ABO blood group genotypes and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a cohort of Egyptian patients

Abstract Background Genetic profiles of ABO blood group system was reported to have clinical importance in predisposition to certain malignancies. This study was attempted to investigate any possible association between ABO genotypes and the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine the major ABO allele's frequencies in a cohort of Egyptian population. Subjects and methods One hundred patients (HCC group) and 100 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. ABO Genotyping was done using Real-time PCR-melting curve analysis. Results Egyptians with BO genotype were 3.38 times more likely to develop HCC. This association was gender related and noted in hepatitis-free HCC cases. In elderly subjects HCC risk increased not only with BO genotype but also with AO and AB genotypes. In the healthy Egyptian sample, frequencies of the three major alleles (A, B and O) were 0.2917, 0.2083 and 0.5000 respectively. Frequencies of sub-alleles (A1, A2, B, O1 and O2) were 0.2500, 0.0417, 0.2083, 0.2917 and 0.2083 respectively. Serological and genotyping results showed a concordance rate of 97.9%. Conclusion BO genotype is associated with a higher risk for HCC in Egyptians independent of the established HCC risk factors. Egyptian ABO allele frequencies are closely linked to Iranian and Palestinian populations.