Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major form of liver cancer, is characterized by high lethality and a multifactorial etiology that includes hepatitis virus infections, lifestyle factors, and genetic predispositions. This study aimed to explore the impact of ZNF208 gene polymorphisms on the clinicopathological features of Taiwanese HCC patients, focusing on three specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs2188971, rs2188972, and rs8105767. Our cohort consisted of 438 HCC patients and 1193 control individuals. Clinical staging was determined using the tumor/node/metastasis (TNM) system, and various clinical indicators were collected. Our analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in ZNF208 expression in HCC patients compared to controls, indicating a potential role in HCC progression. Although no substantial association was observed between ZNF208 SNPs and increased HCC risk, specific clinical features such as distant metastasis and vascular invasion showed significant associations with these SNPs, suggesting their influence on disease aggressiveness. Demographic analyses highlighted the importance of factors like alcohol consumption and viral hepatitis markers in HCC. Our study underscores the complexity of genetic influences on HCC, with ZNF208 polymorphisms potentially affecting tumor progression and patient outcomes.