Development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection: risk factors and chemoprevention

A common cause for liver-related death among persons with chronic hepatitis C is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), occurring predominantly in those with cirrhosis, and far less commonly in persons with bridging fibrosis without cirrhosis. The annual incidence of HCC in subjects with viral C cirrhosis varies between countries (4–7%), evidencing an increase in males, advanced age, in patients with HBV or HIV coinfection, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, obesity, persistently increased hepatitis activity, iron overload, trombocytopenia or a family history of HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a difficult-to-treat tumo…