Comparison of full genome sequences between two hepatitis B virus strains with or without preC mutation (A1896) from a single Korean hepatocellular carcinoma patient.

This report describes the full-length sequences of 2 HBV clones from a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient, one with preC mutation (1896A) and the other without preC mutation. The high level of discrepancy in mutation frequency between these 2 strains was observed in the Core (C) region among 4 ORFs. These data support previous results that Korean HBV strains, belonging to genotype C2, are prone to mutations. It is possible that the mutations (BCP and preC mutations) associated with the HBeAg defective production might contribute to the diversity of mutations related to HBV persistence, playing an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis in this patient.