Detection of hepatitis B virus X-region DNA in liver tissue from patients with hepatitis C virus-associated cirrhosis who subsequently developed hepatocellular carcinoma

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively higher in Japan than in Western c ountries. The presence of hepatitis B virus X (HBX)-DNA in the liver tissue samples obtained on enrollment from 69 patients with HCV-associated cirrho sis who were subsequently followed in our hospital was analyzed by polymera se chain reaction (PCR). During the follow-up period of 5.7+/-3.2 years (me an+/-SD), 52 (75%) of 69 patients developed HCC. The PCR analysis indicated that the HBX-DNA sequence was detected in 25 (48%) of 52 patients who deve loped HCC during follow-up, but in only 3 (18%) of 17 patients who did not (P<0.05). These results suggest that HEX, a hepatitis B viral product relev ant to hepato-carcinogenesis, is involved in development of HCC in some pat ients chronically infected by HCV in Japan.