Significance of viral status on occurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a challenging global health problem, with more than 350 million people chronically infected and at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Interactions that occur among host, environmental, and viral factors determine the natural course and predict the prognosis of patients with chronic HBV infection. In the past decades, several important viral factors of predictive of HCC have been identified, such as high hepatitis B surface antigen level, seropositivity of hepatitis B e antigen, high viral load, viral genotype, and specific viral sequence mutations. Identification of certain viral risk factors for HCC development and stratification of patient risk are very important to perform future surveillance programs. In this article, we thus reviewed the risk of viral factors involved in hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Occult hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is a challenging pathobiological and clinical issue that has been widely debated for several decades. By definition, OBI is characterized by the persistence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue (and in some cases also in the serum) in the absence of circulating HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Many epidemiological and molecular studies have indicated that OBI is an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. OBI may exert direct pro-oncogenic effects through the activation of the same oncogenic mechanisms that are activated in the course of an HBsAg-positive infection. Indeed, in OBI as in HBV-positive infection, HBV DNA can persist in the hepatocytes both integrated into the host genome as well as free episome, and may maintain the capacity to produce proteins-mainly X protein and truncated preS-S protein - provided with potential transforming properties. Furthermore, OBI may indirectly favor HCC development. It has been shown that the persistence of very low viral replicative activity during OBI may induce mild liver necro-inflammation continuing for life, and substantial clinical evidence indicates that OBI can accelerate the progression of liver disease towards cirrhosis that is considered the most important risk factor for HCC development.     

乙型肝炎病毒X基因突变与肝细胞癌

原发性肝细胞癌是世界上最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,慢性HBV感染是导致肝细胞癌的主要病因。HBV诱发肝细胞癌的确切机制仍不十分清楚。目前在HBV相关肝细胞癌病人血清和肝癌组织中发现了许多HBV X基因突变体,一些与肝细胞癌发生发展密切相关。本文主要就HBV X基因突变与肝细胞癌研究进展进行综述。     

Hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

Epidemiological studies have provided overwhelming evidence for a causal role of chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the pathogenesis of HBV infection and carcinogenesis of HBV-associated HCC are still elusive.This review will summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms involved in HBV-related liver carcinogenesis.The role of HBV in tumor formation appears to be complex,and may involve both direct and indirect mechanisms.Integration of H...     

Coexistence of low levels of HBsAg and high levels of anti-HBs may increase risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients with high HBV load

ObjectiveThe clinical significance of coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains controversial. This study was aimed to assess the association of this serological pattern with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with CHB.MethodsIn this cross-section study, 206 CHB patients with coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs and 206 CHB patients with HBsAg alone were included to evaluate the risk of HCC development by logistic regression analysis. In addition, a retrospective cohort of 260 patients with CHB was recruited to estimate the cumulative incidence of HCC by Kaplan–Meier analysis.ResultsThe serological pattern of coexistence of HBsAg/anti-HBs, with high levels of (“High”) HBsAg/low levels of (“Low”) anti-HBs, were considered as independent risk factors for HCC. In particular, patients with “High” HBsAg/“High” anti-HBs [odds ratio (OR), 4.295; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.104–16.699; p = 0.035] and “Low” HBsAg/ “High” anti-HBs (OR, 3.207; 95%CI, 1.299–7.919; p = 0.012) exhibited significantly higher risk for HCC development. However, only “Low” HBsAg /“High” anti-HBs might increase risk of HCC in CHB patients with high HBV load (logrank p < 0.001) in our cohort study.ConclusionThe coexistence of “Low” HBsAg /“High” anti-HBs might increase the risk of HCC development in CHB patients with high HBV load, which reflected that the long-term interaction between immune response and virus might lead to the development of HCC. The identification of the patients with poor prognosis will help clinicians to refine the therapeutic decisions and individualize follow-up strategies.     

