The relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and the incidence of pancreatic cancer: a retrospective case-control study

doi:2010.16.1.49

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 16(1); 2010 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2010;16(1): 49-56.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2010.16.1.49

The relationship between hepatitis B virus infection and the incidence of pancreatic cancer: a retrospective case-control study

Seung Goun Hong, M.D., Ji Hoon Kim, M.D., Young Sun Lee, M.D., Eileen Yoon, M.D., Hyun Jung Lee, M.D., Jin Ki Hwang, M.D., Eun Suk Jung, M.D., Moon Kyung Joo, M.D., Young Kul Jung, M.D., Jong Eun Yeon, M.D., Jong-Jae Park, M.D., Jae Seon Kim, M.D., Young-Tae Bak, M.D., Kwan Soo Byun, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

ABSTRACT

Background/Aims
An association between past history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and pancreatic cancer (PC) has recently been reported. We investigated whether HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are associated with the development of PC in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively recruited patients with PC and sex-and, age-matched control patients with stomach cancer (SC) during the previous 5 years. Serum HBsAg and anti-HCV were examined, and data on smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes, and the history of chronic pancreatitis (CP) were collected. Results: A total of 506 PC and 1008 SC were enrolled, with respectively 58.1% and 97.3% of these cases being confirmed histologically. The mean age and sex ratio male:female) were 63.5 years and 1.5:1 in the PC patients and 63.9 years and 1.5:1 in the SC patients respectively (P>0.05). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) in univariate analysis were 0.90 0.52-1.56; P=0.70) for HBsAg, 1.87 (0.87-4.01; P=0.11) for anti-HCV, 2.66 (2.04-3.48; P<0.001) for the presence of diabetes, 2.30 (1.83-2.90; P<0.001) for smoking, 1.14 (0.89-1.46; P=0.31) for alcohol intake, and 4.40 1.66-11.66; P=0.003) for the history of CP. Independent risk factors for PC were presence of diabetes (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.00-3.56; P<0.001), smoking (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.93-3.21; P<0.001) and history of CP (OR, 4.60; 95% CI, 1.56-13.53; P=0.006). Conclusions: There was no significant association between seropositivity for HBsAg or anti-HCV and PC. Further studies are warranted to clarify the association between HBV infection and PC in regions where HBV is endemic. (Korean J Hepatol 2010;16:49-56)

KeyWords: Hepatitis B virus; HBsAg; Anti-HCV; Pancreatic cancer