Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatocellular carcinoma in the people's Republic of China

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Eighteen cases of hepatocellular carcinoma from the People's Republic of China were investigated for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and tumor cells. The Sternberger-PAP immunoperoxidase technique utilizing monospecific antibody to HBsAg and a modified orcein method demonstrated cytoplasmic HBsAg in hepatocytes of 15 cases (83.3%) and tumor cells of 3 cases (16.7%). Thirteen of these cases were also investigated for HBs antigenemia and of these 11 were positive (84.6%). These hepatomas were often associated with macronodular cirrhosis and/or a persistent inflammatory process in the hepatic parenchyma. The high association of HBsAg and hepatoma indicates that the hepatitis B virus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy in China. It is concluded that a major public health effort to eradicate endemic hepatitis B infection is the most reasonable way to decrease the incidence of this cancer, which is common in China.