Distribution of hepatitis B surface and core antigens in human liver cell carcinoma and surrounding nontumorous liver.

The distribution of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antigen (HBcAg) in surgically removed liver cell carcinomas of 60 Japanese patients was studied by an immunohistochemical method. HBsAg was localized in the cytoplasm, and HBcAg was mainly in the nuclei of normal-appearing liver cells, dysplastic liver cells, and tumor cells. In some instances both HBsAg and HBcAg were contained in the tumor cells and liver cells. HBsAg was found in the nontumorous liver tissue of 30 patients (50%); nine of the HBsAg-containing nontumorous livers also contained HBcAg. HBsAg and/or HBcAg was detected in tumor cells in 7 (23%) of 30 cases with HBsAg-positive liver diseases.