APC Mutations in Prior Hepatitis B Virus-infected Non-cancerous Tissues and Their Association with Hepatocellular Cancer Recurrence

Abstract

Backgrounds The molecular mechanisms by which prior hepatitis B virus infection leads to hepatocellular carcinoma are not established. This study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by investigating the gene mutation profiles associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with prior hepatitis B virus infection.

Methods Surgical specimens were resected in our department. We analyzed cancerous and non-cancerous liver tissues from three groups: (1) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following prior hepatitis B virus infection, (2) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during active hepatitis B virus infection, and (3) patients with a history of prior hepatitis B virus infection but without hepatocellular carcinoma. DNA extracted from the tissues was screened for mutations potentially associated with carcinogenesis.

Results Patients who developed hepatocellular carcinoma after a prior hepatitis B virus infection exhibited mutation profiles similar to those of patients with active hepatitis B virus infection in cancerous and non-cancerous areas. This similarity suggests that no unique gene mutations are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma development in the context of prior hepatitis B virus infection. However, patients with APC mutations in non-cancerous liver tissues have a higher likelihood of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence than those without such mutations.

Conclusions Our findings indicated that APC mutations play a significant role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with a history of hepatitis B virus infection. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of this gene in hepatitis B virus-associated carcinogenesis.