Background: PPARG , PPARGC1A , and PPARGC1B  polymorphisms may be implicated in the development of cancer. 
Participants and methods: In this study, we selected PPARG  rs1801282 C>G and rs3856806 C>T, PPARGC1A  rs2970847 C>T, and PPARGC1B  rs7732671 G>C and rs17572019 G>A single-nucleotide polymorphisms to explore the relationship between these polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. A total of 584 HCC patients and 923 controls were enrolled.
Results: We found that PPARG  rs1801282 C>G polymorphism was correlated with a decreased susceptibility of HCC (CG vs CC, adjusted OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27–0.82, P =0.007; CG/GG vs CC, adjusted OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.31–0.88, P =0.015). However, PPARG  rs3856806 C>T polymorphism was a risk factor for HCC (TT vs CC, adjusted OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.25–4.36, P =0.008; TT vs CT/CC, adjusted OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.22–4.17, P =0.010). In a subgroup analysis by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infection status, age, sex, alcohol use, and smoking status, a significant association between PPARG  rs1801282 C>G polymorphism and a decreased risk of HCC in male, ≥53 years, never-smoking, never-drinking, and nonchronic HBV-infection-status subgroups was found. However, we found PPARG  rs3856806 C>T polymorphism increased the risk of HCC in never-smoking, never-drinking, and nonchronic HBV-infection-status subgroups. Haplotype-comparison analysis indicated that C_rs1801282T_rs3856806C_rs2970847G_rs7732671G_rs17572019, C_rs1801282T_rs3856806T_rs2970847G_rs7732671G_rs17572019, and C_rs1801282C_rs3856806C_rs2970847C_rs7732671A_rs17572019 haplotypes increased the risk of HCC. PPARG  C_rs1801282T_rs3856806 and G_rs1801282C_rs3856806 haplotypes also influenced the risk of HCC.
Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest PPARG  polymorphisms may influence the susceptibility of HCC. The PPARG , PPARGC1A , and PPARGC1B  haplotypes might be associated with HCC risk.
Keywords: PPARG , PPARGC1A , PPARGC1B , polymorphism, risk, hepatitis B virus, hepatocellular carcinoma