<p>Chronic infections due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are responsible for most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide, and this association is likely to remain during the next decade. Moreover, viral hepatitis-related HCC imposes an important burden on public health in terms of disability-adjusted life years. In order to reduce such a burden, some major challenges must be faced. Universal vaccination against hepatitis B virus, especially in the neonatal period, is probably the most relevant primary preventive measure against the development of HCC. Moreover, considering the large adult population already infected with hepatitis B and C viruses, it is also imperative to identify these individuals to ensure their access to treatment. Both hepatitis B and C currently have highly effective therapies, which are able to diminish the risk of development of liver cancer. Finally, it is essential for individuals at high-risk of HCC to be included in surveillance programs, so that tumors are detected at an early stage. Patients with hepatitis B or C and advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis benefit from being followed in a surveillance program. As hepatitis B virus is oncogenic and capable of leading to liver cancer even in individuals with early stages of liver fibrosis, other high-risk groups of patients with hepatitis B are also candidates for surveillance. Considerable effort is required concerning these strategies in order to decrease the incidence and the mortality of viral hepatitis-related HCC.</p>

doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v27.i24.3556, hdl.handle.net/1765/136322
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Ângelo Zambam de Mattos, J.D. (Jose) Debes, P.A. (Andre) Boonstra, Ju Dong Yang, Domingo C. Balderramo, Giovana D.P. Sartori, & Angelo Alves de Mattos. (2021). Current impact of viral hepatitis on liver cancer development. World Journal of Gastroenterology (Vol. 27, pp. 3556–3567). doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i24.3556