L-MYC, GST M1 GENETIC-POLYMORPHISM AND HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA RISK AMONG CHRONIC HEPATITIS-B CARRIERS

In order to assess associations between the genetic polymorphism of L- myc and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GST M1) and the risk of hepatoce llular carcinoma (HCC), a total of 46 surgically treated HCC patients who were seropositive in hepatitis B surface antigen (WBsAg) and 88 HB sAg-positive controls were recruited for this study. L-myc and GST M1 genetic polymorphism was examined using a polymerase chain reaction-ba sed restriction fragment length polymorphism assay on DNA extracted fr om liver and peripheral blood samples. There was no significant differ ence in GST M1 genotypes between HCC patients and matched controls. A gene dosage trend of association with HCC risk was observed for L-myc genotype. The dose-response relationship remained statistically signif icant in the multiple logistic regression analysis.