Analysis using reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed the expression of a panel of cytokines in the NPC biopsies: interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, and IL-1 receptor types I and II.
Furthermore, the inflammatory cytokines whose genes are classically induced by IL-1 and TNF were found expressed only in C17 and C19 suggesting another level of heterogeneity among NPCs.
IL1a -889 gene polymorphism and susceptibility is related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma and can potentially decrease the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the Han Chinese population in north China.