Pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis and infection of hepatitis virus

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between human cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis and theinfection of hepatitis virus.METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HBxAg and HCV-C protein in formalin-fixedand paraffin-embedded samples taken from 68 patients with cholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis. Thefindings were reviewed against the clinical records of the patients.RESULTS: Six patients (8.8%) were positive for HBxAg and 24 (35%) for HCV-C protein,respectively. One patient was positive for both HBxAg and HCV-C protein. There were statisticallydifferences in the extent of differentiation, invasion, lymph-node metastasis, and treatment between thepatients with cholangiocarcinomas in the porta hepatis with HB(C) V infection and those withoutinfection.CONCLUSIONS: HB(C) V infection is correlated to the development of cholangiocarcinoma in the portahepatis. The tumor with HB(C) V infection may have a higher malignancy biologically and poorerprognosis. HBxAg and HCV-C protein may play an important role in the pathogenesis ofcholangiocarcinoma in the porta hepatis.