BACKGROUND: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that two long non-coding 
RNAs (lncRNAs), HULC and MALAT1, may participate in hepatocellular carcinoma 
(HCC) development and progression. However, genetic variations in the two 
lncRNAs and their associations with HCC susceptibility have not been reported. 
In this study, we hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 
HULC and MALAT1 may contribute to HCC risk.
METHODS: We conducted a case-control study and genotyped two SNPs, rs7763881 in 
HULC and rs619586 in MALAT1, in 1300 HBV positive HCC patients, 1344 HBV 
persistent carriers and 1344 subjects with HBV natural clearance to test the 
associations between the two SNPs and susceptibility to HCC and HBV chronic 
infection.
RESULTS: The variant genotypes of rs7763881 were significantly associated with 
decreased HCC risk in a dominant genetic model [AC/CC vs. AA: adjusted odds 
ration (OR)  =  0.81, 95% confidence intervals (CIs)  =  0.68-0.97, P  =  
0.022]. Furthermore, the variant genotypes of rs619586 was associated with 
decreased HCC risk with a borderline significance (AG/GG vs. AA: adjusted OR  =  
0.81, 95% CIs  =  0.65-1.01, P  =  0.057). However, no significant association 
was found between the two SNPs and HBV clearance.
CONCLUSIONS: The variant genotypes of rs7763881 in HULC may contribute to 
decreased susceptibility to HCC in HBV persistent carriers.