FREQUENT DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS X-GENE DNA IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND ADJACENT LIVER-TISSUE IN HEPATITIS-B SURFACE ANTIGEN-NEGATIVE PATIENTS

Hepatitis B virus is associated with human hepatocellular carcinoma. W e performed polymerase chain reaction for the X, C, S, and preS2/S reg ions of the viral genome in 23 hepatitis B surface antigen-negative he patocellular carcinomas and adjacent liver. Hepatitis B viral genomes were detected in 17 of 23 tumors and adjacent tissues(73.9%). Among re cognized transactivators, the X gene was present in 16 (69.6%) cases o f hepatocellular carcinoma, but preS2/S was detected in only 7 (30.4%) . Hepatitis B virus C and S regions were detected in 3 (13.0%) and 9 ( 39.1%) hepatocellular carcinomas, respectively. Serologic study reveal ed antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen , and hepatitis B e antigen in 14 patients; among these, X-gene DNA wa s detected in 12 of 14 tumors (85.7%). The X gene was also detected in 4 of 9 tumors of seronegative patients. The X gene, present in many h epatocellular carcinomas, may promote hepatocellular carcinoma in hepa titis B surface antigen-negative patients.