Hepatitis B in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and its correlation with alpha-fetoprotein and liver enzymes.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in India ranges from 0.7 to 7.5 for men and 0.2 to 2.2 for women, per 100,000 population per year. The major risk factors for the development of HCC are infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus, and cirrhosis of liver. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and liver enzymes are widely used by clinicians for diagnostic purpose in HCC. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted in HCC patients related to HBV infection and to assess the significance of AFP and liver enzymes in it. Materials and Methods: Blood samples of 68 patients were taken. The samples were analyzed for AFP and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]). Liver enzymes were estimated by auto analyzer OLYMPUS AU400. AFP was analyzed by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: The mean values of AFP in serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and positive patients ranges from 22745.4 to 23269.3 ng/ml with P = 0.921. The mean value of ALP in HbsAg-negative patients was 418 U/ml, whereas in positive patients, it was 310 U/ml. Both the groups did not show any significant changes in AFP levels. The ALP showed slight rise in negative group. The other parameters did not show significant rise in all patients. Conclusion: These values suggest that there was no significant influence of viral etiology on AFP and liver enzymes level in HCC patients.

Genomic Pattern of GSTM1 and T1 Gene Null polymorphism of Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Eastern India.

OBJECTIVE: Homozygous deletion i.e., null polymorphism of the Glutathione S transferases genes hinders detoxification reactions by altering the sensitization of glutathione s transferases enzymes. Hence, we analysed the association between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: The study consists of 238 healthy controls and 160 diagnosed cases of HNC, who attended the Regional Cancer Centre, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (a tertiary care hospital). DNA was extracted from whole blood of patients and control using Qiagen DNA extraction kit. GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were examined using PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: GSTM0 null polymorphism was 26.25% and 15.13% in cases and control respectively. GSTT0 null polymorphism was observed in 18.13% cases and 8.82% in control groups. The GSTM0 null polymorphism was present significantly in case group as compared to control group (OR = 1.997, p = 0.006). There was also significant association of GSTT0 null polymorphism with case group as compared to control group (OR = 2.288, p = 0.006). The combined genotypes were also analysed. GSTM0T1 genotype (n = 27) was found to be most common among HNC group followed next by GSTM0T0 double deletion (n =15). CONCLUSION: The result indicated that there was strong association of GSTM0 and GSTT0 null polymorphism in those patients. The combined genotypes i.e., GSTM0T1 and GSTM0T0 null polymorphism also showed significant association in HNC patients.