Pro-inflammatory IL-6 genotypes were more common in individuals under 50 (55.6%) compared to those over 50 (44.4%), though plasma IL-6 differences between cases and controls were not significant.
Case-Control (n=40)
Are circulating IL-6 levels and IL-6-related SNPs associated with early-onset colorectal cancer in Puerto Rican Hispanics?
This pilot study suggests a higher prevalence of pro-inflammatory IL-6 genetic variants in early-onset colorectal cancer among Puerto Rican Hispanics, highlighting a potential genetic contributor to cancer disparities.
Absolute Event Rate: 55.6% vs 44.4%
Abstract Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is rising in Puerto Rico despite an overall decline in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in CRC progression through inflammatory signaling, immune disruption, and DNA damage. This study explores the association between circulating IL-6 levels and IL-6-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in EOCRC patients to examine if IL-6 contributes to cancer disparities. A case-control design was used with CRC patients (n=20) and healthy controls (n=20). Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were collected for DNA extraction and IL-6 real-time PCR genotyping. Plasma IL-6 levels were measured via ELISA. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected through surveys. In our study population, 55.1% had EOCRC, with an average diagnosis age of 51.5 years. A strong family history of CRC was reported by 71.1%. Over 70% of participants were overweight/obese, and 50.7% exercised less than once per week. Pro-inflammatory IL-6 genotypes were more common in individuals under 50 (55.6%) compared to those over 50 (44.4%). IL-6 plasma levels were elevated in controls compared to CRC patients, but differences were not statistically significant. This pilot study reveals a higher prevalence of the pro-inflammatory IL-6 genetic variant among EOCRC. Larger studies are needed to further explore IL-6’s role as a contributor of EOCRC disparities. Our findings underscore the importance of fully characterizing non-familial germline genetic variants and their interactions with environmental exposures to fully understand the factors driving EOCRC disparities and to inform targeted risk stratification and prevention strategies. Citation Format: Luis Daniel Borrero-Garcia, Melissa Chavez, Olga Díaz-Miranda, Leslie Casiano, Maria Gonzalez-Pons, . Investigating IL-6-driven inflammation and gene-environment interactions in colorectal cancer disparities among Puerto Rican Hispanics abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 5077.
Borrero-García et al. (Fri,) conducted a case-control in Colorectal cancer (n=40). IL-6 genetic variants and plasma levels vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Pro-inflammatory IL-6 genotypes. Pro-inflammatory IL-6 genotypes were more common in individuals under 50 (55.6%) compared to those over 50 (44.4%), though plasma IL-6 differences between cases and controls were not significant.