Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms in Cancer and Inflammatory Disorders

Genetics has become increasingly important in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatments. Currently, molecular sequencing within medically important genes such as those coded for human leukocyte antigens, blood group and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors has been elucidated and their sequence variations have been deposited in public databases (e.g. allelefrequencies.net database). In addition, medical genetic research has now gained access to the unlimited region in the human genome where multiple susceptibility genes can now easily be characterized using the latest techniques in molecular biology (next generation sequencing and Luminex). Here, we highlight molecular bases of several variants in cytokine genes that have been widely subjected to the analyses of ancestry and health. We also demonstrate how an understanding of population data may have significant values in improving human health.