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Galicia-Moreno et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:20 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2019.36

Review Open Access

Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus
infection in Latin America: epidemiology, diagnosis
and treatment

Marina Galicia-Moreno , Hugo Christian Monroy-Ramirez , Marina Campos-Valdez , Jaime Sanchez-Meza ,
1
1
1
1
Laura Sanchez-Orozco , Juan Armendariz-Borunda 1,2
1
1 University of Guadalajara, Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Biology and
Genomics, Health Science University Center (CUCS), Jalisco 44340, Mexico.
2 Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara, Jalisco 45138, Mexico.
Correspondence to: Dr. Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Institute of Molecular Biology in Medicine and Gene Therapy, University
Center for Health Science (CUCS), Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, University of Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada
950, Independencia Oriente, Apdo, Postal 2-123, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, Mexico. E-mail: armdbo@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Galicia-Moreno M, Monroy-Ramirez HC, Campos-Valdez M, Sanchez-Meza J, Sanchez-Orozco L,
Armendariz-Borunda J. Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus infection in Latin America: epidemiology, diagnosis and
treatment. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:20. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2019.36
Received: 28 Nov 2019 First Decision: 18 Mar 2020 Revised: 11 Apr 2020 Accepted: 14 Apr 2020 Published: 11 May 2020

Science Editor: Ming-Lung Yu Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer associated with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
The most common cause of HCC is chronic hepatitis C virus infection and many studies in Europe, Asia and North
America have focused on its etiology, epidemiology, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic options. However, little is
known about these issues in Latin America. The aim of this review is to address these aspects of HCC in Latin
America. The main risk factors associated with developing HCC in this region are: age, concomitant cirrhosis,
hepatitis C infection, obesity and hereditary disease such as hemochromatosis. On the other hand, screening tests
and diagnostic methods of HCC are mostly serum alpha fetoprotein quantification, liver ultrasound, computed
tomography, magnetic resonance, and histopathology. Novel diagnostic methods include gut microbiota
analysis and the use of nanotechnology and they continue to be tested. Finally, according to the Barcelona
Clinic Liver Cancer, curative treatments used in HCC patients are mainly liver resection, liver transplantation,
and local ablation, each with advantages and disadvantages. In conclusion, clear strategies are urgently
needed to understand the extent of HCC and related problems in this part of the world. This review provides
greater knowledge of HCC for the proper design of preventive programs by taking into consideration specific
characteristics of our population. Also, this review allows for an understanding of individualizing treatments
according to the patient’s needs.

Keywords: Liver, hepatitis C, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, hepatocellular carcinoma, Latin America

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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