title: Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to ABO blood type.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mortality and incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) parallel the geographical distribution of hepatitis B and C viruses among the general population, however genetic factors modulate individual cancer risk.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  ABO blood type, as a genetic marker, has previously been associated with the risk of several malignancies; we aimed to evaluate whether an association exists with HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective case-control study based on ABO distribution in 194 patients with HCC, compared with 215 decompensated cirrhotics without HCC listed for liver transplantation, and 90,322 healthy blood donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with HCC, prevalence of blood type O was 35%, vs. 44% in cirrhotics (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.99; p=0.046) and 45% in blood donors (OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.88; p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABO blood type non-O is associated with higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to cirrhotics without HCC and healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.iavarone@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iavarone
authors.affiliation: A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Corte
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelucchi
authors.affiliation: Centro Trasfusionale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.affiliation: Centro Trasfusionale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trotti
authors.affiliation: A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Triolo
authors.affiliation: A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Manini
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System
keywords: ABO; Blood type; Cirrhosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma