Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0913-9 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Preliminary analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorph isms in IL -10, IL -4 and IL -4Rα 
genes and profile of circulating cytokines in patients with Gastric Cancer  
 
Version: 0 Date: 21 Jun 2018  
 
Reviewer: Wei Kang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In the manuscript draft entitled "Preliminary analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in 
IL10, IL -4 and IL -4Rα genes and profile of circulating cytokines in patients with Gastric 
Cancer", the author proposed two biomarkers that potentially associated w ith gastric cancer from 
in-house cohort. The rationale of the study is clear and the description of study plans is 
reasonable. The data from patients is analyzed properly. However, there are still some concerns 
about the study before it can be accepted by the journal.  
 
1. As the author mentioned in the conclusion, the number of individuals are quite not 
enough, including the patients and healthy normal controls. Actually, the number of 
healthy controls are almost twice of patients, which may lead to contra dictory results. 
Thus, the authors are advised to expand the number of patients or perform cellular 
experiments to make the results more persuasive.  
 
2. How does the level of IL -4 and the SNP found in IL -10 promoter associated with 
survival in your cohort?  
 
3. The novelty of the present study is not sufficient, the significance of IL -4 in gastric 
cancer should be indicated in detail. Also, the clinical value of the findings in this 
study should be addressed.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written En glish  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests'  
 
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal