Mechanisms of hepatitis B virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common fatal cancers in the world and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major causes of HCC. The pathogenesis of HBV-related HCC, however, has not been fully examined. HBV induces HCC by genome integration and expression of trans-activating factors derived from the HBV genome. Evidence suggests that the HBV X protein (HBx) plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of HCC. We have reviewed the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis at the molecular level with a particular emphasis on the role of X protein.