Study the association between prostate cancer and vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphism with relation to IL 6 (Cytokines) level

Background: Prostate cancer (PCA) is among the most common malignancies in men and it occurs under the influence of genetic, inflammatory, and nutritional factors. It has been suggested that the VDR rs1544410 polymorphism may regulate the activity of the vitamin D receptor and cancer risk, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) can be involved in the cancer-promoting inflammation. These factors should be looked at collectively. 
Methods: The study design was a case-control study, which recruited 75 histologically proven PCA patients and 75 age matched healthy controls. ELISA was used to determine serum vitamin D3, vitamin A, and IL-6. Peripheral blood was used to extract genomic DNA and genotype the rs1544410 by TaqMan real-time PCR. Statistical analysis included Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test, one-way ANOVA with Games–Howell post hoc correction, and Pearson’s correlation.
Results: PCA patients had significantly lower serum vitamin D3 (18.89 vs. 30.08 ng/mL; p=0.001) and vitamin A (0.96 vs. 5.08 µg/mL; p=0.001), and markedly elevated IL-6 (83.55 vs. 48.68 pg/mL; p=0.001). The TC genotype was strongly over-represented in patients (65.3% vs. 21.3%; OR=6.95; p<0.0001), while CC was protective (6.7% vs. 54.7%; OR=0.059; p<0.0001). Vitamin D3 and vitamin A were positively correlated (r=0.288; p<0.001) and both inversely correlated with IL-6. 
Conclusion: The TC genotype of VDR rs1544410 has a significant relationship with the elevated risk of PCA. Vitamin D3 and vitamin A deficits and IL-6 increase are typical biochemical alterations of PCA patients irrespective of genotype, which underscores a combined immunonutritional model of PCA susceptibility.