| Theme |
Non-B, Non-C Hepatocellular Carcinoma : The Latest Findings |
| Title |
The Role of HBV in the Non-B, Non-C Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| Author |
Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi |
Department of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
The background diseases related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are uncertain in more than half of the patients who test negative for both HBsAg and anti-HCV. Approximately two-thirds of these patients have complications due to liver cirrhosis. HBV may persist in hepatocytes after recovery from acute self-limited hepatitis either in the episomal or the integrated form. We should recognize that patients with integrated HBV alone often lack serum anti-HBc or anti-HBs. The roles of HBV in the pathogenesis of non-B, non-C HCC are largely unknown. In some cases, HBV DNA is integrated into the genome of hosts. The role of the epidomal form of HBV DNA in the pathogenesis of HCC may be clarified by studying woodchucks, that are known to have complications from HCC after recovery from transient woodchuck hepatitis viral (WHV) infection. |