Expression and significance of HBV genes and their antigens in human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

AIM:To explore the etiology and pathogenesis of human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the expression of HBV genes and HBV-antigens was detected in the cancerous tissue and its surrounding hepatic tissues.METHODS:HBV-antigens were detected by immunohistochemical technique and HBV genes were examined with in situ hybridization.RESULTS:In 20 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, the positive detection rate of HBxAg, pre-S1, pre-S2, HBsAg and HBcAg was 75%, 40%, 40%, 10% and 0%, respectively, and in the surrounding hepatic tissues of 19 cases the positive rates were 84.2%, 47.9%, 47.9%, 31.6% and 31.6%.Among 40 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, the positive rate of HBV-DNA, x-gene, pre-s gene, s gene and s gene fell on 77.5%, 70.0%, 47.5%, 40% and 42.5%, respectively,and of the surrounding hepatic tissues in 33 cases, 87.9%, 84.8%, 63.6%, 69.7% and 66.7%.CONCLUSION:The development of human primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma bears a close relationship with chronic persistent HBV infection. Particularly,the x gene of HBV and its protein (HBxAg) might play an important role in pathogenesis of hepatic carcinoma.