Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for >90% of primary liver cancer cases, and chronic infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) are major contributors.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE (PubMed) database, focusing on studies related to HBV, HDV, and HCC.
Results: HBV contributes to HCC through mechanisms like viral integration into the host genome, chronic inflammation, and immune modulation, leading to genomic instability and altered cell signaling. HDV exacerbates HBV-induced liver damage, accelerating fibrosis and cirrhosis, and significantly increasing HCC risk. Antiviral therapies and vaccinations have majorly reduced the burden of HBV-related HCC, but HDV remains challenging to treat due to limited therapeutic options. Emerging treatments like Bulevirtide showed promising results.
Conclusion: This review highlights the critical impact of HBV and HDV co-infections on HCC development, emphasizing the need for more effective therapeutic strategies. While advances in antiviral therapies have reduced the incidence of HBV-related HCC, the high burden of HDV-related complications persists. Future research should focus on improving treatments for HDV and understanding its unique contribution to HCC pathogenesis.
Keywords: Cirrhosis; Fibrosis; HBV; HDV; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer.
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.