Survey of association between Helicobacter pylori and hepatocellular carcinoma in the specimens derived from health centers of Shahid Beheshti University

Background: Prior investigators demonstrated Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor of liver diseases. In this study association between H. pylori and hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated. Patients and methods: Totally, 59 specimens of liver were collected from two health care centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, including 22 specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma, 18 specimens of cirrhosis and 19 normal specimens of liver. Polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the presence of H. pylori in liver samples using H. pylori gene-specific primers. Results: 16srRNA of Helicobacter genus were found in 31.8% of hepatocellular carcinoma and 16.7% of cirrhotic specimens, however, we could not find this gene in normal samples. Meanwhile, the presence of ureC and cagA genes specific for H. pylori were investigated in positive specimens to confirm the H. pylori infection, however, these genes were not detected. Conclusion: Helicobacter infection exists in liver of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, further studies are necessary to confirm this association.