Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA sequences in hepatic portal cholangiocarcinoma tissue by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
OBJECTIVE: To detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA sequences in the hepatic portal cholangiocarcinoma tissues and their relationship. METHODS: RNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded cholangiocarcinoma tissues of 6 patients by guanidinium method, subjected to reverse transcription and then amplified by double PCR technique using nested primers from the highly conserved 5' noncoding region of HCV genome. RESULTS: HCV RNA of 5' NT sequences was found in the hepatic portal cholangiocarcinoma tissues of 5 out of 6 (83%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: HCV RNA sequences present with high infectious rate in cholangiocarcinoma, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay using primers derived from 5' NT region of HCV sequence is most useful in detecting HCV infection. The development of cholangiocarcinoma awaits further studies.