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Review
. 2019 Mar 18;20(6):1358.
doi: 10.3390/ijms20061358.

Molecular Mechanisms Driving Progression of Liver Cirrhosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Review

Tatsuo Kanda  1 , Taichiro Goto  2 , Yosuke Hirotsu  3 , Mitsuhiko Moriyama  4 , Masao Omata  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Molecular Mechanisms Driving Progression of Liver Cirrhosis towards Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B and C Infections: A Review

Tatsuo Kanda et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Almost all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major type of primary liver cancer, also have liver cirrhosis, the severity of which hampers effective treatment for HCC despite recent progress in the efficacy of anticancer drugs for advanced stages of HCC. Here, we review recent knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms of liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC from genetic and epigenomic points of view. Because ~70% of patients with HCC have hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we focused on HBV- and HCV-associated HCC. The literature suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors, such as microRNAs, play a role in liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC, and that HBV- and HCV-encoded proteins appear to be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms, including immune checkpoints and molecular targets of kinase inhibitors, associated with liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC.

Keywords: HBV; HCV; cirrhosis; hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Occurrence of HCC in natural course of HBV and HCV infection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The p53-RB pathway in HCC.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Molecular mechanisms of liver cirrhosis and its progression to HCC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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