Association of CD44 polymorphisms and susceptibility to HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the Chinese population.

Background This study aimed to determine whether CD44 polymorphisms were correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to reveal a new potential target for early prediction, prevention, and diagnosis of HCC. Method This study involved 96 cases with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 96 cases with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (LC), 204 cases with HCC related to the hepatitis B virus, and 210 healthy controls. The genotype of rs8193 was determined using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, while the genotypes of rs10836347 and rs13347 were determined by direct sequencing. Results The results showed that patients with the CD44 rs13347 TT and T allele polymorphisms exhibited higher risks of LC than those carrying the CC genotype and C allele. The CD44 rs13347 CT and TT genotypes and T allele were significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC after adjusting for gender, age, smoking, and alcohol consumption (for CT: odds ratio [OR] = 1.626, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.057-2.500, P = .027; for TT: OR = 1.965, 95% CI = 1.043-3.702, P = .037; and for T: OR = 1.461, 95% CI = 1.091-1.956, P = .011). In the rs13347 site of the female population, the CT and TT genotypes were related to the high occurrence of HCC. In the population aged >= 50 years, carriers of the CD44 rs13347 CT and TT alleles were more susceptible to HCC compared with CC carriers. Those who consumed alcohol who carried the rs10836347 CT genotype exhibited a risk factor for HCC. Conclusion For the CD44 rs13347 site, mutations in the T allele might be a risk factor for HCC.