title: Antibody to hepatitis-B core antigen in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma.
abstract: Antibody to hepatitis-B core antigen (anti-HBc) was assayed in the serum of patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (P.H.C.) and controls from Hong Kong, West Africa, and the United States.  In each region the prevalence of anti-HBc was higher in P.H.C. patients than in controls, ranging from 70 to 95% in the patients and from 20 to 68% in the controls from Asia and Africa; 24% of P.H.C. patients and 4% of controls from the U.S. had anti-HBc.  These data support the hypothesis that chronic infection with hepatitis-B virus is aetiologically related to P.H.C., especially in Asia and Africa, although other factors must also be involved.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002353:Carrier State; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D008110:Liver Extracts; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D012675:Senegal; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D008110:Liver Extracts