Scientists review HBV-associated tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the few cancers in which a continued increase in incidence has been observed over recent years. Globally, there are approximately 750,000 new cases of liver cancer reported each year. Importantly, population-based studies show that HCC ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Also, a large proportion of HCC patients display symptoms of intrahepatic metastases or postsurgical recurrence, with a five-year survival rate of around only 30-40%.

Among the various pathogenic factors, HBV infection accounts for about 60% of the total liver cancer in developing countries and around 23% of cases in developed countries. The persistent presence of HBV DNA in the serum of infected individuals has been found to be a strong indicator for the development of HCC.


In contrast to a majority of cancer types, such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer in which a tumor emerges within a relatively healthy tissue, the initiation of HCC, especially HBV-associated HCC, is intimately associated with a chronically diseased liver tissue. The HBV-initiated tumorigenic process often goes with or occurs secondary to long-term symptoms of chronic hepatitis, inflammation and cirrhosis. The HBV-associated tumor microenvironment forms a complex system in which both cellular and subcellular components with reciprocal signaling contribute critically to the carcinogenic progression.

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