Association Between DEPDC5 and PNPLA3 Variants and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in HCV-Infected Patients in Egypt

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and life-threatening form of liver cancer worldwide. HCC is the second most common cancer among males and the sixth among females in Egypt. The study investigated the association between the risk of getting HCC, DEPDC5, and PNPLA3 variants. One hundred healthy controls and one hundred HCC patients with an HCV infection were included. Real-time PCR was used to examine the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for PNPLA3 (rs738409) and DEPDC5 (rs1012068). The development of HCC was substantially linked to the DEPDC5 variations. Specifically, the mutant and heterozygous genotypes of DEPDC5 showed a strong association with HCC (OR = 15.98 [95% CI: 5.53-46.13], p <0.001; OR = 6.04 [95% CI: 3.08-11.84], p <0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between the PNPLA3 polymorphism and the risk of HCC. Nevertheless, the PNPLA3 SNP was significantly correlated with HCC in individuals with elevated AFP levels (p=0.026). These findings suggest that DEPDC5 could serve as a marker for the diagnosis of liver disease progression to HCC among HCV patients in Egypt. Additionally, PNPLA3 polymorphisms may affect the progression and severity of HCC, particularly in cases with elevated AFP levels.