Background Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified that chromosome 1p36.22 locus contributes to the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Objective We aimed to identify the functional causative variant(s) and target gene(s) at this locus.
Design Two independent HCC case - control populations, totally consisting of 1934 cases and 1446 controls, were used to validate the association between 1p36.22 locus and HCC risk. The expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) and eQTL-GWAS co-localisation analyses were used to identify the target gene at 1p36.22.
The effects of the target gene on tumourigenesis were assessed in HCC cells, nude mouse models and conditional knockout mouse models. Results We confirmed the association between 1p36.22 locus and HCC risk (p=4.99 x 10 - 24 ), and revealed that this locus is an eQTL of the kinesin family member 1B isoform β ( KIF1Bβ ) gene.
Further, we demonstrated that KIF1Bβ plays a tumour suppressive role in HCC in vitro and in vivo.
Gut (BMJ) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 07 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on KIF1B{beta} suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma by transporting and secreting FBLN5 to attenuate the integrin pathway.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.