EXPRESSION OF PRE-S_1 AND PRE-S_2 ANTIGENS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN HUMAN PRIMARY HEPATIC CARCINOMA

The specimens of 135 cases of primary hepatic carcinoma were obtained from the Pathological Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi' an, PRC. Ten percent formalin-fixed and paraffin- embedded sections were stained by HE and by ABC and PAP immunohistochemical methods. Positive rates of pre- S1 and pre- S2 antigens in cancerous tissue were 22. 2% and 20. 0%, respectively, while those in surrounding hepatic tissue were 60.6% and 59.6%, separately. The pre- S1 and pre- S2 antigens were found to coexist In 16. 3% of cancerous tissue and in 55. 6% of surrounding hepatic tissue. In all the 135 cases of hepatic carcinoma, the cancerous tissue showed positive HBsAg in 16. 3%, HBxAg in 55. 6% and HBcAg in 8. 9%; in the surrounding hepatic tissue, positive HBsAg was 59.6%, HBxAg 78.8% and HBcAg 24.2%. The results of this study suggestes that positive rates of pre- S1 and pre-S2 antigens in cancerous tissue were slightly higher than that of HBsAg, but markedly lower

Expression of pre-S1 and pre S2 antigens of hepatitis B virus and their significance in human primary hepatic carcinoma

The specimens of 135 cases of primary hepatic carcinoma were obtained from the Pathological Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi' an, PRC. Ten percent formalin-fixed and paraffin- embedded sections were stained by HE and by ABC and PAP immunohistochemical methods. Positive rates of pre- S1 and pre- S2 antigens in cancerous tissue were 22. 2% and 20. 0%, respectively, while those in surrounding hepatic tissue were 60.6% and 59.6%, separately. The pre- S1 and pre- S2 antigens were found to coexist In 16. 3% of cancerous tissue and in 55. 6% of surrounding hepatic tissue. In all the 135 cases of hepatic carcinoma, the cancerous tissue showed positive HBsAg in 16. 3%, HBxAg in 55. 6% and HBcAg in 8. 9%; in the surrounding hepatic tissue, positive HBsAg was 59.6%, HBxAg 78.8% and HBcAg 24.2%. The results of this study suggestes that positive rates of pre- S1 and pre-S2 antigens in cancerous tissue were slightly higher than that of HBsAg, but markedly lower than that of HBxAg. The positive rate of pre-S1 and pre- S2 antigens in surrounding hepatic tissue was nearly the same as HBsAg, but slightly lower than that of HBxAg. Antigens of pre-S1 and pre-S2 are the new markers of HBV infection. The same as other antigens, they may play an important role in the development of hepatic carcinoma. The mechanism of their effect will be further investigated,