Hepatitis B Virus DNA and RNA in Primary Liver Cancer

To the Editor: Paterlini et al. (July 12 issue) 1 reported the use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and RNA sequences in primary liver cancers of subjects negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Two of the eight samples available for testing of hepatitis C virus were positive for antibodies; the authors suggest the possibility of hepatitis C as a cofactor. Cited studies have found that 60 to 70 percent of patients with primary liver cancer have antibodies to hepatitis C virus. 2 , 3 In 1983 we reported the occurrence of primary liver-cell carcinoma after non-A, . . .