Objective      To investigate the relationship of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) gene with the susceptibility and prognoses of liver cancer. Methods      Liver tissue samples from 123 patients pathologically diagnosed with primary hepatic carcinoma and 141 healthy individuals were collected in our hospital from February 2008 to May 2014. Direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) were used to detect the SNPs of PD-L1 gene in 3 loci

rs4143185

rs2890658 and rs17718883. Results      The heterozygous mutation of AC genotype in PD-L1 rs2890658 and CG genotype in rs17718883 reduced the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (OR=0.43

P=0.035; OR=0.01

P＜0.001)

while the GG genotype in rs4143185 increased the risk (OR=2.80

P=0.057). The median survival time was 20 and 17 months respectively in the patients carrying AC+CC and AA genotypes in rs2890658 locus (P=0.042)

and 21 and 15 months separately in those carrying GC+GG and CC genotypes at rs4143185 locus (P0.01). Cox regression analysis suggested that the mutation genotypes of rs4143185 resulted in good prognosis (HR1

P0.05). Conclusion      PD-L1 SNPs in the loci of rs2890658 and rs17718883 are associated with susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma

and those of rs2890658 and rs4143185 loci are related with the prognosis.