title: Pathogenesis and prevention of hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major aetiologic agents that causes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by generating an inflammatory, fibrogenic, and carcinogenic tissue microenvironment in the liver. HCV-induced HCC is a rational target for cancer preventive intervention because of the clear-cut high-risk condition, cirrhosis, associated with high cancer incidence (1% to 7% per year). Studies have elucidated direct and indirect carcinogenic effects of HCV, which have in turn led to the identification of candidate HCC chemoprevention targets. Selective molecular targeted agents may enable personalized strategies for HCC chemoprevention. In addition, multiple experimental and epidemiological studies suggest the potential value of generic drugs or dietary supplements targeting inflammation, oxidant stress, or metabolic derangements as possible HCC chemopreventive agents. While the successful use of highly effective direct-acting antiviral agents will make important inroads into reducing long-term HCC risk, there will remain an important role for HCC chemoprevention even after viral cure, given the persistence of HCC risk in persons with advanced HCV fibrosis, as shown in recent studies. The successful development of cancer preventive therapies will be more challenging compared to cancer therapeutics because of the requirement for larger and longer clinical trials and the need for a safer toxicity profile given its use as a preventive agent. Molecular biomarkers to selectively identify high-risk population could help mitigate these challenges. Genome-wide, unbiased molecular characterization, high-throughput drug/gene screening, experimental model-based functional analysis, and systems-level in silico modelling are expected to complement each other to facilitate discovery of new HCC chemoprevention targets and therapies.
authors.affiliation: Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States. Electronic address: yujin.hoshida@mssm.edu.
authors.forename: Yujin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshida
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States.
authors.forename: Bryan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States.
authors.forename: Nabeel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bardeesy
authors.affiliation: INSERM Unité 1110, Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies Virales et Hépatiques, Université de Strasbourg, and Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Pôle Hépato-digestif, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France; Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.affiliation: Liver Center and Gastrointestinal Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States. Electronic address: rtchung@partners.org.
authors.forename: Raymond T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Carcinogenesis; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prevention