West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 1513-7368 26 7 2025 07 01 Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF rs4444903) Gene Polymorphism and Risk of HCC in Egyptian HCV Cirrhotic Patients 2577 2584 91760 10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.7.2577 EN Ehab Mabrouk Abd EL-Maksoud Department of Clinical Hematology Laboratory, Suez Canal Authority Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt. Noha E. Ibrahim Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, El-Bohouth St. (former El-Tahrir St.), Dokki, Giza, P.O.12622, Egypt. 0000-0002-7176-4687 Mohamed M.S. Farag Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al- Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Biomedical Research Department Armed Forces Collage of Medicine (AFCM), Cairo, Egypt. The Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Fatima G. Yehia Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Eman E. Mohamed Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine (for Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Menha Swellam Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute, High Throughput Molecular and Genetic laboratory, Center for Excellences for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. 0000-0002-7104-7194 Journal Article 2025 02 02 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer in Egypt, largely due to the widespread presence of hepatitis C virus. Symptoms of HCC often appear only at an advanced stage, making early detection essential through advanced methods. This study aimed to explore the association between the rs4444903 gene polymorphism in the epidermal growth factor and the likelihood of developing HCC in individuals with cirrhosis. Methods: This study involved 152 ethnically homogeneous Egyptians, categorized into three groups: 49 patients with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), 52 patients with HCV but without HCC, and 51 control subjects. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and the SNP EGF rs4444903 was detected using a genotyping assay. Results: The presence of the EGF G allele was significantly more common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis C compared to the control group (P = 0.006 and P = 0.018, respectively). Conclusion: The G allele of the EGF rs4444903 gene polymorphism is significantly associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, identifying it as a potential pathogenic variant. In contrast, the A allele appears to have a protective role. Individuals carrying the G allele may benefit from regular surveillance to enable early detection and timely intervention. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which EGF polymorphisms contribute to HCC development may provide valuable insights for risk stratification and inform the design of targeted therapeutic strategies. https://journal.waocp.org/article_91760_cca50f69d8a6af0fe220628de83c2410.pdf