Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） of apoptotic-related gene Fas／FasL and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.
MethodsPeripheral blood samples were collected from 126 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2016. With the Sequenom MassARRAY system using matrix-assisted laser desorption Ionization （MALDI） time-of-flight mass spectrometry （TOFMS）， genotyping of Fas polymorphic loci rs1571013， rs1800682 and rs1468063 and FasL polymorphic loci rs6700734 and rs763110 was carried out. The peripheral blood samples of 130 healthy subjects were used as control. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis was used to analyze the genetic balance of the above 5 SNPs loci. Comparison between HCC patients and healthy controls in terms of rs1571013， rs1800682， rs1468063， rs6700734 and rs763110 were made to calculate the odds ratio （OR） and its 95% confidence interval （95%CI） to evaluate the relationship between SNPs and susceptibility to HCC. Results The distribution of 126 HCC patients and 130 healthy subjects regarding Fas polymorphism of rs1571013， rs1800682 and rs1468063 and FasL polymorphism of rs6700734 and rs763110 were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant difference in the distribution of rs1468063， rs6700734 and rs763110 genotypes between the HCC group and the control group （P＞0.05）， and had nothing to do with the susceptibility to HCC. As for the distribution of rs1571013， proportions of A／A genotype and A allele were higher in HCC group than those of the control group （P<0.05）. As compared to G／G genotype， A／A genotype increased the risk of HCC to 2.492 fold （P<0.05）， and the risk of HCC of A／G and A／G+AA did not change （P＞0.05）. Taking the G allele as the reference，risk of HCC for A increased to 1.549 folds （P<0.05）. As for the distribution of rs1800682，proportions of G／G genotype and G allele were higher in HCC group than those of the control group （P<0.05）. As compared to A／A genotype， G／G genotype increased the risk of HCC to 2.880 fold （P<0.05） and the risk of HCC of A／G and A／G+G／G did not change （P＞0.05）. Taking the A allele as the reference， risk of HCC for G increased to1.651 folds （P<0.05）. Conclusion Fas rs1571013 and rs1800682 are associated with HCC susceptibility and the risk of HCC carrying mutant alleles was increased， presenting certain value in screening susceptible individuals of HCC.