ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: About 15% of Korean hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are negative both of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in their sera. They can be classified as a non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma group (NBNC group). The aims of our study were, firstly, to describe the clinical characteristics of Korean NBNC HCC and compare them with those of HBsAg-positive HCC (HBV group) and anti-HCV-positive HCC (HCV group). Secondly we wanted to assess the frequency of viremia of HBV, HCV and transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) in NBNC HCC patients. METHODS: We prospectively collected clinical data and sera from 113 NBNC HCC patients and performed PCR for HBV DNA, HCV RNA and TTV DNA. We also collected clinical data from 125 HBsAg-positive HCC patients and 61 anti-HCV-positive HCC patients during a similar period. RESULTS: The mean age of the NBNC HCC group was 59 years, in-between that of the HBV and the HCV groups. A History of heavy alcohol drinking was found in 48% of the NBNC HCC group. This was significantly higher than that of the HBV group, but similar to that of the HCV group. Serum alphaFP level in the NBNC HCC group was more frequently in the normal range compared to that in the HBV and HCV groups. The detection rates of HBV DNA, HCV RNA and TTV DNA in the NBNC HCC group were 17%, 13%, and 67% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The NBNC HCC patients seemed to comprise a heterogeneous group of various etiologies and clinical presentations. About one third of these patients displayed evidence of viremia of HBV or HCV.