TGF-β1 polymorphisms and familial aggregation of liver cancer in Guangxi, China.

The goal of present study was to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of TGF-β1 and familial aggregation of liver cancer in Guangxi Zhuang, Han, and Yao populations. We conducted a population-based case-control family study of liver cancer in Guanxi, China. A total of 214 individuals from 37 case families were surveyed for polymorphisms in TGF-β1. We genotyped six functional TGF-β1 polymorphisms: rs1800469, rs2241715, rs2241716, rs11466345, rs8105161, and rs747857. Levels of TGF-β1, hepatitis B surface antigen, and anti-hepatitis C virus in all serum samples were detected using the enzyme-linked immunoassay method, and presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was determined using polymerase chain reaction amplification. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information from subjects, including alcohol consumption, smoking, eating, and water drinking habits. The results were compared with those from 214 control individuals. The results showed that the TGF-β1 genotypes rs1800469, rs2241715, rs2241715, and rs8105161 were more frequent in patients than in controls. The risk factors for familial aggregation of liver cancer in Guangxi were determined, from high to low, to be: drinking sugared beverages > alcohol consumption > HBV DNA-positive > rs1800469 TT homozygous genotype > rs2241715 TT homozygous genotype. The results suggested that TGF-β1 rs1800469 TT and rs2241715 TT homozygote genotypes represent the genetic factors underlying familial clustering of liver cancer in Guangxi, and that drinking water use, alcohol consumption, and testing positive for HBV DNA are the main environmental factors contributing to familial aggregation of liver cancer in Guangxi.