Clinical and Epidemiological Manifestation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Belonging to Ethnic Groups of Caucasians and Asians of North-East Asia

Abstract

Aim. The current study is aimed at determining differences of epidemiological and clinical profiles associated with HCC in patients belonging to ethnic groups of Asians from Mongolia and Caucasians from Asian region of Russia. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in the cross-border regions of Mongolia and Asian part of Russia (Irkutsk region). 300 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of the Caucasian and Mongolian races were enrolled in the study. The level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the serum was determined by the chemiluminescence technique. Results. The long-term dynamics of the HCC incidence shows more unfavourable trends in the territory of Mongolia compared to Irkutsk region. In both groups, male patients over 60 years of age predominated. Patients from Mongolia often have a history of jaundice and alcohol abuse. Out of the etiological factors, HCC is more often associated with the hepatitis B virus in Mongolia than in the Asian part of Russia. At the same time, in Caucasians, HCC develops primarily on the background of liver cirrhosis. In patients with HCC, AFP level higher than 20 ng / ml were significantly more frequent in the ethnic group of Caucasoids than in Mongoloids. Conclusions. Mongolia in terms of the incidence of HCC belongs to the hyperendemic regions of the world. In this country, among the risk factors for the development of the disease, hepatitis B virus plays a major role, which significantly differs from the Asian part of Russia. For the purpose of early diagnosis of HCC, it is necessary to search for new molecular markers or their combinations due to the insufficient diagnostic efficiency of AFP determination.