title: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene polymorphism association with hepatocellular carcinoma in Italian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multifactorial disease driven by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Infection, inflammation and the immune response against hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus have been shown to play an important role in increasing cancer risk and promoting tumor development. In order to investigate the genetic component influencing HCC development, we analyzed 50 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) spanning 34 different genes in 230 Italian patients affected by HCC and 230 controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genes were selected on the basis of their known biological function and their possible involvement in the progression or in the susceptibility to HCC was considered. SNP genotyping was performed using allelic-specific fluorescent probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For most SNP, no differences were identified between HCC patients and controls, with the exception of rs2304052, localized on the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene, which was significantly associated to the disease. The C allele was significantly more frequent in the HCC patients than in the healthy controls (23% vs 10%, corrected P < 0.001), as well as the CC genotype (13% vs 1%, corrected P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the presence of the rs2304052 C allele is associated with an increased risk (odds ratio: 2.76) of developing hepatocarcinoma, our results allowed us to identify a SNP in the SPARC gene correlating to HCC susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Unit, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo and Department of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. segat@burlo.trieste.it
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Segat
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milanese
authors.forename: Doroti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pirulli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trevisiol
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salizzoni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crovella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015676:Osteonectin