Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and considered to play a role in hepatic carcinogenesis. Our aim was to examine the associations between polymorphisms in COX-2 −765G→C and −1195A→G and risk of HCC. We conducted a case–control study including 120 patients with HCC and 130 age- and gender-matched controls. Genotypes of the COX-2 polymorphisms −765G→C and −1195A→G were determined by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism. No significant difference was observed in the genotype distribution of the −765G→C polymorphism between patients and controls. The −1195AA genotype was associated with an increased risk of developing HCC (OR, 2.5; 95%CI, 1.18–5.37). The A allele was present significantly more often in HCC patients (OR 1.5; 95%CI, 1.05–2.14). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the −1195AA genotype and A allele have an important role in HCC risk in Egyptian patients.
•−1195AA genotype was associated with an increased risk of developing HCC.•No significant association between −765G→C polymorphism and HCC risk•COX-2-1195 polymorphism has an important role in HCC risk.