Significance of the minor i and t determinants of hepatitis B virus in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 13; no. 12; pp. 1237 - 1240
• Main Authors: YI ZHAO, OON, C. J, LIM, G. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Carlton Blackwell Science 01.12.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - virology; DNA, Viral - blood; Epitopes - blood; Epitopes - genetics; Epitopes - immunology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - virology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tropical medicine; Tumors; Human; Antigenic determinant; Orthohepadnavirus; Hepatic disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Statistical study; Infection; Virus; Viral hepatitis B; Polymerase chain reaction; Microbiological investigation; Hepadnaviridae; Viral disease; DNA; Digestive diseases; Complication; Diagnosis; Hepatitis B virus; Molecular biology; Predictive factor; Subtype
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1998.tb00611.x

Stored sera from asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and hepatitis B virus surface antigen-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were tested for HBV subtypes, such as subtype determinants d, y, w, r and also antigenic determinants isoleucine (i) and threonine (t) by direct S gene nucleotide sequencing. Significant changes in minor i and t determinants in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with adr hepatitis B carriers were seen. The adr subtype with t determinant was present in 14/25 (56%) of HCC patients compared with only two of 28 (7%) in asymptomatic hepatitis B carriers (P<0.001). However, the adr subtype with i determinant was present in nine of 25 (36%) of the HCC patients and also present in 24/28 (86%) of asymptomatic carriers (P<0.001). No significant changes were seen with the adw subtypes. These results show that i and t minor determinant changes are more common with adr subtypes associated with HCC than with the adw subtype. Whether these subtle changes are pathologically relevant or only a polymorphism of hepatitis B genotypes will depend on subsequent follow-up studies.