Universal Presence Of HBVx Gene And Its Close Association With High Frequency 249 Codon Mutation Of P53 Gene In Hepatocellular Cacinoma Of Prevalent Area Of China

Hepatocellurlar carcinoma ( HCC ) is one of the most common cancers in the world, especially in the south-east part of China. Molecular epidemiology had identified that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin Bl (AFB1) were important risk factores. Recently, missense mutation of high frequency in the 249 codon of p53 gene was identified in the high incidence areas. Such hotspot mutation of p53 gene has been considered as the molecular footprint of increased aflatoxin exposure. However, such mutation was not observed in the HCC of non-human primates induced by aflatoxin B1. On the background of major achievements in exploring the etiology of HCC, deepening investigation on the interactions of the relevant viral, chemical and host factors in human carcinogenesis was important for elucidating its molecular mechanism as well as for exploring the critical molecular targets for gene-immunotherapy of HCC.HCC patients were mostly HBsAg sero-positive carriers. Among the four genes encoded by the HBV genome, the x gene was shown to possess the oncogenic potential. What will be the mechanism of carcinogenesis in HBsAg sero-negative HCC patients? If they were mainly caused by aflatoxin overexposure, the mutational spectrum of p53 gene should be disperse, similar to the pattern observed in the non-human primate model. If this is not the case, what might be its carcinogenic mechanism?...