Association of ISG20 rs4566136 polymorphism with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: Interferon-stimulated gene 20 (ISG20) plays an important role in viral infection and cancers. This study investigated the association between ISG20 rs4566136 polymorphism with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Subjects and methods: The SNP ISG20 rs4566136 was genotyped by Sanger sequencing in 115 patients with HCC, 100 liver cirrhosis patients (LC) and 120 healthy controls (HC). Results: We observed that the frequencies of genotype ISG20 rs4566136CC and allele rs4566136C were significantly lower in HCC patients compared to LC patients and HC individuals. These results indicated that the SNP ISG20 rs4566136 was associated with HCC (HCC vs. LC: OR (95%CI) = 0.67 (0.46-0.99), p = 0.04; HCC vs. HC: OR (95%CI) = 0.2 (0.12 - 0.32), p < 0.001. Patients with genotype rs4566136TT had higher AST and ALT levels, followed by patients with genotype rs4566136TC and rs4566136CC. However, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: ISG20 rs4566136 polymorphism is associated with HBV-related HCC in the Vietnamese population. Allele rs4566136C contributes to a decreased risk of HBV-related HCC. * Keywords: ISG20; SNPs; rs4566136; HBV; HCC.