| Theme |
Current Topics in Hepatitis viruses |
| Title |
HBV Past Infection in the HCV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| Author |
Atsushi Shimoda |
First Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine,Kanazawa University |
| Author |
Shuichi Kaneko |
First Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine,Kanazawa University |
| [ Summary ] |
HCV-RNA was isolated in 1989 and the HCV antibody test subsequently became available. It is understood that HBs antigen positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is due to HBV and that HCV antibody positive HCC is due to HCV. The respective incidences are approximately 25% and 70%. Judging from this epidemiological data, the major cause of HCC HCV-mediated viral carcinogenesis. However, HCV is an RNA virus and does not have reverse-transcriptase. The mechanism of HCV hepatocarcinogenesis thus remains unknown because there is no possibility of the HCV genome being integrated into the DNA of its host. Some cases of HCC are HBs antigen negative and are classified as non-B. In these cases, HBc antibody is positive, indicating past HBV infection. The relation between past HBV infection and hepatocarcinogenesis has not yet been elucidated. |