Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2012; 18(4): 383-387
Published online Jan 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i4.383
A polymorphism within ErbB4 is associated with risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese population
Qiang Yu, Chun-Xiao Zhou, Nan-Sheng Chen, Shu-Dan Zheng, Li-Ming Shen, Jin-Kun Zhang
Qiang Yu, Chun-Xiao Zhou, Nan-Sheng Chen, Shu-Dan Zheng, Li-Ming Shen, Jin-Kun Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Yu Q and Zhang JK designed the research; Yu Q, Zhou CX and Chen NS performed the research; Zheng SD and Shen LM analyzed the data; Yu Q and Zhang JK wrote the paper.
Supported by The Applied Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Suzhou, No. sys201047
Correspondence to: Jin-Kun Zhang, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu Province, China. zjk530@sina.com
Telephone: +86-512-62362044 Fax: +86-512-62362512
Received: April 26, 2011
Revised: July 28, 2011
Accepted: August 4, 2011
Published online: January 28, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the association between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility and a 12-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (rs6147150) in the 3’UTR of ErbB4.

METHODS: Using a case-control design, the rs6147150 genotypes in 270 patients with HCC and 270 healthy controls were determined by direct polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the polymorphism and cancer risk.

RESULTS: Computational modeling suggested that rs6147150 was located in the seed region of hsa-let-7c, a potential target sequence in ErbB4 3’UTR. Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with individuals homozygous for wild-type, heterozygotes [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-2.17, P = 0.034] and individuals homozygous for 12-bp del/del (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.37-4.56, P = 0.001) were at significantly higher risk of HCC. Carriers of the “del” allele of rs6147150 had a 1.59-fold increased risk for HCC (95% CI = 1.22-2.07, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: rs6147150 may be associated with HCC risk, in part through let-7c-mediated regulation, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of HCC in Chinese populations.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; ErbB4; rs6147150; Insertion/deletion polymorphism