乙型肝炎病毒基本核心启动子突变与基因型的关系

目的研究乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）基本核心启动子（BCP）突变与HBV基因型的关系。方法随机选取我院68例慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血,采用荧光定量PCR结合TaqmanMGB探针技术检测HBV基因型,并用基因扩增和DNA测序方法检测BCPT1762／A1764双突变。结果68例患者HBV分型中,B基因型20例,C基因型46例,B、C混合型1例,未分型（非B非C型）1例。66例B、C两基因型中,B基因型组T1762／A1764双突变5例,突变率25．0％（5／20）,C基因型组T1762／A1764双突变24例,突变率52．2％（24／46）,C基因型T1762／A1764双突变率明显高于B基因型（P〈0．05）。结论苏州地区慢性乙型肝炎患者基因型以C型和B型为主,C基因型比B基因型更易发生T1762／A1764双突变。     

Hepatitis B viral load affects prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a complex disease that is dually challenging to treat due to underlying chronic liver disease in addition to the cancer itself.The prognosis of patients with HCC is determined by intrahepatic tumor status and reserved hepatic function.Hepatitis B virus(HBV)is an established major risk factor of HCC development,and HBV viral load is being increasingly recognized as a prognostic factor in the presence of established HCC.High HBV viral load may affect the prognosis of HBV-related HCC patients in several ways.First,it is associated with more frequent recurrence of HBV-related HCC after treatment.Second,it is associated with more occurrence and severity of potentially life-threatening HBV reactivation.Last,it is associated with more worsened liver function,which limits the therapeutic options for HBV-related HCC.HBV,directly or indirectly,can induce hepatocarcinogenesis.In patients with a high HBV DNA level and subsequent active hepatitis,adhesion molecules expressed on the sinusoidal cells are up-regulated and may increase intrahepatic metastasis.HCC progression after treatment can lead to a poor prognosis by reducing number of normal functioning hepatocytes.Thus,high HBV viral load can affect the prognosis of patientswith HCC by frequent recurrence after treatment for HCC and deterioration of hepatic function associated with HCC progression.Recent meta-analysis showed that antiviral treatment reduces HCC recurrence and liver-related mortality after curative therapy of HCC.Given the strong relationship between high HBV DNA load and poor survival outcome of HCC patients due to cancer progression,it is expected that long-term antiviral therapy results in the sustained HBV suppression,control of inflammation,reduction in HCC progression,and eventually in improved overall survival.     

Genomic change in hepatitis B virus associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To determine the genomic changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and evaluate their role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients chronically infected with genotype C HBV.METHODS: Two hundred and forty chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were subjected and followed for a median of 105 mo. HCC was diagnosed in accordance with AASLD guidelines. The whole X, S, basal core promoter (BCP), and precore regions of HBV were sequenced using the direct sequencing method.RESULTS: All of the subjects were infected with genotype C HBV. Out of 240 CHB patients, 25 (10%) had C1653T and 33 (14%) had T1753V mutation in X region; 157 (65%) had A1762T/G1764A mutations in BCP region, 50 (21%) had G1896A mutation in precore region and 67 (28%) had pre-S deletions. HCC occurred in 6 patients (3%). The prevalence of T1753V mutation was significantly higher in patients who developed HCC than in those without HCC. The cumulative occurrence rates of HCC were 5% and 19% at 10 and 15 years, respectively, in patients with T1753V mutant, which were significantly higher than 1% and 1% in those with wild type HBV (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: The presence of T1753V mutation in HBV X-gene significantly increases the risk of HCC development in patients chronically infected with genotype C HBV.     

乙型肝炎和肝癌患者乙型肝炎病毒前C区1896位点突变的研究

为探索乙型肝炎病毒前Ｃ区突变是否与肝损程度及肝癌发生有关，对１３９例ＨＢｓＡｇ、ＨＢＶＤＮＡ和抗－ＨＢｅ阳性，ＨＢｅＡｇ阴性的慢性ＨＢＶ感染者和肝癌患者的血清标本，采用３＇碱基特异性聚合酶反应进行了第１８９６位核苷酸突变的检测分析。     

Prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,with the majority of cases associated with persistent infection from hepatitis B virus(HBV)or hepatitis C virus(HCV).Natural history studies have identified risk factors associated with HCC development among chronic HBV and HCV infection.High-risk infected individuals can now be identified by the usage of risk predictive scores.Vaccination plays a central role in the prevention of HBV-related HCC.Treatment of chronic HBV infection,especially by nucleoside analogue therapy,could also reduce the risk of HBV-related HCC.Concerning HCV infection,besides the advocation of universal precautions to reduce the rate of infection,pegylated interferon and ribavirin could also reduce the risk of HCV-related HCC among those achieving a sustained virologic response.Recently there has been mounting evidence on the role of chemopreventive agents in reducing HBV-and HCV-related HCC.The continued advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of HCC would hold promise in preventing this highly lethal cancer.     

