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Page 10 of 14 Jayachandran et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:8 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2019.35

of iron-regulatory proteins in abnormal iron uptake in HCC. In-depth understanding of the intricate
pathways involved in HH-associated HCC needs attention and future research needs to be focused on the
prevention of HCC in these patients.

CONCLUSION
Despite the controversies in the field regarding the degree of penetrance of HFE mutations in different
patient populations and their role in hepatic iron overload, HH patients with cirrhosis are at a high risk of
developing HCC. Further study in this field is needed to better understand the pathogenic process toward
HCC and to prevent HCC development in HH patients, considering that there are currently no effective
therapies for HCC. Furthermore, an in-depth understanding of the metabolic iron regulatory pathways
in HFE-related HCC in HH patients will allow the discovery of novel druggable targets for effective
therapeutic approaches.

DECLARATIONS

Authors’ contributions
Contributed to conception and design of the study and manuscript writing: Jayachandran A, Shrestha R,
Bridle KR, Crawford DHG
Final approval of manuscripts: Jayachandran A, Shrestha R, Bridle KR, Crawford DHG

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
This manuscript publication is funded by Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.

Conflicts of interest
All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020.

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