X gene mutations in hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis, with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.
Specific mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome have been reported to be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The goal of this study was to determine whether mutations in the HBV X gene are associated with the development of HCC in hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis. Forty-two patients infected with HBV genotype C2 with cirrhosis and HCC were compared with 46 patients with cirrhosis but without HCC. X gene mutations were determined by direct sequencing in all patients. The HCC and non-HCC groups were similar with respect to clinical characteristics, and the presence of T1762/A1764, T1653, and V1753 mutations was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.068, P = 0.097, P = 0.442, respectively). Only the B1499 mutation was associated significantly with HCC (P = 0.015) (odds ratio: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.24-9.48). In hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients, advanced age was associated significantly with HCC (P = 0.038), whereas in HBeAg-negative patients, the B1499 mutation was associated more significantly with HCC (P = 0.01). Patients in the B1499 mutation group exhibited significantly higher AST and ALT levels compared with patients infected the wild-type virus. In conclusion, B1499 is a novel mutation associated with HCC in Korean patients with cirrhosis infected with HBV genotype C2.
Choi
Chang Soo
CS
Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
Cho
Eun Young
EY
Park
Raekil
R
Kim
Se-Jin
SJ
Cho
Ji-Hyun
JH
Kim
Haak Cheoul
HC
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein