Study On The Correlation Between HLA-DRB1 Gene Polymorphism And Post-hepatitis B Liver Cancer

Objective:Post-hepatitis B liver cancer is an important public health problem worldwide,especially in countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection.The occurrence and development of HCC after hepatitis B is a complex process involving many factors,including viral factors,host factors,and environmental factors.Among the host genetic factors,the human leukocyte antigen(HLA)gene has been found to be related to the occurrence of various diseases,including autoimmune diseases,infectious diseases,and cancer.Among these,the HLA class II DRB1 gene(HLA-DRB1)is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver cancer.However,the relationship between HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms and HCC after hepatitis B has not been fully understood.This study aims to explore the relationship between HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms and post-hepatitis B liver cancer,and provide new ideas for monitoring and diagnosing patients with hepatitis B and post-hepatitis B liver cancer from a genetic perspective.This can help provide accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment for primary liver cancer and guide new research directions.Methods:This study enrolled 126 patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and 108 patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Baseline data including patients’ gender,age,duration of HBV infection,antiviral therapy,presence of hypertension and diabetes,HBV-DNA load,and HBsAg status were collected.Peripheral blood samples were collected from all patients for HLA-DRB1 gene analysis.Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences in baseline data between the HCC group and the CHB group.Logistic regression was used for single-factor screening,with P<0.05 considered statistically significant.Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression model with single significant gene as variables,and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Propensity score matching was used to eliminate the interference factors between the two groups,and logistic regression model was established again for multivariate analysis of the matched data,in order to reduce the bias and confounding variables in the baseline data.Results:1.Baseline data from two patient groups were analyzed using chi-square tests.The results showed no significant differences(P>0.05)in gender,presence of hypertension,and HBsAg status between the chronic hepatitis B group and the hepatitis B-related liver cancer group.However,there were significant differences(P<0.05)in age,duration of HBV infection,whether they received antiviral therapy,presence of diabetes,and HBV-DNA levels between the two groups.2.HLA allele fragments were detected in both the hepatitis B and liver cancer groups,and 14 gene fragments were analyzed.By single-factor screening,the frequencies of alleles DRB1*04:01,DRB1*08:03,and DRB1*15:01 were found to be4.0%(5/126),17.5%(22/126),and 29.4%(37/126)in the liver cancer group and 11.1%(12/108),5.6%(6/108),and 11.1%(12/108)in the hepatitis B group,respectively.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05),suggesting that the alleles DRB1*04:01,DRB1*08:03,and DRB1*15:01 may be correlated with the progression of hepatitis B to liver cancer.The differences in the other 11 alleles were not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).3.The three alleles with statistical significance were used as variables in a multiple-factor regression analysis.The results showed that the alleles DRB1*08:03 and DRB1*15:01 may be independent risk factors for hepatitis B progression to liver cancer.Therefore,patients carrying these alleles have a higher risk of developing liver cancer than those who do not.4.To reduce the influence of bias and confounding variables in the baseline data,the hepatitis B-related liver cancer group and the chronic hepatitis B group were matched based on whether they had liver cancer.Gender,age,duration of HBV infection,whether they received antiviral therapy,presence of hypertension,and presence of diabetes were chosen as confounding variables.The three alleles,DRB1*04:01,DRB1*08:03,and DRB1*15:01,were used as variables in a multiple-factor regression analysis.The results showed that the differences in the alleles DRB1*08:03 and DRB1*15:01 were still statistically significant(P<0.05),further confirming that these two alleles may be independent risk factors for hepatitis B progression to liver cancer.Conclusion:HLA-DRB1*08:03 and HLA-DRB1*15:01 may be independent risk factors for the progression of chronic hepatitis B to liver cancer.The age,duration of HBV infection,whether or not to receive anti-HBV treatment,presence of diabetes,and HBV-DNA load between the HBV-related liver cancer group and the chronic hepatitis B group showed statistically significant differences.The above factors may be correlated with the progression of chronic hepatitis B to liver cancer.