Occult hepatitis B viral DNA in liver carcinomas from a region with a low prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection.
Occult hepatitis B is defined by the presence of hepatitis B viral (HBV) DNA in the serum or liver in persons lacking hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. A high prevalence of occult HBV has been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from Asia, but little information is available on the prevalence of occult HBV in HCC from regions with a low prevalence of typical chronic hepatitis B infection. In a retrospective study, 19 cases of primary liver cancer were investigated for the presence of occult HBV DNA by amplification of the surface, core, and X gene. In addition, HBV copy numbers were quantitated by real time polymerase chain reaction, genotyped, and samples tested for covalently closed circular HBV DNA, which is a marker of active viral replication. Occult HBV was found in three of 19 cases (16%). Genotyping was successful in two cases, both of which were genotype A. HBV DNA copy numbers were low, all less than 10 copies/microg liver DNA. No closed circular HBV DNA was detected. Thus, in this study occult HBV was of genotype A and was found in a low percentage of cases of HCC and was associated with low tissue HBV DNA copy numbers and no detectable evidence for viral replication.
Kannangai
R
R
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Molmenti
E
E
Arrazola
L
L
Klein
A
A
Choti
M
M
Thomas
D L
DL
Torbenson
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014779:Virus Replication
D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens