Association of IFNL4 and IFITM3 Genetic Variants with Susceptibility to HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Osman E.A.; Mohamed M.A.; Abbas R.M.; Badran E.M.; Aly H.I.; Madbouly M.M.; Khanany F.M.
Journal: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Publisher: Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention
Publication Date: 1 October 2025
Volume / Issue: Volume 26 / Issue 10
Pages: 3805–3813
ISSN: 15137368
DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.10.3805
Scopus: View on Scopus
PubMed: 41148623
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Osman E.A., Clinical Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Mohamed M.A., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Abbas R.M., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Badran E.M., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Aly H.I., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Madbouly M.M., Clinical Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Khanany F.M., Clinical Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
Objective: To ascertain the possible association of IFITM3 rs12252 and IFNL4 rs12979860 genetic polymorphisms with cirrhosis and HCC in chronic HCV-infected patients. Methods: Genetic variations were assessed in this case-control study using TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 1350 subjects: 450 healthy controls, 450 cirrhosis patients, and 450 patients with HCC. Results: The genotyping of the IFNL4 rs12979860 revealed a significantly higher frequency of the TT genotype in the cirrhotic group compared to healthy controls. Additionally, the proportions of the CT genotype and TT genotypes were significantly higher in the HCC patients than in the healthy controls. Regarding the IFITM3 rs12252, the frequency of the CC genotype was significantly higher in the cirrhotic group compared to healthy controls. The proportion of the CT and CC genotypes in the HCC group was significantly higher than in healthy controls. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the IFITM3 rs12252 and IFNL4 rs12979860 genetic polymorphisms are linked to the development of cirrhosis and HCC in patients chronically infected with HCV. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License.
Keywords
genetic polymorphisms; Hepatitis C virus HCV; IFITM3 rs12252; IFNL4 rs12979860; liver disorders; Adult; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Case-Control Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Interferon Lambda; Interleukins; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Membrane Proteins; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Prognosis; RNA-Binding Proteins; IFITM3 protein, human; IFNL4 protein, human; interleukin derivative; lambda interferon; membrane protein; RNA binding protein; case control study; chronic hepatitis C; complication; etiology; follow up; genetic predisposition; genetics; human; isolation and purification; liver cell carcinoma; liver tumor; pathogenicity; pathology; single nucleotide polymorphism; virology
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 0
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