Viral hepatocarcinogenesis

• Published in: Oncogene Vol. 29; no. 16; pp. 2309 - 2324
• Main Authors: TSAI, W.-L, CHUNG, R. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 22.04.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Cell physiology; Cell transformation and carcinogenesis. Action of oncogenes and antioncogenes; Cellular biology; Cellular signal transduction; Cirrhosis; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Development and progression; Diverse techniques; DNA; DNA viruses; Fatty Liver - etiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Genomics; Health aspects; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - genetics; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatocytes; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Liver Neoplasms - virology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Molecular and cellular biology; Mutation; Oxidative Stress; Pathogenesis; Properties; Risk factors; RNA viruses; Signal transduction; Trans-Activators - physiology; Tumors; Viral infections; Viral Load; Viral proteins; Virus Integration; Viruses; United States; Pathogenesis; Genomics; Orthohepadnavirus; Hepatic disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Carcinogenesis; signaling pathways pathogenesis; Virus; Liver cancer; Signal transduction; Hepadnaviridae; Digestive diseases; Hepatitis B virus; Flaviviridae; Hepatitis C virus; Hepacivirus; Cancer
• ISSN: 0950-9232; 1476-5594
• DOI: 10.1038/onc.2010.36

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC, its prognosis remains dismal. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the major risk factors for HCC. Although both are hepatotropic viral infections, there are important differences between the oncogenic mechanisms of these two viruses. In addition to the oncogenic potential of its viral proteins, HBV, as a DNA virus, can integrate into host DNA and directly transform hepatocytes. In contrast, HCV, an RNA virus, is unable to integrate into the host genome, and viral protein expression has a more critical function in hepatocarcinogenesis. Both HBV and HCV proteins have been implicated in disrupting cellular signal transduction pathways that lead to unchecked cell growth. Most HCC develops in the cirrhotic liver, but the linkage between cirrhosis and HCC is likely multifactorial. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding the pathogenetic mechanisms of viral HCC.