individuals, these frequencies were 8 (19%), 22 (52%), and 12 (29%). As shown in Table 3, the P-values for the genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene indicate that patients with breast tumors who had the TT genotype were more likely to have breast tumors compared to those with the CT genotype (Odds ratio 0.90, 0.70).

Conclusion

The IL-1 alpha-889 C>T gene polymorphism genotype frequencies in tissue-beneathless patients were 9 (33%) for TT, 15 (19%) for CT, and 22 (48%) for CC. Table 3 shows that these frequencies were 5 (21%), 7 (29%), and 12 (50%), respectively, in malignant individuals. Even though patients with the CT genotype were more likely to have breast cancers than those with the TT genotype (Odds ratio 1.16, 0.98), the P-value for the genotype frequencies of the IL-1 alpha -889 C>T gene in patients with breast malignancies did not reveal any substantial difference. Tissue allele frequencies for IL-1 alpha -889 C>T in both malignant and benign patient groups are shown in Table 3. The Hardy-Weinberg equation showed that the frequencies of the T and C alleles were 17(0.35) and 31(0.66) in patients with malignant blood, and 33(0.36) and 59(0.64) in individuals with benign blood.

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