PNPLA3 I148M Polymorphism, Clinical Presentation, and Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background & Aims: Aim of this study was to evaluate whether the PNPLA3 I148M polymorphism, previously associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, influences the clinical presentation of HCC and survival. Methods: we considered 460 consecutive HCC patients referred to tertiary care centers in Northern Italy, 353 with follow-up data. Results: Homozygosity for PNPLA3 148M at risk allele was enriched in HCC patients with alcoholic liver disease or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD&NAFLD: relative risk 5.9, 95% c.i. 3.5-9.9; other liver diseases: relative risk 1.9, 95% c.i. 1.1-3.4). In ALD&NAFLD patients, the PNPLA3 148M allele was associated with younger age, shorter history of cirrhosis, less advanced (Child A) cirrhosis at HCC diagnosis, and lower HCC differentiation grade (p