Sex-dependent differences in DNA copy number alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To identify the sex-related DNA copy number alterations (CNA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization Carray- CGH) was used to examine 17 female and 46 male HCCs. Two-tailed Fisher's exact test or χ² test was used to compare the differences in CNA between females and males. Results The overall frequencies and patterns of CNA in female and male cases were similar. However, female HCC tumors presented more copy number gains compared to male on lq21. 3-q22(76. 5% vs 37. 0%, P = 0. 009), llqll(35. 3% vs 0. 0%, P = 0. 000 2) and 19ql3. 31-ql3. 32(23. 5% vs 0. 0%, P = 0. 004), and more loss on 16pll. 2(35. 3% vs 6. 5%, P = 0. 009). Relative to females, male cases had more copy number loss on llqll(63. 0% vs 17. 6%, P = 0. 002). Further analyses showed that llqll gain was correlated with 19ql3. 31-ql3. 32 gain(P = 0. 042) and 16pll. 2 loss(P = 0. 033), while lq21. 3-q22 gain was correlated with 19ql3. 31-ql3. 32 gain(P = 0. 046). Conclusion Our findings suggest that CNA may play an important role in sex-related difference in HCC development.