title: Prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with the majority of cases associated with persistent infection from hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Natural history studies have identified risk factors associated with HCC development among chronic HBV and HCV infection. High-risk infected individuals can now be identified by the usage of risk predictive scores. Vaccination plays a central role in the prevention of HBV-related HCC. Treatment of chronic HBV infection, especially by nucleoside analogue therapy, could also reduce the risk of HBV-related HCC. Concerning HCV infection, besides the advocation of universal precautions to reduce the rate of infection, pegylated interferon and ribavirin could also reduce the risk of HCV-related HCC among those achieving a sustained virologic response. Recently there has been mounting evidence on the role of chemopreventive agents in reducing HBV- and HCV-related HCC. The continued advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of HCC would hold promise in preventing this highly lethal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Tao Lu, Wai-Kay Seto, Ran-Xu Zhu, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Tao Lu, Wai-Kay Seto, Ran-Xu Zhu, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wai-Kay
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.affiliation: Tao Lu, Wai-Kay Seto, Ran-Xu Zhu, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ran-Xu
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Tao Lu, Wai-Kay Seto, Ran-Xu Zhu, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Tao Lu, Wai-Kay Seto, Ran-Xu Zhu, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518053, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D060085:Coinfection; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prevention; Vaccination