Targeting HCC Therapy: On or Off ToPiX?

Excerpt

Primary liver cancer, the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, is the second most common cause of cancer mortality [1]. Among primary liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 70–85 % of the total liver cancer burden worldwide [2]. Epidemiological evidence suggests that several environmental factors are involved in the development of HCC, including infection with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses. Globally, HBV is the most frequent underlying cause of HCC, with an estimated 300 million persons with chronic infection worldwide. Chronic HCV infection is also a major risk factor for the development of HCC. There is preliminary evidence indicating that host genetic factors may contribute to progression of HCV [3]. Assessment of host genetic aberrations revealed mutations of the well-known tumor suppressor gene p53 and amplification of the human chromosome 20q region in up to 30 % of HCC cases [4]. …