Abstract
Background: Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the role of this virus in carcinogenesis is not fully understood. Methods: We studied HCV infection and replication by detecting plus- and minus-strand HCV RNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) in surgically resected HCCs and adjacent non-cancerous tissue obtained from 15 anti-HCV antibody-positive patients with HCC. Results: Plus-strand HCV RNA was found in 9 of 15 HCCs. Both plus- and minus-strand HCV RNA were detected in four of these nine patients. In non-cancerous tissues obtained adjacent to the HCC, plus-strand HCV RNA was found in 10 of 15 patients, whereas both plus- and minus-strand HCV RNA were detected in 7 of these 10 patients. The degree of staining by ISH did not correlate with the differentiation of the HCC, histologic classification of the non-cancerous tissue, serum HCV RNA levels, or serum transaminase levels. Conclusions: HCV can be found in and replicates in both hepatoma cells and in non-cancerous hepatocytes in anti-HCV antibody-positive patients with HCC. The direct effects of HCV viral gene products on normal hepatocytes in the development of HCC require additional study.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.