Detection of hepatitis B virus X-region DNA in liver tissue from patients with hepatitis C virus-associated cirrhosis who subsequently developed hepatocellular carcinoma.
The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively higher in Japan than in Western countries. The presence of hepatitis B virus X (HBX)-DNA in the liver tissue samples obtained on enrollment from 69 patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis who were subsequently followed in our hospital was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). During the follow-up period of 5.7+/-3.2 years (mean +/- SD), 52 (75%) of 69 patients developed HCC. The PCR analysis indicated that the HBX-DNA sequence was detected in 25 (48%) of 52 patients who developed HCC during follow-up, but in only 3 (18%) of 17 patients who did not (P<0.05). These results suggest that HBX, a hepatitis B viral product relevant to hepatocarcinogenesis, is involved in development of HCC in some patients chronically infected by HCV in Japan.
Shibata
Y
Y
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan.
Nakata
K
K
Tsuruta
S
S
Hamasaki
K
K
Hayashida
Y
Y
Kato
Y
Y
Nakao
K
K
Eguchi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015534:Trans-Activators; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase