Detection of hepatitis B virus genome in hepatocellular carcinoma from both hepatitis B surface antigen- and antibody to hepatitis C virus-negative patients: A study using polymerase chain reaction

Twenty-two patients who tested seronegative for both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers and undefined pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among these patients, 5 (23%) were positive for HBV-DNA in serum by PCR, but no patient was positive for HCV-RNA by reverse transcription PCR. Liver tissue specimens were available for analyzing HBV genome by PCR in 17 patients, and HBV sequences were detected in 10 (59%) patients. These results indicate that HBV is commonly implicated in serologically undefined pathogenesis of HCC in Japan.