The association of family history of liver cancer with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed at addressing the connection between positive family history of liver cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in the USA.


METHODS
At The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 347 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC and 1075 healthy controls were studied. All subjects were interviewed for their family history of cancer, including the number of relatives with cancer, the type of cancer, the individual's relationship with the relative, and the age at which the relative was diagnosed.


RESULTS
Independently of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), a history of liver cancer in first degree relatives was significantly associated with HCC development (AOR=4.1 [95% CI, 1.3-12.9]). Multiple relatives with liver cancer were only observed among HCC patients with chronic HBV/HCV infection. Affected siblings with liver cancer is significantly associated with HCC development with and without HBV/HCV infection; (AOR=5.7 [95% CI, 1.2-27.3]) and (AOR=4.3 [95% CI, 1.01-20.9]), respectively. Individuals with HBV/HCV and a family history of liver cancer were at higher risk for HCC (AOR=61.9 [95% CI, 6.6-579.7]).


CONCLUSIONS
First degree family history of liver cancer is associated with HCC development in the USA. Further research exploring the genetic-environment interactions associated with risk of HCC is warranted.
Hassan
Manal M
MM
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 426, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mhassan@mdanderson.org
Spitz
Margret R
MR
Thomas
Melanie B
MB
Curley
Steven A
SA
Patt
Yehuda Z
YZ
Vauthey
Jean-Nicolas
JN
Glover
Katrina Y
KY
Kaseb
Ahmed
A
Lozano
Richard D
RD
El-Deeb
Adel S
AS
Nguyen
Nga T
NT
Wei
Steven H
SH
Chan
Wenyaw
W
Abbruzzese
James L
JL
Li
Donghui
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States