title: Chronic hepatitis virus infection increases the risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several reports have inconsistently demonstrated that there is an association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and pancreatic cancer (PC). The aim of the present meta-analysis is to assess this possible relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were identified by searching available database from January 2000 to July 2012. Possible associations between PC risk and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its antibody (HBsAb), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and its antibody (HBeAb), anti-HBcAg antibody (HBcAb), and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight case-control and two cohort studies were included, and their quality scores were assessed by the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). We found that HBsAg and anti-HCV seropositivity significantly increased risk of PC (OR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.11-1.48 and OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.44). The presence of HBsAb was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the risk of PC (OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.20-0.79) and HBeAb (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.99). HBsAg-/HBcAb+/HBsAb- or HBsAg-/HBcAb+/HBsAb+ profile was not related to PC risk (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 0.83-2.98 and OR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.72-2.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV/HCV infection increases the risk of PC. HBsAb and HBeAb seropositivity may be the protective factors against PC. It is still uncertain whether serological pattern of past exposure to HBV with or without natural immunity is associated with an enhanced probability of this malignancy.
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Health, and Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430030, China. pzhou@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.
authors: Shuai
authors: S
authors: Xing
authors: Zhi-Wei
authors: ZW
authors: Li
authors: Yuan-Feng
authors: YF
authors: Tian
authors: Li-Min
authors: LM
authors: Zhang
authors: Ming-Qiang
authors: MQ
authors: Li
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens