Genetic Variants of EGFR and EpCAM in association with HCC Susceptibility in HBV Infected Iraqi Patients

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

1 Department of Medical Laboratory Technique, Al-Nasiriyah Technical Institute, Southern Technical University, Thi-Qar, Iraq

2 Department Genetic Engineering/ Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies / University of Baghdad / Baghdad / Iraq

3 Medical City, Hepatology and Gastroenterology Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a highly lethal malignancy and the third most common cause of tumor-associated death annually. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 75–85% of all PLC cases. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major risk factor for HCC. HBV share important functions in the (EGFR) signaling pathway, with EpCAM potentially serving as a cancer stem cell marker in HCC. Objective: to assess whether EGFR and EpCAM gene variants in HBV patients in Iraq contribute to the development of HCC. Methodology: A total of 120 samples were collected, comprising 40 HCC patients (group I), 40 chronic HBV (CHB) patients (group II), and 40 healthy controls (group III). SNPs identification was done using the polymerase chain reaction-HRM (PCR-HRM) curve analysis. Results Genotyping rs884225 (EGFR gene), both genotype and allele frequencies show no statistically significant differences between HCC, CHB patients, and HCs (all p-values > 0.05). In contrast, rs62139665 in the EpCAM gene showed significant associations. The AA genotype and A allele were strongly linked to HCC (p < 0.01) and moderately to CHB (p < 0.05). The AA genotype demonstrated a very high odds ratio for HCC (OR = 10.7), while the A allele showed a moderate association with CHB (OR = 1.8). Conclusion: The AA genotype and the A allele of rs62139665 in the EpCAM gene are potential genetic markers for susceptibility to HCC and CHB, whereas rs884225 in the EGFR gene does not significantly contribute in the risk for these diseases in Iraqi population

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