Association between ABO Genotype and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Koreans

Background: Associations between ABO blood groups and risk of several malignancies have been reported,although there are limited data regarding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was toinvestigate any possible association between the ABO genotype, especially blood group A, and HCC risk inKoreans. Materials and
Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 1,538 patients with newly diagnosedHCC at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and 1,305 randomly selected members of the generalpopulation. The ABO genotype was determined by multicolor real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)using displacing probes. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculatedusing logistic regression models with adjustment for gender, age, smoking, alcohol drinking, and hepatitis Band C status.
Results: The risk of HCC in genotype AA was significantly higher than in OO (aOR=1.773, 95%CI=1.161-2.705). The risk in blood group A was also higher than in blood group O (aOR=1.448, 95% CI=1.0051.897). No significant difference was found for the AA, BO, BB, and AB genotypes, or blood group B and AB.
Conclusions: Blood group A and genotype AA showed the highest risks of HCC in a Korean population. Nosignificant difference was found for the AO, BO, BB, and AB genotypes, or blood group B and AB.