Result: In the
preS2 region, 5.5% of specimens had a point mutation in the start codon which changed the amino acid to I (3.3%), V (1.7%) or T (0.55%), and 5.3% had a mutation at
F22L with either a single or dual point mutation at this site.
Discussion: Analysis of the
preS region demonstrated that a total of 5% of specimens had
preS deletions (primarily identified in high risk individuals), 5.5% contained amino acid mutations in the start codon of the
preS2 and 5.3% had an
F22L mutation in the
preS2, all of which have been significantly associated with the development of
HCC.