title: Molecular mechanisms of hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process resulting from a combination of pathway alterations that are either caused directly by viral factors or immune mediated as a consequence of a chronic state of inflammation. Host genetic variation is now emerging as an additional element that contribute to increase the risk of developing HCC. The advent of direct-acting antiviral agents foresees a rapid decline of HCC rate in HCV patients. However, a full understanding of the HCV-mediated tumourigenic process is required to elucidate if pro-oncogenic signatures may persist after virus clearance, and to identify novel tools for HCC prevention and therapy. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: 'L. Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vescovo
authors.affiliation: 'L. Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Refolo
authors.affiliation: 'L. Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Italy; Department of Biology, 'Tor Vergata' University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitagliano
authors.affiliation: 'L. Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Electronic address: gianmaria.fimia@inmi.it.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fimia
authors.affiliation: 'L. Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Italy; Department of Biology, 'Tor Vergata' University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piacentini
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Genetic variants; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatocyte apoptosis; Hepatocyte autophagy; Hepatocyte proliferation; Immunomediated liver alterations; Steatohepatitis