The PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cell line. II. Chromosomal assignment of hepatitis B virus integration sites.

The chromosomal sites at which hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is integrated into the genome of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, PLC/PRF/5 were investigated in an attempt to understand the mechanisms by which hepatitis B virus may induce malignant transformation. In situ hybridization of an HBV DNA probe to metaphase chromosomes of the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, followed by statistical analysis, identified three integration sites; these were 15q22-q23, 11q22, and 18q12. In particular, hybridization to chromosome #15, which is present in four copies in complete metaphases of this cell line, was highly significant (p much less than 0.0005).