Antiviral therapy and primary and secondary prevention of hepatocellular carcino

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Hepatology Research 37 (s2), S294–S298.

doi:10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00200.x

Abstract

Antiviral therapy and primary and secondary prevention of hepatocellular

carcinoma

L. Department of Medicine, University of California, San

Francisco, California, USA

L. , Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of California,

San Francisco, California, USA. Email: teresa.wright@...

Abstract

Viral hepatitis due to chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV/HCV) infects

more than 500 000 000 individuals worldwide. These chronic viral diseases

are highly linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the

fifth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. HCC is much more common

in Asia and Africa than in the USA and Europe, although HCC is one of the

few cancers with a rising incidence in the USA. There are 530 000 cases of

HCC worldwide of which 82% are related to viral hepatitis. 316 000 cases of

HCC are HBV-associated, 118 000 are HCV-associated. The most effective way

to prevent HCC is to prevent viral infection through immunization. Currently

there are effective vaccinesagainst hepatitis B and A, but not against HCV,

the virus that accounts for most HCC in the USA. The published work

supporting the use of antiviral therapy in preventing liver cancer is

limited. Data supporting the use of antiviral therapy in preventing

recurrence of HCC after initial anticancer approaches is even less

available. Nevertheless, the weight of evidence suggests that treatment of

HBV/HCV-related fibrosis will reduce the risk of developing HCC.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00200.x

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