The Role of Hepatitis C virus and Possible Risk factors in development of Hepatocellular carcinoma: 400 Patients based study

Serum lncRNAs, NBAT-1, and FOXCUT signature in hepatocellular carcinoma developed on top of chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a universal health problem responsible for 8.2% of all cancer deaths. Numerous risk factors were documented to be contributed to HCC development with viral hepatitis C ranking as the major predisposing factor in Egypt. The presence of a detectable amount of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the circulation is linked to the development and spread of tumors. LncRNAs NBAT-1 and FOXCUT expression levels were used as genetic markers for the detection of gastrointestinal tract cancers. We hypothesized that serum expression levels of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT are new biomarkers for HCC that are related to laboratory and pathological markers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 165 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC Egyptian patients, 180 HCV-infected noncancer patients, and 180 healthy controls, the serum expression levels of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

This study's results include that medians (inter-quartile range [IQRs]) of NBAT-1 in HCC and HCV patients were (1.9 [0.87-4.94], 10.01 [7.34-13.29] respectively) which exhibited significantly higher expression than controls, while the medians (IQRs) of FOXCUT in HCC and HCV patients were (0.15 [0.04-0.52], 6.42 [2.49-10.10], respectively) that exhibited significantly lower expression than controls regarding HCC patients but significantly higher expression than controls regarding HCV patients. In comparing serum fold changes of NBAT-1 and FOXCUT between HCC patients and HCV patients; we obtained significantly higher levels of target genes in HCV patients (p < 0.001) than in HCC patients. Also, a positive correlation was detected between NBAT-1 and FOXCUT in HCC group (r = 0.262, p = 0.001) and in HCV group (r = 0.937, p < 0.001). Higher serum NBAT-1 and FOXCUT were significantly associated with better clinical and laboratory data of the disease. Multivariate regression analysis showed that FOXCUT was an independent predictor for HCC among HCV patients (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study cited that NBAT-1 and FOXCUT could be considered new diagnostic serum biomarkers for HCC on top of HCV.

The role of IL-4 gene polymorphism in HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients

Background

Interleukin-4 (IL-4), a pleiotropic anti-inflammatory cytokine, is produced mainly by activated T helper 2 (Th2). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-related cancer. Alterations influencing IL-4 expression may disturb immune response and may be associated with HCC risk. We aimed to verify role of IL4 gene polymorphism (IL-4-589C/T (rs2243250)) in HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients. IL-4-589C/T (rs2243250) polymorphism was examined in 50 patients with HCC on top of HCV, 40 patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis, and 30 healthy controls using the polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Results

Overall IL-4 gene polymorphism (IL-4-589C/T (rs2243250)) showed significant difference between hepatocellular carcinoma group versus liver cirrhosis and healthy control groups. TT homozygous genotype was more prevalent in HCC group (24%) versus (5%) in liver cirrhosis and (3.3%) in control. TT homozygous genotype had 10 times more risk of hepatocellular carcinoma versus healthy control group and 6.33 times more risk versus cirrhotic patients group (p value = 0.018 and 0.016 respectively).

Conclusion

IL-4-589C/T (rs2243250) polymorphism, TT homozygous genetic model, may be a risk factor in HCV-related HCC in Egyptian patients.