title: Genetic polymorphisms of steroid hormone metabolizing enzymes and risk of liver cancer in hepatitis C-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genetic polymorphisms of enzymes involved in hormone metabolism can influence hormonal activities and risk of hormone-dependent cancers. As progression of chronic hepatitis C and risk of liver cancer is higher in males than in females, we evaluated whether the polymorphisms of three enzymes participating in the pathway of estrogen and androgen biosynthesis and inactivation, 5alpha-reductase type II (SRD5A2), cytochrome P450c17alpha (CYP17) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), might affect the expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 78 healthy subjects and 387 HCV patients: 100 asymptomatic carriers, 105 hepatitis, 90 cirrhosis and 92 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Variant positions SRD5A2 V89L and A49T, CYP17 (-34)T/C and COMT V108M were analysed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. A cross-sectional study of association was performed, considering carriers as reference category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CYP17 (-34)C/C genotype was over-represented in HCC patients as compared to carriers (22.5 vs. 11.2%, odds ratio (OR): 2.29, P: 0.05). Females mostly contributed to this association (OR: 4.95, P: 0.01) and OR values increased in post-menopausal women (OR: 6.00, P: 0.03). No differences were observed for SRD5A2 and COMT gene polymorphisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CYP17 high-activity alleles associated with increased circulating levels of estrogens and androgens may affect liver cancer risk in HCV-infected women.
authors.affiliation: ASAEV, Via Garibaldi 13, 24040 Bonate Sotto (BG), Italy. laura.asaev@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leveri
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gritti
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Silvestri
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zavaglia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sonzogni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civardi
authors.forename: Mario U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Mondelli
authors.forename: Enrico M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Silini
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase