Roads towards a new tailored therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications of microRNAs

摘要

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. The number of new cases is estimated to be more than 500 000 per year, accounting for 4% of all newly diagnosed cancers (1). Aetiological studies have shown that infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and ingestion of aflatoxin B1-contaminated food may be important risk factors for the development of HCC. In addition, cirrhosis resulting from heavy alcohol intake represents a major risk factor in some Western countries (1).