The Role of Oncogenic Viruses in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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Mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis

HCV-related HCC is generally agreed to occur on a background of cirrhosis and possibly severe fibrosis as well. Immune-mediated destruction of viral-infected hepatocytes induces liver regeneration that may lead to accumulation of mutations and subsequent selection of cells with a carcinogenic phenotype.17, 18, 19 In HBV-related HCC, approximately 70% of cases occur in association with cirrhosis, which favors the hypothesis that HBV-related HCC may occur not only via cirrhosis.20

Both HBV and HCV

Prevention

Viral hepatitis infection can be prevented either by vaccination or by avoiding the transmission of the virus in contaminated body fluids.

Summary

HBV and HCV have major roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. More than 500 million people in the world are infected with hepatitis viruses and, therefore, HCC is highly prevalent, especially in those countries that are endemic for HBV and HCV. Viral and host factors contribute to the development of HCC. The main viral factors include the circulating load of HBV DNA or HCV RNA and specific genotypes. Various mechanisms have been demonstrated to be involved in the host-viral interactions that lead to

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Cesarman Chair for Research in Liver Diseases, Tel Aviv University incumbent, Ran Tur-Kaspa.

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