Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1998. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 15, 1998; 4(1): 64-65
Published online Feb 15, 1998. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v4.i1.64
Immunohistochemical detection of HCV infection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and other liver diseases
Li-Fa Zhang, Wen-Wei Peng, Ji-Lu Yao, Yong-Huang Tang
Li-Fa Zhang, Yong-Huang Tang, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University Medical College (JNUMC), Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China
Wen-Wei Peng, Ji-Lu Yao, Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China
Li-Fa Zhang, M. D. , male, born on 1961-05-15 in Wugang city, Hunan Province, Han nationality, Associate Professor and Vice Chairman, Dept. of Inf. Dis., JNUMC, having 12 papers published as first author.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Li-Fa Zhang, Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University Medical College (JNUMC), Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China
Telephone: +86-20-85516832 ext 136 Fax: +86-20-85516832
Received: July 10, 1997
Revised: August 18, 1997
Accepted: October 6, 1997
Published online: February 15, 1998
Abstract

AIM: To detect HCV infection in patients with HCC and other liver diseases by the immunohistochemical method.

METHODS: The expression of HCV antigen was identified by means of LSAB (labelled streptavidin-biotin) method using anti-NS3 monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS: The positive rates of HCV antigen in the three groups of HCC, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis were 13.5% (7/52), 12.5% (2/16), and 10% (4/40) respectively, while in the samples from patients with constitutional jaundice and normal liver samples, no HCV antigen was found. HCV antigen could be seen in the nuclei and/or cytoplasms of carcinoma cells and/or pericancerous hepatocytes. In HCC, HCV antigen was more often seen in nuclei than in cytoplasms. The positive rate of HCV antigen in pericancerous tissues was higher than that in cancerous tissues.

CONCLUSION: HCV is associated with HCC, and HCV infection enhances the development of liver diseases. HCV affects the initiative period of HCC and induces the malignant phenotypic alteration of hepatocytes.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, carcinoma, hepatocellular, immunohistochemistry, liver neoplasms, liver diseases