MDM2 SNP309T>G polymorphism increases susceptibility to hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a northeast Han Chinese population

Background and Aims The murine double minute 2 (MDM2) gene encodes a negative regulator of the tumour protein p53. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in MDM2 promoter, SNP309 T > G, has been showed to influence MDM2 protein expression and accelerate tumour formation. To investigate further the role of this locus, we examined the association of the SNP with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a northeast Han Chinese population. Methods MDM2 SNP309 was genotyped in 310 HBV‐related HCC patients, 314 non‐HCC subjects with HBV infection and 480 healthy controls by using a PCR‐RFLP method. Results Significant differences of MDM2 SNP309 were detected between HBV‐related HCC patients and healthy controls (OR 1.729, 95%CI 1.369–2.183, P