Truncated hepatitis B virus RNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma: Its representation in patients with advancing age

RNA from tissue samples of 46 HBsAg seropositive hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) patients was analysed by an RT/PCR assay which discriminates full-leng th hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA polyadenylated at the unique viral poly(A) s ignal governing replication from truncated HBV RNA polyadenylated at a cryp tic poly(A) signal. In the tumor the apparent coexistence was less frequent than in the peritumor while the predominance of one of the two RNAs was mo re frequent. The mean age of patients with a predominance of truncated RNA in the tumor was 9 years above those patients with a predominance of full l ength RNA (p < 0.05). An inverse relationship existed between the presence of truncated RNA and the presence of RNA carrying core gene sequences. The results of this study establish truncated RNA as a frequent marker of the c hronic infection but leave it open whether it is found preferentially in pa tients developing HCC or generally in chronically infected individuals.