title: Genetic Polymorphism of Epidermal Growth Factor rs4444903 Influences Susceptibility to HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Chinese Han Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic polymorphism in the epidermal growth factor (EGF, rs4444903) gene has been demonstrated to be associated with the clinical deterioration in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (LC) and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influences susceptibility to HCV-related LC and HCC in the Chinese Han population is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, a total of 187 Chinese Han patients with chronic HCV infection were enrolled, including 62 HCV-related LC patients, 46 HCV-related HCC patients, and 79 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients without LC and HCC, and the genetic polymorphism was genotyped via a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) assay. The logistical regression analysis was employed to determine the correlation between the genetic polymorphism and risk of HCV-related LC and HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of EGF rs4444903 genotypes and alleles significantly differed between LC patients and CHC subjects (p = 0.045, p = 0.043, respectively). Under the recessive model, the GG genotype was significantly associated with a two-fold risk of HCV-related LC compared to the AA+AG genotype after an adjustment for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), duration of HCV infection, and HCV RNA level (OR = 2.188; 95% CI = 1.072 - 4.465; p = 0.031). Significant association was observed as well between the GG genotype and increased HCV-related HCC risk (OR = 3.104; 95% CI = 1.319 - 7.307; p = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EGF rs4444903 GG genotype is associated with higher susceptibility to HCV-related LC and HCC in the Chinese Han population. Screening of host genetic polymorphisms might be helpful in designing effective and efficient LC and HCC surveillance programs for chronic HCV-infected patients.
authors.forename: Shitian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kunyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Congdoanh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trieu
authors.forename: Zhixiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Qinghai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D066255:EGF Family of Proteins