title: [Hepatitis B and C viruses and primary liver cancer].
abstract: Chronic infections by hepatitis B and C viruses are major risk factors for primary liver cancer. In both infections, induction of chronic active hepatitis followed by cirrhosis precedes development of the tumor and is a major mechanism of liver carcinogenesis. For hepatitis B virus, several elements indicate that the virus might also exert direct effects through cis and transactivation of cellular genes. For hepatitis C virus, such a direct effect has not yet been demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'hépatologie et Inserm U370, Hôpital Necker, Paris.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bréchot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*
vernacular_title: Virus des hépatites B et C et cancer primitif du foie.