The role of hepatitis B virus x gene in development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Sci China C Life Sci. 2000 Jun;43(3):293-301. doi: 10.1007/BF02879289.

Abstract

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers occurring in human, and there is strong epidemiological evidence suggesting that persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most important risk factor for its development.HBx gene was found to be a transactivator recently. Its continuous expression in hepatocytes may transactivate cellular genes which can play a certain role in development of HCC. TheHBx gene fragment was used to construct a recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pCEP4 and introduced into HepG2 cells. The effect ofHBx gene on HCC cells growth and its molecular mechanism in HCC cells regulation were investigated.