血清HBV DNA与肝动脉化疗栓塞术后肝癌复发的相关性研究

目的观察肝癌患者血清HBV DNA载量与肝动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)后肿瘤复发的关系。方法检测193例乙型肝炎病毒标记物阳性的肝癌患者在TACE治疗前血清HBV DNA载量,分析患者血清HBV DNA载量与栓塞术后肿瘤复发的关系。结果在193例患者中,介入治疗术后2年内共有169例(87.6%)患者肿瘤复发;血清HBV DNA阳性(≥5×102copies/ml)138例,平均血清病毒载量为6.20±1.12lg copies/ml;单因素及多因素分析显示,肝功能Child-Pugh B级或C级、多发肿瘤、肿瘤最长径大于3cm、血清HBV DNA≥5×102copies/ml患者肿瘤复发的相对危险性较高,无肿瘤复发生存期较短。结论肝癌患者血清HBV DNA≥5×102copies/ml是TACE治疗后肿瘤复发的危险因素之一。     

Expression of B7-H4 and hepatitis B virus X in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of B7-H4 and hepatitis B virus X(HBx) protein in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HBV-HCC).METHODS: The expression of B7-H4 in the human HCC cell lines Hep G2 and Hep G2.2.15 were detected by western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence. The expression of B7-H4 and HBx in 83 HBV-HCC was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship with clinicopathological features was analyzed. Paraffin sections were generated from 83 HBV-HCC patients(22 females and 61 males) enrolled in this study. The age of these patients ranged from 35 to 77 years, with an average of 52.5 ± 11.3 years. All experiments were approved by the Ethics Committees of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.RESULTS: B7-H4 was significantly upregulated in Hep G2.2.15 cells compared to Hep G2 cells. Specifically, the protein expression of B7-H4 in the lysates of Hep G2 cells was more than that in Hep G2.2.15 cells. In addition, HBx was expressed only in Hep G2.2.15 cells. Similar data were obtained by flow cytometry. The positive rates of B7-H4 and HBx in the tissues of 83 HBV-HCC patients were 68.67%(57/83) and 59.04%(49/83), respectively. The expression of HBx was correlated with tumor node metastases(TNM) stage, and the expression of B7-H4 was positively correlated with HBx(rs = 0.388; p 0.01). The expression level of B7-H4 in HBx-positive HBV-HCC tissues was substantially higher than that in HBx-negative HBV-HCC tissues. The expression level of B7H4 was negatively related to tumor TNM stage.CONCLUSION: Higher expression of HBx and B7-H4 was correlated with tumor progression of HBV-HCC, suggesting that B7-H4 may be involved in facilitating HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Clinical features of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death,and chronic hepatitis B is a serious worldwide problem.The epidemiology of HCC is distinctive.Hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays a major role in hepatocarcinogenesis.Prevention of HBV-related HCC is a key issue in current hepatology.This paper describes the prevention and clinical features of HBVrelated HCC,along with a short review of the disease.     

Human hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma II. Experimental induction of hepatocellular carcinoma in tree shrews exposed to hepatitis B virus and aflatoxin B1

On the basis of the successful establishment of an animal model in tree shrews experimentally infected with human hepatitis B virus (HBV), a study on the hepatocarcinogenic effects of HBV and/or aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was conducted. The results showed that the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was significantly higher in the animals both infected with HBV and exposed to AFB1 (52.94%) than in those solely infected with HBV (11.11%) or exposed to AFB1 (12.50%). No HCC of precancerous lesions were found in the controls that were neither HBV-infected nor AFB1-exposed. Precancerous lesions, including liver cell dysplasia and enzyme-altered hyperplastic hepatocyte foci, were observed before the occurrence of HCC, and the frequency of their appearance correlated well with the incidence of HCC. HBV DNA and the protein it encodes were detected in the cancer cells and/or the surrounding hepatocytes. Integration of HBV DNA inot the host liver genome was found during hepatocarcinogenesis among the animals infected by HBV. These results suggest that exposure to HBV and AFB1 may play a synergistic role in the development of HCC, and support the viewpoint of an aetiological relationship between HBV and HCC.Abbreviations HCC hepatocellular carcinoma - HBV human hepatitis B virus - AFB1 aflatoxin B1 - GGT foci hyperplastic hepatocyte foci positive for -glutamyltranspeptidase - LCD liver cell dysplasia     

