Massimo Iavarone1, Cristina Della Corte2, Claudio Pelucchi3, Maurizio Marconi4, Roberta Trotti4, Michela Triolo2, Matteo Angelo Manini2, Carlo La Vecchia5. 1. A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. Electronic address: massimo.iavarone@gmail.com. 2. A.M. & A. Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, 1st Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy. 4. Centro Trasfusionale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy. 5. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mortality and incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) parallel the geographical distribution of hepatitis B and C viruses among the general population, however genetic factors modulate individual cancer risk. AIMS: ABO blood type, as a genetic marker, has previously been associated with the risk of several malignancies; we aimed to evaluate whether an association exists with HCC. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study based on ABO distribution in 194 patients with HCC, compared with 215 decompensated cirrhotics without HCC listed for liver transplantation, and 90,322 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: In patients with HCC, prevalence of blood type O was 35%, vs. 44% in cirrhotics (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.99; p=0.046) and 45% in blood donors (OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.88; p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: ABO blood type non-O is associated with higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to cirrhotics without HCC and healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND: Mortality and incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) parallel the geographical distribution of hepatitis B and C viruses among the general population, however genetic factors modulate individual cancer risk. AIMS: ABO blood type, as a genetic marker, has previously been associated with the risk of several malignancies; we aimed to evaluate whether an association exists with HCC. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study based on ABO distribution in 194 patients with HCC, compared with 215 decompensated cirrhotics without HCC listed for liver transplantation, and 90,322 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: In patients with HCC, prevalence of blood type O was 35%, vs. 44% in cirrhotics (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.99; p=0.046) and 45% in blood donors (OR: 0.65, 95% CI 0.48-0.88; p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS:ABO blood type non-O is associated with higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, compared to cirrhotics without HCC and healthy subjects.