title: Chronic inflammation, immune escape, and oncogenesis in the liver: a unique neighborhood for novel intersections.
abstract: Sustained hepatic inflammation, driven by alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and/or chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C), results in damage to parenchyma, oxidative stress, and compensatory regeneration/proliferation. There is substantial evidence linking these inflammation-associated events with the increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Although acute liver inflammation can play a vital and beneficial role in response to liver damage or acute infection, the effects of chronic liver inflammation, including liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, are sufficient in a fraction of individuals to initiate the process of transformation and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. This review highlights immune-dependent mechanisms that may be associated with hepatocellular oncogenesis, including critical transformative events/pathways in the context of chronic inflammation and subverted tolerogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, NCI, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Jimmy K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scarzello
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wiltrout
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis