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Chen et al. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:29 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.18

Review Open Access

Understanding the inflammation-cancer
transformation in the development of primary liver

cancer

Hong-Jin Chen , Ming-Hua Hu , Fang-Gui Xu , Hao-Jun Xu , Jun-Jun She , Hong-Ping Xia 1,4
3
2,#
1,#
4
1
1 Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & The Affiliated Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University,
Nanjing 21116, China.
2 Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241001, China.
3 Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 21116, China.
4 Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.
# Authors contribute equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hong-Ping Xia, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences & The Affiliated Sir Run Run
Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 21116, China. E-mail: xiahongping@njmu.edu.cn; Dr. Jun-Jun She, Department of
General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. E-mail: sjuns@sina.com

How to cite this article: Chen HJ, Hu MH, Xu FG, Xu HJ, She JJ, Xia HP. Understanding the inflammation-cancer transformation
in the development of primary liver cancer. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:29. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.18

Received: 12 Mar 2018 First Decision: 10 May 2018 Revised: 11 Jun 2018 Accepted: 11 Jun 2018 Published: 5 Jul 2018
Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Cai-Hong Wang

Abstract
Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. China has more than 55% liver
cancer cases globally. The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was caused by a variety of risks factors,
including chronic inflammation by virus, alcohol consumption and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Emerging evidence has
notarized inflammation as a critical component of HCC progression. The development of HCC is a multistep process which
may originate from liver chronic injury and inflammation to subsequent fibrosis and/or cirrhosis and finally HCC. A large
number of studies indicate that chemokines and cytokines are candidates linking molecules between inflammation and
liver cancer. Here, we will describe a few of the key cytokines and chemokines and signal pathways which are involved in
the inflammation of HCC. Inhibitors of inflammation for the prevention and overcoming antitumor immunity for treatment
of liver cancer are promising candidates for the future management of patients with HCC.

Keywords: Inflammation, liver cancer, cytokines, chemokines, signaling pathways

INTRODUCTION
Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths and the fifth common largest
tumor type worldwide (http://globocan.iarc.fr). It can be categorized into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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