Two recent genome-wide studies showed that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the HLA-DQ region (rs2856718 and rs9275572) were associated with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and chronic hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients.
The AG/GG genotype of rs9275572 and HLA-DQB1 Block2 CCCCC haplotype may have protective effects in HBV-related HCC patients receiving hepatic resection.
We found that rs2856718 and rs9275572 in HLA-DQ significantly decreased HBV-related HCC in total population, especially in Chinese, but not in Saudi Arabian.