Potential association between Hepatitis B infection and colorectal cancer progression

Establishing a link between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and colorectal cancer (CRC) can potentially prevent future CRC progression. HBV extrahepatic manifestations are related to immune complex deposition and are driven by viral antigens. We aimed to evaluate the relation between hepatitis B infection and CRC progression by evaluating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) serum levels in CRC in comparison with colon benign diseases and healthy controls. Moreover, we studied the relation between elevated HBsAg levels and some cancer aggressiveness features. A total of 110 CRC patients, 50 patients with benign colon diseases and 35 healthy individuals were included. HBsAg was detected using western blot and ELISA. In contrast to healthy individuals, sharp band corresponding to HBsAg (24-kDa) was obtained in sera of patients with colon diseases who infected with HBV. HBsAg detection rates increased in detected CRC patients (34.5%) than patients with benign colon conditions (14%). Also, HBsAg serum level (OD) in colon cancer patients (2.8 +/- 0.2) was significantly (P=0.034) higher than patients with benign conditions ( 1.7 +/- 0.1). Regarding tumor aggressiveness features, both HBsAg detection rate and serum levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in patients with late tumor stages, positive lymph node and distant organ metastasis and high tumor grades compared to patients with early stage, negative lymph node and organ metastasis and low tumor grades. In conclusion, patients who under CRC treatment should consider HBV diagnosis to prevent future disease progression as virus infections were shown to be associated with tumor progression.