A pre-S gene chip to detect pre-S deletions in hepatitis B virus large surface antigen as a predictive marker for hepatoma risk in chronic hepatitis B virus carriers

Table 2 Pre-S mutations in patients with different serum HBV DNA titers

Status	Serum HBV DNA Titer*	Cases (n)	HBV Clones^# (n)	Clones with Pre-S Deletions (n)	Prevalence
Hepatitis	High	53	57	4	7.0%
	Intermediate	62	72	10	13.9%
	Low	43	54	20	37.0%
HCC	-	43	73	44	60.3%

HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.
*High titer: HBV genome ≥ 10⁸ copies/mL serum; intermediate titer: HBV genome ≥ 10⁶ and < 10⁸ copies/mL serum; low titer: HBV genome < 10⁶ copies/mL serum.
^#The different pre-S HBS PCR products in one case were individually cloned and sequenced.

ISSN: 1423-0127