OBJECTIVETo study the genetic polymorphisms of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1F(UGT1F) and the relationship between polymorphisms and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe polymorphisms of UGT1F of 84 patients with HCC and 144 healthy controls were detected by PCR-denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis-sequencing or PCR-single strain conformation polymorphsim-sequencing.

RESULTSThree new single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) were found: the first one was a transversion of TrarrG at nucleotide 232; the second one was the transition of ArarrG at nucleotide 528 in exon 1; the last one was the transition of ArarrG at nucleotide 376 in intron 2. Additionally, the polymorphism at nucleotide 754 was proved in this study. The frequencies of genotype and allele of 4 loci in cases and controls were analyzed. Both frequencies of genotype G/G(13.10%) and allele G (29.17%) of position 754 of UGT1F in cases were sig nificantly greater than those in controls (2.78% and 19.44% ) respectively. For other loci, the difference between the two groups were not significant.

CONCLUSIONExons 2-5 of UGT1F are highly conservative, but exon 1 emerges highly polymorphic. And the polymorphism at locus 754 may be related with HCC.