Polymerase Chain Reaction to Detect Hepatitis B Virus DNA and RNA Sequences in Primary Liver Cancers from Patients Negative for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

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Abstract
The role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the course of patients with primary liver cancer who are negative for hepatitis B surface antigen has been debated. We used the polymerase chain reaction to evaluate 28 such patients for the presence of DNA and RNA sequences of the virus; 22 of these patients had associated cirrhosis. The patients were from areas with different prevalences of HBV infection (South Africa, Italy, France, and Japan).