Pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis and infection of hepatitis virus.

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation between human cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis and the infection of hepatitis virus.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HBxAg and HCV-C protein in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples taken from 68 patients with cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis. The findings were reviewed against the clinical records of the patients.

RESULTS

Six patients (8.8%) were positive for HBxAg and 24 (35%) for HCV-C protein, respectively. One patient was positive for both HBxAg and HCV-C protein. There were statistically differences in the extent of differentiation, invasion, lymph-node metastasis, and treatment between the patients with cholangiocarcinomas in the porta hepatis with HB(C)V infection and those without infection.

CONCLUSIONS

HB(C)V infection is correlated to the development of cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis. The tumor with HB(C)V infection may have a higher malignancy biologically and poorer prognosis. HBxAg and HCV-C protein may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis.