Abstract
To assess the role of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and its interaction with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this case-control study included 361 age- and sex-matched pairs of patients with histologically proven HCC and healthy control subjects. HBsAg, HBeAg and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were detected by second-generation enzyme immunoassay. The prevalences of HBeAg (20.2%), HBsAg (80.3%) and anti-HCV (29.5%) in cases were higher than in controls (1.9%, 20.7%, and 2.7% respectively; each P < 0.0001). Using patients negative for HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBe as a referent group, univariate analysis indicated that HBsAg alone or HBsAg and HBeAg were risk factors for HCC (P for trend < 0.0001). Calculation of incremental odds ratio indicated that there was additive interaction between HBsAg and HBeAg. Multivariate analysis indicated that HCC development was strongly associated with the presence of HBeAg (odds ratio, 8.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-27.1), HBsAg (odds ratio, 68.4; 95% confidence interval, 20.5-227.8) and anti-HCV (odds ratio, 59.3; 95% confidence interval, 13.6-258.4). In conclusion, HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HCV are independent risk factors for HCC. There is additive and independent effect modification between HBsAg and HBeAg on the development of HCC.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsai, J., Jeng, J., Ho, M. et al. Additive effect modification of hepatitis B surface antigen and e antigen on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Cancer 73, 1498–1502 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.283
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.283
This article is cited by
-
Recognition criteria for occupational cancers in relation to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in Korea
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2018)
-
Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver consensus recommendations on hepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatology International (2010)
-
Effect of the presence of hepatitis B e antigen on prognosis after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B
World Journal of Surgery (2002)