Association of genetic polymorphisms in STAT1 gene with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Although signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), a transcription factor, plays a critical role in carcinogenesis and has been implicated as a tumor suppressor, few studies have investigated the associations between polymorphisms of this gene and the risk of cancer development. The aim of this study was to examine whether STAT1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms in the STAT1 gene were genotyped by TaqMan assays in 469 HCC cases and 558 age-, sex- and HBsAg-matched controls in a Chinese population.


RESULTS
Minor allele homozygous genotypes at rs867637 (9,046 bp 3' of STP A>G), rs3771300 (IVS24-153T>G), and rs2280235 (IVS20-103G>A), compared with their homozygote genotypes of common alleles, were associated with 1.6- (95% CI 1.1-2.3), 1.6- (95% CI 1.1-2.4), and 1.4-fold (95% CI 0.95-1.9) increased risk of HCC, respectively. The GGA haplotype, comprised of risk alleles at rs867637, rs3771300 and rs2280235, conferred a 1.2-fold (95% CI 1.0-1.5) increased risk of HCC, as compared to the most common haplotype of ATG. Diplotype GGA/GGA conferred a 1.6-fold (95% CI 1.0-2.5) increased risk of HCC compared with diplotype ATG/ATG.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate for the first time that polymorphisms in the STAT1 gene are associated with HCC susceptibility.
Zhu
Zhong-Zheng
ZZ
Department of Pathology, No. 113 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Ningbo, PR China.
Di
Jian-Zhong
JZ
Gu
Wen-Ye
WY
Cong
Wen-Ming
WM
Gawron
Andrew
A
Wang
Yu
Y
Zheng
Qi
Q
Wang
Ai-Zhong
AZ
Zhu
Guanshan
G
Zhang
Pin
P
Hou
Lifang
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human