hTERT rs2736098 Genetic Variants and Susceptibility of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Chronic Hepatitis C in the Egyptian Patients

ENAS H. MAHMOUD, M.D., HEBAT ALLAH M. SHARAF EL-DEEN, M.D.;; ALAA A. ABDEL RAUOF, M.D., AHMED A.E. HEKEL, M.D.;; ASMAA E.A. NASR ELDIN, M.Sc., SUZAN E. MAHROUS, M.D.;

doi:10.21608/mjcu.2019.70138

hTERT rs2736098 Genetic Variants and Susceptibility of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Chronic Hepatitis C in the Egyptian Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

The Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

10.21608/mjcu.2019.70138

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Telomere length and telomerase activity are crucial for cancer initiation and the survival of tumors. Tel-omere length is maintained by telomerase in 90% of human cancers, while 10% of cancers use an alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening termed (ALT). Another mechanism for Cancer cells is through activating or up-regulating the normally silent human TERT gene (hTERT) that encodes telomerase.
Aim of Study: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of a SNP in TERT gene rs2736098 on telomere length, furthermore, a study was conducted to investigate whether the changes of median values of Relative Telomere Length (RTL) is related to a SNP genotype.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on a total number of 100 patients, subdivided into two groups HCC and HCV groups. SNP was measuring using Taqman probe on step-one real time PCR.
Results: It was found that homozygous GG genotype in SNPrs2736098 was high in both HCC and HCV comparing to heterozygous GA genotype and variant AA genotype. Moreover, the frequency of the SNP rs2736098 G allele compare to A allele was higher in HCV than HCC 82% versus 76% respectively.
Conclusion: There was no statistical significant difference observed on comparing a SNP rs2736098 in HCC and HCV groups and there was no statistically significant association was found (p=0.69) when we investigated whether the changes of median values of RTL is related to a SNP genotype.

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