Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues from hepatitis C-positive patients

Background: We have previously shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicati on is promoted by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro. The aim of this st udy was to examine the EBV load in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues f rom HCV antibody-positive patients. Methods: DNA was extracted from paraffi n sections from 168 HCC patients. After amplification of a region in the EB V BamHI W sequence by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), it was detected by Southern hybridization and semiquantified. Ten hyperplastic les ions from HCV-positive patients and 35 non-tumorous samples from hepatitis- negative patients served as controls. The PCR results were analyzed on the basis of the patient's hepatitis status. Univariate and multivariate analys es were performed to identify clinicopathologic factors for predicting EBV infection in HCC tissues. Results: More than one copy of EBV DNA per 100 ce lls was detected in 56 (33%) of the HCC sections. The detection ratio in HC C tissues from HCV antibody-positive patients was 40% (45 of 113), which wa s significantly higher than that in tissues from HBV surface antigen-positi ve patients (14%, 5 of 37; P = 0.0018). The patient's serum HBV surface ant igen and HCV antibody independently predicted the EBV positivity of HCC tis sues. Conclusions: These results support our hypothesis that EBV could play an important role in the development of HCV-related HCC.