Review article
Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Chronic hepatitis C Treated with Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy
Lucija Kuna
Martina Smolić
Tomislav Kizivat
Robert Smolić
Abstract
Patients with chronic liver disease are known to be more likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although direct-acting antivirals have proven successful in eliminating the hepatitis C virus RNA from blood circulation, the HCV RNA can still remain present in liver tissue or peripheral blood mononuclear cells – a condition known as occult HCV infection. There have been numerous concerns related to the recurrence of HCC after DAA treatment of hepatocytes infected with chronic HCV. One of the major risk factors leading to de novo HCC is the chronicity of HCV in liver cells. Moreover, numerous studies investigated the change of HCV-infected hepatocytes into HCC. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the progression of chronic HCV infection into HCC, as well as the effect of HCV on the alteration of DNA ploidy that leads to recurrence of HCC after DAA treatment, are still unclear. Therefore, this article examines the risk factors that could lead to the development of HCC after treatment of HCV with DAAs, such as the role of liver cirrhosis, reactivation of hepatitis B virus, alteration of DNA ploidy and occult HCV infection.
Keywords
hepatitis C virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; direct-acting antiviral therapy
Hrčak ID:
232204
URI
Publication date:
15.1.2020.
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