Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms were linked to different cancers. This study was carried out to assess the possible relation between VDR gene polymorphism and the occurrence of HCC in chronic hepatitis C patients. This study included 102 subjects classified into three groups. Group A included 34 healthy subjects as control. Group B included 34 chronic hepatitis C patients with HCC. Group C included 34 chronic hepatitis C patients without HCC. Estimation of Apa-1 VDR gene polymorphism was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism-Polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). Results In HCC group, C allele was more frequent than A allele (80.88% and 19.12%), respectively. In chronic hepatitis group, C allele was more frequent than A allele (64.71% and 35.29%), respectively. In control group, A allele was more frequent than C allele (73.53% and 26.47%), respectively. Genotype CC + CA was dominant in HCC group (91.18%) and chronic hepatitis group (79.41%). In the control group, the dominant genotype was AA (58.82%). Moreover, there was a significant relation between Apa-1 VDR genotype CC and tumor size. Conclusions There is an association between VDR Apa-1 polymorphism and the occurrence of HCC in chronic hepatitis C patients.