| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
HARA Megumi Saga University, Faculty of Medicine, Research associate, 医学部, 助手 (90336115)
HIGAKI Yasuki Saga University, Faculty of Medicine, Associate professor, 医学部, 助教授 (10228702)
山本 匡介 佐賀大学, 医学部, 助教授 (00117285)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥13,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥4,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥4,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥4,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,500,000)
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| Research Abstract |
In this study, the main objectives were: 1) to evaluate whether the screening program for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), which had been implemented in Saga Prefecture since 1993, actually contributed to lowering mortality from liver cancer; and 2) to examine the roles of both genetic factors (e.g., polymorphisms of ALDH2, ADH2, CYP1A2 and hOGG1) and environmental factors (e.g., alcohol, smoking and coffee use) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Regarding 1), we conducted an interview survey of 167 HCV carriers (participation rate: 82%), who were identified by the health screening in Saga City between 2001 and 2002. Although most carriers were attending clinics, the administration rate of interferon was low (8%), suggesting that interferon therapy may not properly be conducted by physicians. Regarding 2), we performed a case-control study of 209 HCC patients and 381 patients with chronic liver disease without HCC. As for alcohol drinking, heavy use (69 g/day or more) was strongly associated with HCC risk (odds ratio: 7.0), yet light to moderate use (less than 69 g/day) was not. Among ALDH2 heterozygotes (ALDH2^*1/^*2), however, light to moderate alcohol use was associated with an increased risk (odds ratio: 2.0), suggesting the role of acetaldehyde in hepatocarcinogenesis. As for cigarette smoking, the smoking amount during the last 5 years, in particular, was associated with an increased risk, and this association was more pronounced for wild-type homozygotes of CYP1A2 (G-2964A polymorphism) carrying high inducibility of the enzyme, indicating that cigarette smoking may be involved in the late stage of HCC development. The association between hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and HCC was not evident. Our study also suggested that coffee drinking may lower the risk of HCC (odds ratio for 3 cups/day or more: 0.5).
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