Association of CD44 polymorphisms and susceptibility to HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the Chinese population.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether CD44 polymorphisms were correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to reveal a new potential target for early prediction, prevention, and diagnosis of HCC.

Method: This study involved 96 cases with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 96 cases with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (LC), 204 cases with HCC related to the hepatitis B virus, and 210 healthy controls. The genotype of rs8193 was determined using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, while the genotypes of rs10836347 and rs13347 were determined by direct sequencing.