[The role of the hepatitis B virus in the development of liver cirrhosis and tumors].

The proportion of primary hepatic cell carcinoma in overall cancer morbidity holds high for many regions of the world. In addition to hepatitis B virus the underlying etiologic factors are probably mycotoxins and sex hormones. Multistage process of malignant transformation can be appropriately simulated on the model of chemical carcinogenesis. Such pattern of prolonged hepatic tumor formation is not true for avian liver tumors induced by MC-29 retrovirus. Out of 9800 autopsies performed by the authors hepatic cirrhosis was registered in 396, primary cancer of the liver in 87 cases. History of hepatitis was present in 16% of the patients who had died of primary hepatic cancer. Enzyme immunoassay of 50 cirrhosis and 50 primary cancer samples revealed hepatitis B virus antigens in 10% of cases. Histochemical appearance of surgically removed tumors of the liver was similar to that of experimental tumors. The study suggested that hepatitis B virus could not be considered the underlying cause of cirrhosis and primary cancer of the liver in Hungary.