Epidermal Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism in Egyptian Patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma related to Hepatitis C

AIM: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fifth among the most prevalent cancers worldwide. In Egypt, its incidence has been doubling due to hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in hepatocyte regeneration and had a role in malignant transformation. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G/G genotype was associated with higher risk for HCC development. This study was done to evaluate the correlation between EGF polymorphism and HCC in patients with HCV. METHODS: Routine investigations for liver cirrhosis and HCC, also EGF genotyping were done on 2 groups; patients with HCV related cirrhosis and patients with newly diagnosed HCC on top of cirrhosis, while the control group performed EGF genotyping only. RESULTS: EGF gene polymorphism 61*G was dominant in HCC patients. The G/G owns the highest concentration when compared with A/A and A/G genotypes, with high statistical significance between the studied groups regarding number and percentage (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EGF gene polymorphism 61*G was associated with HCC risk. Moreover, the increased concentration of EGF was associated with G/G genotype.