Interleukin-1β Gene (IL-1B) rs16944 (-511 C > T) Promoter Polymorphism Is Associated with Cutaneous Melanoma Susceptibility, Stage, and Anatomical Localization in a Northern Italian Case–Control Study

Abstract

Simple Summary We determined the genotype and allele frequencies of the interleukin-1β gene (IL-1B) promoter polymorphism rs16944 (-511, C > T) in cutaneous melanoma patients and healthy controls from Northeastern Italy, a region with a high incidence of melanoma. The CC genotype and C allele were more frequent in melanoma cases than in healthy controls. Among melanoma patients, the CC genotype was more frequent in Stage I disease and in melanomas with Breslow thickness ≤ 0.75 mm, but less frequent in Stage IV melanoma. The CT genotype was associated with approximately 3-fold higher odds of Stage IV disease and approximately 2- to 3-fold higher odds of lower-limb or lower-extremity melanoma, including after multivariable adjustment. Thus, rs16944 emerged as a possible candidate marker associated with melanoma susceptibility, Stage IV status, and lower-extremity localization. Independent studies are required to confirm these preliminary, exploratory findings.