Polymorphisms and Hepatoblastoma Susceptibility: A Five-Center Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND

Hepatoblastoma is a rare disease. Its etiology remains obscure. No epidemiological reports have assessed the relationship of () single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with hepatoblastoma risk. This case-control study leads as a pioneer to explore whether SNPs (rs6581658 A>G, rs8756 A>C, rs968697 T>C) could impact hepatoblastoma risk.

METHODS

We acquired samples from 275 hepatoblastoma cases and 1018 controls who visited one of five independent hospitals located in the different regions of China. The genotyping of SNPs was implemented using the PCR-based TaqMan method, and the risk estimates were quantified by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In the main analysis, we identified that rs968697 T>C polymorphism was significantly related to hepatoblastoma risk in the additive model (adjusted OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.54-0.98, =0.035). Notably, participants carrying 2-3 favorable genotypes had reduced hepatoblastoma risk (adjusted OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.52-0.96, =0.028) in contrast to those carrying 0-1 favorable genotypes. Furthermore, stratification analysis revealed a significant correlation between rs968697 TC/CC and hepatoblastoma risk for males and clinical stage I+II. The existence of 2-3 protective genotypes was correlated with decreased hepatoblastoma susceptibility in children ≥17 months old, males, and clinical stage I+II cases, when compared to 0-1 protective genotype.

CONCLUSION

To summarize, these results indicated that the gene SNPs exert a weak influence on hepatoblastoma susceptibility. Further validation of the current conclusion with a larger sample size covering multi-ethnic groups is warranted.