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Genome-wide association study: new genetic insights into HBV/HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma genomes
Hairong Zhu1, Jian Wu2,3, Xizhong Shen1,2
1a Department of Gastroenterology , Fudan University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital , Shanghai , China.
Insights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cancer killer, often linked to hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) infections. Genome-wide association studies are identifying genetic factors in this progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, particularly prevalent in developing regions.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are primary drivers of liver damage and HCC development through inflammatory pathways.
- The precise mechanisms linking chronic hepatitis B/C (CHB/CHC) to HCC remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic underpinnings of HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.
- To identify specific genetic mutations associated with the progression from CHB/CHC to HCC.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing genome-wide association study (GWAS) technology to analyze genetic variations.
- Comparing findings across diverse populations to identify consistent and divergent genetic associations.
Main Results:
- GWAS have successfully identified specific genetic mutations implicated in the progression from CHB/CHC to HCC.
- Identified genetic variants show varying associations across different populations, highlighting the need for diverse study cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Genetic mutations play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HCC in the context of HBV/HCV infection.
- Further functional studies are crucial to elucidate the precise roles of identified genetic variants and their clinical implications for HCC prevention and treatment.
Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third common cause of cancer-related death with highest prevalence in developing countries, such as Southeast China and Saharan African. The major pathogenic factors can be categorized into environmental effects and genetic variations, and it is mostly caused by hepatitis B or C virus (HBV and HCV). The geographic prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C (CHB and CHC) varies, with HBV heavily-infected in developing countries and HCV prevalent in developed countries. The infection of either hepatitis virus B or C causes damage to the liver cells through cellular immune attack by the mechanism of inflammation. However, how liver cell injury progresses to HCC development is still poorly understood. Along with the maturation of genome-wide association study (GWAS) technology, the specific genetic mutations responsible for the progression from CHB or CHC to HCC have been identified. Moreover, the findings of similar studies for these variants are different from each other due to diverse populations. More functional experiments are warranted to confirm the precise roles of these genetic mutations in the correlations between HBV/HCV and HCC for the future clinical application.
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