原发性肝癌患者乙型肝炎病毒基因型与突变的地区性差异分析

目的 研究原发性肝癌患者乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)基因型、亚型和突变的地区性差异.方法 HBV阳性的原发性肝癌组织标本80例,其中广西地区20例,上海、浙江、江苏(长三角地区)60例.应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增患者携带的HBV DNA序列,PCR产物直接纯化测序.用NCBI在线的软件viral genotyping tool确定HBV基因型,MEGA(Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis,version 3.1)软件构建系统进化树和进行亚型分型及突变分析.结果 80例肝癌标本中,17例为B基因型(21.3%),57例为C基因型(71.3%),6例为B、C基因型混合感染(7.5%).对17例B基因型和57例C基因型的亚型分型,其中B基因型的亚型全部为B2型,C基因型的亚型有C1、C2、C5等三型,其中有12例为C1型(21.1%),44例为C2型(77.2%),1例为C5型(1.8%).广西地区的C1亚型35%(7/20)明显高于长三角地区的C1亚型8.5%(5/60),而广西地区的C2亚型20%(4120)明显低于长三角地区的C2亚型66.7%(40160).两地区HBV基因亚型分布在统计学上有显著差异.比较两地区的HBV序列还发现,广西地区B基因型CP区T1762/A1764呈现更高的突变性,有6例(100%)存在突变,而长三角地区只有2例(16.7%).结论 两地区原发性肝癌患者的HBV亚型分布和基因型B的CP区T1762/A1764突变率有显著差异.     

Molecular mechanism of hepatitis B virus X protein function in hepatocarcinogenesis

Many factors are considered to contribute to hepatitis B virus(HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),including products of HBV,HBV integration and mutation,and host susceptibility. HBV X protein(HBx) can interfere with several signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation and invasion,and HBx C-terminal truncation has been suggested to impact the development of HCC. This review focuses on the pathological functions of HBx in HBV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. As a transactivator,HBx can affect regulatory non-coding RNAs(nc RNAs),including micro RNAs and long nc RNAs. HBx is also involved in epigenetic modification and DNA repair. HBx interacts with various signal-transduction pathways,such as the p53,Wnt,and nuclear factor-κB pathways. We conclude that HBx hastens the development of hepatoma.     

HBx致肝细胞癌分子机制的研究进展

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)慢性感染是我国肝细胞肝癌(HCC)发生的主要原因之一.一些体内外研究发现,乙型肝炎病毒x(HBx)可诱导肝细胞的恶性转化及癌变,成为目前研究乙肝相关性肝细胞癌发生机制的热点.近来在HBx与抑癌基因,如p53的新成员p73以及p16,p21等之间的相互作用及其对肝细胞恶性转化与癌变的影响等方面的研究也取得初步成果,但其关系错综复杂,这方面不断的深入研究将有助于进一步揭示HBx致肝细胞癌发生的分子机制,对探寻乙肝相关性肝癌新的防治策略具有重要意义.     

乙型肝炎病毒基因型对乙型肝炎病毒变异的影响

目的探讨乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)基因型对病毒前核心区(前C区,nt1896)及基本核心启动子(BCP,nt1762/1764)变异的影响.方法416例血清HBsAg阳性、HBV DNA定量大于1.0×104拷贝/ml的患者,采用微流基因芯片检测HBV基因型、前C区及BCP变异.结果416例HBV感染者中406例有基因分型结果:B型20.9%、C型65.9%、BC混合型10.8%,10例患者未分出基因型.302例为HBeAg(-)且HBV DNA( )患者,其中248例(82.12%)有前C区或BCP变异,41.06%为前C区变异,31.12?P变异,2种同时变异为9.94%.B型患者前C区变异率为22.9%(20/87),与C型患者前C区变异率39.4%(108/274)及B、C混合型变异率40.0%相比均有显著差异(P＜0.01).在BCP变异及双变异,C型患者变异率均大于B型患者,但差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).B、C混合型患者前C区及BCP变异率与C型相似.结论HBV基因型可影响病毒前C区及BCP变异,以C型为著.