Relationships between the Osteocalcin gene polymorphisms, serum osteocalcin levels, and hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population.

Background Available evidence has demonstrated that osteocalcin may play a role in pathogenesis of cancer, and mutation of the osteocalcin gene may be involved in the cancer development. The aim of this study is to determine whether osteocalcin gene polymorphisms are associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Chinese population.