ObjecUve To iovestigate the role of hepatitis C virus rn(HCV) in the malignant transformation of bile duct rncelle. Tissues from 6Chinese patients and 6 American rnpatients wtiJl cholengienarcinoma were studied.rnMammals RNA was extracted from the selected tumor rnareas eq formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded sections,rnfollowed by reverse transcription double polymerase rnchain reaction (RT-PCR) and South blotting.rnResults Positive and negative strand HCV RNArnsequences were detected in seven out of tweive rnpatients witn choiangiocarcina. A high positive rate rnwas found in Chinese patients (83%) as compared to rnUS patients (38%).rnCoaclualon Our finding suggests HCV may play a rnrole in the malignent transformation of bile duct cells.