title: Cyclooxygenase-2 promoter polymorphism -899G/C is associated with hepatitis B-related liver cancer in a Chinese population of Gansu province.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus infection is closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in HCC and considered to play a role in hepatic carcinogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the polymorphism of COX-2 promoter -899G/C in healthy controls, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, liver cirrhosis patients, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, to investigate the relationship between COX-2 -899G/C polymorphism and the risk for hepatitis B-related liver cancer in a Chinese population from Gansu province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided into four groups: 300 patients with CHB, 300 patients with liver cirrhosis, 300 patients with HCC, and 300 healthy controls. The polymorphism of COX-2 -899G/C was detected by PCR-TaqMan probes. The results were analyzed by SPSS 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The COX-2 -899G/C genotypes were GG, GC, and CC. Frequencies in CHB were 87.00%, 12.67%, 0.33%; in liver cirrhosis were 85.33%, 14.00%, 0.67%; in HCC were 77.00%, 21.67%, 1.33%; and in healthy controls were 90.67%, 9.00%, 0.33%, respectively. COX-2 -899C carriers may have an increased risk for hepatitis B-related liver cancer. Compared with the frequency of GG genotype, there were significant differences in the frequency of GC genotype between HCC and healthy control groups (OR = 2.835, 95%CI: 1.751 - 4.589); HCC and CHB groups (OR = 1.933, 95%CI: 1.248 - 2.994); and HCC and liver cirrhosis groups (OR = 1.175, 95%CI: 1.119 - 2.628). Stratification analyses showed that COX-2 -899C allele carriers with a drinking history are more susceptible to develop HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 -899C genotype may increase the susceptibility of individuals to hepatitis B-related liver cancer in Gansu province, China.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of General Surgery, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quan-Bao
authors.initials: QB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Ce
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Wen-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human