Genetic variation of pentraxin-3 in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus and hepatocellular carcinoma

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common aggressive solid malignancies worldwide, particularly in Egypt. There is evidence of the contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in increasing cancer risk by influencing individual susceptibility to develop HCC. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) has several functions in controlling cancer-related inflammation through regulation of the complement cascade, so acting as an extrinsic oncosuppressor gene. Several studies have discussed the association between PTX3 genetic polymorphism and cancer risk. Aim To study PTX3-(rs2305619)-SNP and the associated risk to develop HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), in addition to its possible correlation with HCV-RNA viral load and fibrosis degree in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV and HCC. Patients and methods A total of 40 patients with HCC on top of chronic HCV infection, 40 patients with chronic HCV, and 40 healthy participants were enrolled in the study. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood, and PTX3-(rs2305619) genotyping was performed using real-time PCR. Results PTX3-(rs2305619) A/A polymorphic genotype was statistically significantly higher in both HCC and chronic HCV cases with advanced fibrosis than controls. The A/A genotype showed nine-fold increased risk of HCC when compared with healthy control (odds ratio=9.1, 95% confidence interval=2.304–35.94, P=0.002). A positive correlation was detected between A/A genotype and the higher HCV-RNA viral load in both HCV and HCC patients groups. Conclusion A allele of PTX3-(rs2305619) SNP could be considered as an independent molecular detector for HCC in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV.