title: Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatocellular carcinoma in the People's Republic of China.
abstract: Eighteen cases of heptocellular carcinoma from the People's Republic of China were investigated for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and tumor cells. The Sternberger-PAP immunoperoxidase technique utilizing monospecific antibody to HBsAg and a modified orcein method demonstrated cytoplasmic HBsAg in hepatocytes of 15 cases (83.3%) and tumor cells of 3 cases (16.7%). Thirteen of these cases were also investigated for HBs antigenemia and of these 11 were positive (84.6%). These hepatomas were often associated with macronodular cirrhosis and/or a persistent inflammatory process in the hepatic parenchyma. The high association of HBsAg and hepatoma indicates that the hepatitis B virus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy in China. It is concluded that a major public health effort to eradicate endemic hepatitis B infection is the most reasonable way to decrease the incidence of this cancer, which is common in China.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens