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Subject Area

Clinical Pathology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Single-nucleotide polymorphism in the STAT4 gene was strongly associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objective To study the effect of STAT4 gene (rs7574865) polymorphism on HCC in complicating chronic hepatitis C. Patients and methods One hundred and fifty individuals were divided into three groups. The studied participants were divided into three groups. Group I: 50 apparently healthy individuals served as controls. They were completely free clinically with normal laboratory investigations, normal abdominal ultrasonography, and no history of liver and renal disease. Group II: 50 chronic HCV patients confirmed by HCV-antibodies and PCR HCV RNA analysis. Group III: 50 HCV-induced HCC patients confirmed by computed tomography and serum alpha-fetoprotein. Most of the patients are males with a mean age of 54 years. Real-time PCR analysis to determine STAT4 (rs7574865) gene polymorphism was performed on DNA extracted from all the studied participants. Results Comparing the three studied groups, there was highly significant statistical difference regarding genotype and allele frequency distribution with a GG genotype of 20% in the control group, 46% in the HCV group, and 56% in the HCC group with a P value less than 0.001. GT genotype is 50% in the control group, 44% in the HCV group, and 38% in the HCC group. There were statistically significant differences in STAT4 (rs7574865) allele frequencies between the patient group (HCC and HCV as one group) and the control group (P < 0.001) [GG: odds ratio (OR)=9.562, 95% confidence interval (CI)=3.204–28.541, GT: OR = 3.075, 95% CI = 1.141–8.290]. Allele association study revealed a significant risk association between allele type and cancer development (OR = 3.066, 95% CI = 1.861–5.053). Conclusion The results suggested that STAT4 (rs7574865) GG genotype is associated with HCC development in Egyptians with chronic HCV infection.

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