H. Yotsuyanagi et al., Virologic analysis of non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan: Frequent involvement of hepatitis B virus, J INFEC DIS, 181(6), 2000, pp. 1920-1928
Serum and liver tissues from hepatitis B surface antigen-negative/anti-hepa
titis C virus (HCV)-negative (non-B, non-C) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
patients in Japan were examined for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)
, HCV, and TT virus (TTV) by polymerase chain reaction. The studies evaluat
ed the contribution of these viruses to pathogenesis of HCC. HBV DNA was de
tected in the sera of 20 (47.6%) of 42 non-B, non-C HCC patients, which was
significantly higher than in age-matched controls without liver disease (P
< .001), In 8 of 12 patients with liver tissues available, REV DNA was det
ected in cancerous and adjacent noncancerous liver tissues. No HCV RNA was
detected. The positivity for TTV DNA was not significantly different betwee
n HCC patients and controls, These results indicate that HBV is associated
with a substantial proportion of non-B, non-C HCC cases in Japan. The role
of HBV in hepatocarcinogenesis in such patients needs to be clarified.