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Pazgan-Simon. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:17 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2019.52

Review Open Access

Direct acting antivirals therapy and hepatocellular
carcinoma risk in patients with hepatitis C virus

Monika Pazgan-Simon

Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 51-149, Poland.
Correspondence to: Monika Pazgan-Simon, MD, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical
University, Poland. E-mail: monikapazgansimon@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Pazgan-Simon M. Direct acting antivirals therapy and hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with
hepatitis C virus. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:17. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2019.52

Received: 22 Dec 2019 First Decision: 18 Feb 2020 Revised: 16 Mar 2020 Accepted: 1 Apr 2020 Published: 10 Apr 2020
Science Editor: Dalbir Singh Sandhu Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
The estimated number of people with active hepatitis C virus infection worldwide is about 70 million. The
estimated number of people with active hepatitis C virus infection worldwide is about 70 million. Approximately
30% of infected individuals develop cirrhosis, whilst some develop liver cancer, the fifth most common cancer
worldwide. Currently available treatments, high-efficacy antiviral agents mostly short-term (8-12 weeks) and
pangenotypic, have efficacy rates of over 96%. Some patients, especially those with cirrhosis, develop primary
liver cancer even after effective hepatitis C virus treatment. In order to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma early,
patients at risk should be enrolled in a surveillance program.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, direct acting antivirals treatment, oncogenesis

INTRODUCTION
The main causal agents in viral hepatitis are primary hepatotropic viruses: A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), D
(HDV), E (HEV). There are other secondary hepatotropic viruses that can also cause viral hepatitis.

HCV is caused by the RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, which has a single strand of 3011 bases and a
lipid membrane envelope sized 60-70 nm. The virus structure encompasses a genome, core envelope proteins
[1,2]
(E1, E2) and 7 non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B) .
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection, transmitted as a result of skin impairment with non-sterile medical
equipment, in particular intravenous drug injections and tattooing, during sex. This is especially the case
for passive anal intercourse, vertically (from mother onto the child) during childbirth, and less often during

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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