MDM2 promoter SNP309 is associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

PURPOSE: A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of MDM2 gene, SNP309, has recently been shown to be associated with accelerated tumor formation in both hereditary and sporadic cancers in humans. However, the association of SNP309 with hepatocellular carcinoma is unknown. We evaluated the association of SNP309 with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development among Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We genotyped the SNP309 at the MDM2 promoter in 435 Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, including 187 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 48 healthy subjects, using a fluorogenic PCR. Presence of SNP was also confirmed by direct sequencing of the MDM2 promoter region. RESULTS: The proportion of G/G genotype of the SNP309 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (33%) was significantly higher than that in patients without hepatocellular carcinoma (23%), with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.28 (1.30-3.98). A multivariate analysis revealed that MDM2 SNP309 (G/G versus T/T), age >60 years, male gender, presence of cirrhosis, serum alpha-fetoprotein >20 mug/L, and serum albumin <3.2 g/dL were independently associated with the hepatocellular carcinoma development at odds ratio of 2.27, 2.46, 3.08, 4.15, 4.87, and 6.33, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The MDM2 promoter SNP309 is associated with the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.