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Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatocellular carcinoma in the people's Republic of China
Author(s) -
Ilardi Carl F.,
Ying Y. Y.,
Ackerman Lauren V.,
Elias Jules M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19801001)46:7<1612::aid-cncr2820460721>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , hbsag , medicine , hepatitis b virus , cirrhosis , liver cancer , hepatitis b , antigen , hepatitis , antibody , malignancy , cancer , virology , immunology , virus , pathology
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.