title: Molecular aspects of hepatic carcinogenesis.
abstract: Exogenous agents correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been identified and well characterized. These agents, including the different viruses that cause chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, can lead to regenerative nodules and dysplastic nodules/adenomatous hyperplasia. These conditions associated with several molecular alterations of hepatocyte ultimately culminate in hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, there has been a great progress in the identification of somatic and germinative mutations that may be correlated with the development of HCC, justifying a review on the subject. Hence, the factors involved in the process of hepatic carcinogenesis, such as infection by the hepatitis B and C viruses, with a special focus in the molecular alterations described in recent years are discussed herein, pointing out areas potentially relevant for clinical development.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Clinical Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. marcelo_nita@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Marcelo Eidi
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nita
authors.forename: Venâncio Avancini Ferreira
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Flair José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
authors.forename: Suzane Kioko
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ono-Nita
authors.forename: Evandro Sobroza de
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Joaquim J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gama-Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D009154:Mutation; D009857:Oncogenes; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase