Pathology Features and Molecular Genetic Mechanisms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Patients with Hepatitis C Associated Liver Cirrhosis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single stranded RNA virus belonging to the family of Flaviviridae.The hepatitis C virus has unique ability to cause persistent infection in susceptible host.The chronicity rate is 75-85% after acute infection and 20-30% of HCV infected patients will develop cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Post transfusion HCV has been virtually eliminated by screening of donor blood after 1992 and injection drug use now appears to be the most common remaining risk factor for HCV infection.Chronic infection of HCV is a major risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and the pathogenesis of HCC in chronic HCV infection is due to chronic inflammation for long period of time which leads to fibrosis, cirrhosis and carcinoma formation.Pathology features of chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were described.Molecular genetic mechanisms involved in the development of hepatitis C associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were reviewed.Understanding the mechanisms of initiation and progression of HCC will provide principles for early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.