Molecular aspects of hepatic carcinogenesis

• Main Authors: Marcelo Eidi NITA, Venâncio Avancini Ferreira ALVES, Flair José CARRILHO, Suzane Kioko ONO-NITA, Evandro Sobroza de MELLO, Joaquim J. GAMA-RODRIGUES
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2002
• Subjects: Liver cancer; Carcinogenesis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; p53; Cell cycle; Apoptosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/e66afa8a3fba43d2976ea6f883b5e80f

Exogenous agents correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been identified and well characterized. These agents, including the different viruses that cause chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, can lead to regenerative nodules and dysplastic nodules/adenomatous hyperplasia. These conditions associated with several molecular alterations of hepatocyte ultimately culminate in hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, there has been a great progress in the identification of somatic and germinative mutations that may be correlated with the development of HCC, justifying a review on the subject. Hence, the factors involved in the process of hepatic carcinogenesis, such as infection by the hepatitis B and C viruses, with a special focus in the molecular alterations described in recent years are discussed herein, pointing out areas potentially relevant for clinical development.