Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using RT?Nested PCR

Purpose To detect the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Methods HCV in HCC tissue and serum of some HCC patients was routinely detected using RT?PCR method.Then 5 HCV genotypes in HCV positive specimens were identified by nested RT?PCR method.HBsAg and HBV DNA in the most specimens were also examined using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods. Results The positive rate of HCV in HCC tissue was 50%(39/78),which was not significantly different to that of HBV (64.4%) ( P 0.05).The rate of co infection of HCV and HBV was 34%(20/59).Among 10 HCC patients of whom sera were HCV negative,HCV RNA was found in HCC frozen tissues of 3 cases.3 kinds of HCV genotypes were observed in HCC tissue, including 2a,1b,3a and mixed type with the numberes of 17( 43.6 %),9(23.1%),4(10.3%) and 2(5.1%) respectively.There was high significant difference among all genotypes ( P 0.01),except the difference between type 2a and type 1b( P 0.05).The co infection of type 2a and HBV was most frequent than that of other HCV genotypes( P 0.05). Conclusions Type 2a of HCV was the most common in HCC tissue and prone to co infection with HBV.The detection of HCV in the serum of HCC patients may not reflect the infection rate and genotypes of HCV HCC tissue accurately.