[Expression of five different antigens of HBV in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and cholangiohepatocarcinoma].

Surgical specimens of 20 cases of human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 12) and cholangiohepatocarcinoma (n = 8) were studied immunohistochemically by ABC technique for HBxAg, pre-S1 and pre-S2 and by PAP method for HBsAg and HBcAg. The neighboring liver tissues with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis surrounding the tumor were also examined in 19 cases. Of the cancerous tissues, 15 were positive for HBxAg (75%), 8 positive for pre-S1 and pre-S2 (40%), respectively and 2 for HBsAg (10%). Sixteen of 19 liver tissues surrounding the tumor were also positive for HBxAg (84.2%), 9 for pre-S1 and pre-S2 each (47.4%), 6 for HBsAg and HBcAg each (31.6%). The results suggest that a close relationship exists between cholangiocarcinoma and cholangiohepatocarcinoma and hepatitis B virus infection. The HBxAg might play an important role in the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma.