title: Associations between pre-S deletion mutation of hepatitis B virus and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asian population: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer, leading to many cancer-related deaths worldwide. Several studies have shown an association between pre-S deletion mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCC risk, but the results remain conflicting. We aimed to verify HBV pre-S deletion mutations in relation to the risk of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the commonly used electronic databases for relevant studies of this association among the Asian population until September 30th, 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to calculate the association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17 case-control studies were screened out, including 2837 HBV-infected patients, of whom 1246 had HCC. The results showed that the frequency of pre-S deletion of HBV in patients with HCC was higher than that in patients without HCC (35.7% vs. 11.5%), indicating the prevalence of this mutation in patients with HCC. Statistically significant correlations were observed for pre-S deletion mutation and risk of HCC in a random-effects model (OR=3.90, 95% CI=2.80-5.44, P<0.00001). This association was also found in Chinese populations (OR=4.84, 95% CI=2.86-8.20, P<0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that HBV pre-S deletion mutations might be associated with HCC risk. Their oncogenic role may be important in studying the potential mechanism of HBV hepatocarcinogenesis.
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland).
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: The People's Hospital of Yuxi City, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi, Yunan, China (mainland).
authors: Zhaowei
authors: Z
authors: Teng
authors: The People's Hospital of Yuxi City, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi, Yunan, China (mainland).
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland).
authors: Allan Z
authors: AZ
authors: Zhao
authors: Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China (mainland).
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017594:Publication Bias; D012307:Risk Factors; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics*