Identification and impact of hepatitis B virus DNA and antigens in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues

Increasing evidence suggests that a link exists between hepatitis B virus (HBV) serum markers and pancreatic cancer (PC). In this study, HBsAg and HBcAg were expressed in 21.0% (34/162) of PC and 29.0% (47/162) of non-tumor pancreatic tissues, and they were significantly associated with chronic pancreatitis (P = 0.000). The HBV S, C and X genes were identified in 20% (6/30) of PC and 26.9% (7/26) of non-tumor tissues by PCR. A serological survey revealed that the prevalence of HBV DNA and anti-HBc was significantly increased in PC patients compared with healthy controls. Our data suggest that HBV infection in the pancreas may play an etiologic role in PC.