Hepatitis C virus genotypes and viremia and hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a well recognized cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenic significance of HCV genotypes in hepatocarcinogenesis is undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotypic distribution and viremic level of HCV in patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis with or without HCC.


METHODS
A total of 28 HCV-infected patients with HCC (HCC+) and 38 patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis without HCC (HCC-) were studied. HCV genotype was assessed by the genotype-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method of Okamoto and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR). Hepatitis C viremia was quantitated with the branched-chain DNA (bDNA) assay.


RESULTS
Using the Okamoto method, we found genotype 1b in 64% of the HCC+ group and 74% of the HCC- group, 36% of the HCC+ group and 16% of the HCC- group were coinfected with a combination of genotype 1b and another genotype. Using the RFLP method, we found genotype 1b in 41% of the HCC+ group and in 24% of the HCC- group. Other genotypes accounted for 18% of the HCC+ group and 55% of the HCC- group; no combination genotypes were identified. Poor concordance occurred between the two genotyping methods. Mean bDNA levels were not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that no particular HCV genotypes were associated with HCC and genotype did not appear to influence the development of HCV-associated HCC.
Reid
A E
AE
Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
Koziel
M J
MJ
Aiza
I
I
Jeffers
L
L
Reddy
R
R
Schiff
E
E
Lau
J Y
JY
Dienstag
J L
JL
Liang
T J
TJ
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018067:Flaviviridae; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications*
D012367:RNA, Viral