Hepatocarcinogenic Properties of Hepatitis B Virus

Abstract

Approximately two billion people are infected with hepatitis B (HBV) worldwide. Infection due to the virus can be influenced by host immune status, age, and vigorosity of viral replication. Majority of patientsre cover from acute infection while a larger percentage of new infections, contracted mostly in utero, advance to a chronic form of the disease and therefore stand thechance of developing complications. The mechanisms through which chronic HBV infection causes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are however unclear, though evidence exist to show that the virus itself is hepatocarcinogenicin action. With an estimated 85% worldwide cases of HCC attributed to HBV, the virus is said to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Althoguh several discoveries have been made in the physiology and pathology of cancer in relation to disease progression, mortality rate of HCC is still high due to late diagnosis. This occurence is however low in developed countries than developing countries where the endemicity of HBV strongly predisposes to the development of chronic liver disease and subsequent progression to HCC. It is indeed necessary to encourage HBV vaccination as well as treatment of chronic hepatitis B, to facilitate the application of many of the advances that have been made in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.