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Epstein-Barr virus and human hepatocellular carcinoma
Shamim Akhter1, Huifeng Liu, Ramesh Prabhu
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Cancer Letters
|March 15, 2003
Summary
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) does not appear to contribute to liver cancer development. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are linked to hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic livers, suggesting other factors are involved.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Oncology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been hypothesized to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by enhancing hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication.
- Previous studies detected EBV DNA in HCV-positive HCC from Japanese patients, supporting this hypothesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-cirrhotic livers.
- To determine the prevalence of EBV, HCV, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HCC tissues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 31 non-cirrhotic HCC tissue samples.
- Detection of EBV, HCV, and HBV DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and PCR for HCV detection; PCR for EBV and HBV detection; beta-globin PCR and Southern blot for quality control.
Main Results:
- EBV DNA was not detected in any of the HCC samples.
- HCV was detected in 32% of cases, and HBV was detected in 38% of cases.
- Six patients (19%) tested positive for both HCV and HBV; all samples were positive for beta-globin.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-cirrhotic livers.
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is not associated with HCC in this cohort.
- Additional unidentified risk factors likely contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis in non-cirrhotic livers.