[The relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and the incidence of pancreatic cancer: a retrospective case-control study].
OBJECTIVE
An association between past history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and pancreatic cancer (PC) has recently been reported. We investigated whether HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are associated with the development of PC in Korea.


METHODS
We retrospectively recruited patients with PC and sex- and, age-matched control patients with stomach cancer (SC) during the previous 5 years. Serum HBsAg and anti-HCV were examined, and data on smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes, and the history of chronic pancreatitis (CP) were collected.


RESULTS
A total of 506 PC and 1008 SC were enrolled, with respectively 58.1% and 97.3% of these cases being confirmed histologically. The mean age and sex ratio (male:female) were 63.5 years and 1.5:1 in the PC patients and 63.9 years and 1.5:1 in the SC patients respectively (P>0.05). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) in univariate analysis were 0.90 (0.52-1.56; P=0.70) for HBsAg, 1.87 (0.87-4.01; P=0.11) for anti-HCV, 2.66 (2.04-3.48; P<0.001) for the presence of diabetes, 2.30 (1.83-2.90; P<0.001) for smoking, 1.14 (0.89-1.46; P=0.31) for alcohol intake, and 4.40 (1.66-11.66; P=0.003) for the history of CP. Independent risk factors for PC were presence of diabetes (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.00-3.56; P<0.001), smoking (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.93-3.21; P<0.001) and history of CP (OR, 4.60; 95% CI, 1.56-13.53; P=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant association between seropositivity for HBsAg or anti-HCV and PC. Further studies are warranted to clarify the association between HBV infection and PC in regions where HBV is endemic.
Hong
Seung Goun
SG
Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Ji Hoon
JH
Lee
Young Sun
YS
Yoon
Eileen
E
Lee
Hyun Jung
HJ
Hwang
Jin Ki
JK
Jung
Eun Suk
ES
Joo
Moon Kyung
MK
Jung
Young Kul
YK
Yeon
Jong Eun
JE
Park
Jong Jae
JJ
Kim
Jae Seon
JS
Bak
Young Tae
YT
Byun
Kwan Soo
KS
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors