Backgro,und.: Hepatocellular ,carcinoma (HCC) is a ,global health problem. HCC is the



fourth common malignancy in Egypt. It is a crucial medical ne,ed to pred.ict hepat,ocellular carcinoma development in ,cirrhotic liver patients. Objectives · this stu,dy aims to investigate the association between TLR-4 ,gene polymorphism (rs2149356) ,and the probability of HCC d,evelopmen.t among chronic hepatitis C virus infected patients
,and ,clarify the role of .serum IL-17 in pati,ents with end stage liver disease and HCC in HCV infected patients.. Metho,dology · the study included 25 patients with chron.ic hepatitis C infec·tion, 25 patients with ,chronic hepatitis C infect.ion and H,CC, and 25 apparently healtl1y control subjects as controls. All participants undergone full clin.ic.al and laboratory assessment. TLR4 (rs21493516) Gil' polymorphism g,enotyping by PCR­ RFLP (polymerase chain r,e.action - .restrict.ion fragment length polym,orphism) an,d serum IL-17 detectio1n by ELISA ( enZ)1me-linked immunosorbent ass.ay ). Results: TLR-4 (rs2149356) GG genotyp,e was s.i,gnij'icantly associated w.ith chronic H,CV with HCC