Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Quantification of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Wong DK, Yuen MF, Poon RT, Yuen JC, Fung J, Lai CL

Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to measure the intrahepatic total hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels in tumor and non-tumor tissues in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: Intrahepatic total HBV DNA and cccDNA were measured in 25 HCC patients (21 hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive and 4 HBsAg-negative) by the Invader assay. RESULTS: A low level of intrahepatic HBV DNA was detectable in all HBsAg-negative patients. For HBsAg-positive patients, the intrahepatic total HBV DNA levels in the tumor and non-tumor tissues were comparable (P=0.903). However, the tumor tissues had significantly higher levels of cccDNA (0.35 vs. 0.16 copies/cell, P=0.030) and higher proportion of intrahepatic HBV DNA in the form of cccDNA (100% vs. 84%, P=0.004) than the non-tumor tissues. Seventeen out of 21 (81%) tumor tissues had intrahepatic HBV DNA solely in cccDNA form. Analysis of HBV mRNA expression indicated that HBV replication appeared to be lower in the tumor tissues than the non-tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the non-tumor tissues, the levels of HBV replication in the tumor tissues appeared to be lower, and cccDNA was the predominant form of HBV DNA in the tumor tissues.

Published 5 September 2006 in J Hepatol, 45(4): 553-9.
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