Abstract:

Objective To investigate the correlation between the rs 6951997 polymorphism in the gene encoding Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1（Rac 1） and familial clustering of genetic risk of primary liver cancer in the Zhuang population in Fusui County，Guangxi. Methods Genotype and allele frequencies at the rs 6951997 polymorphism were determined in 20 families（n=79 individuals） with liver cancer and in 10 healthy control families（n=40 individuals） using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Non-conditional logistic regression was used to identify relationships between gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatocarcinogenesis. Results The GT genotype was slightly more frequent in patients from families with liver cancer than in normal controls，but the difference did not achieve significance（OR 3.76，95%CI 0.28 to 51.45，P=0.32）. The two groups of patients presented similar frequencies of the T allele （96.83% vs 98.75%） and of the G allele （3.16% vs 1.25%）（both P>0.05）. Conclusion The rs 6951997 polymophism in the Rac 1 gene may not be associated with family clustering of genetic susceptibility for primary liver cancer in the Zhuang population of Fusui County，Guangxi．

Key words: Liver neoplasm, Rac 1 gene, Single nucleotide polymorphism, Family clustering, Genetic susceptibility