Hepatitis B virus markers in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Based on serological studies, Sri Lanka has a relatively low Hepatitis B virus (HB V) [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)] carrier rate of 0.9% and a low prevalence of HBV (5-10%) among patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). To investigate this further we looked for HBV markers in PHC using more sensitive immunoliistochemical methods. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue obtained from 18 PHCs were studied. Only 7 of the specimens contained non-tumour liver tis¬sue around the PHC, and evidence of cirrhosis was seen in 5 of them. Four micron thick sections of tissue were stained, with polyclonai antibod¬ies directed against HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) using a three stage immunoperoxidase technique (peroxidase-anti peroxidase). Positive control liver tissue was used in all experiments. HBsAg was detected in6(33.3%)of the 18 specimens (in the tumour tissue only in 3 speci¬mens, tumour tissue and surrounding cirrhotic liver tissue in 1. and surrounding cirrhotic liver tissue only and not in tumour tissue in 2 speci¬mens). The staining was cytoplasrnic. HBcAg was not detected in any of the tissue specimens tested. Nodatareg;irding serum alphafetoprotein levels were available from the patients medical records. From the preliminary results of this on going study, HBsAg markers appear to be more frequently associated with PHC than serological studies from Sri Lanka have indicated. HBV may, therefore, have arnore important aetiologi-cal role in PHC in this country than was previ¬ously believed.