Liver fluke infection and cholangiocarcinoma: a review

Abstract

Parasites are significant groups for carcinogenesis among which liver flukes, including Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis, are typical representatives causing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the second most common primary hepatic malignancy with dismal prognosis. O. viverrini is prevalent in Southeast Asia, infecting 10 million people while C. sinensis has a wider distribution in East Asia and several Southeast Asian countries, affecting more than 35 million people's health. These two worms have some common characteristics and/or discrepancies in life cycle, genome, and transcriptome. As hot spots in recent years, genome and transcriptome research has extracted numerous novel fluke worm-derived proteins, which are excellent for carcinogenic exploration. However, just a handful of these studies have focused on the metabolic pathway. In this study, the main mechanisms of carcinogenesis of both worms, in terms of mechanical damage, metabolic products and immunopathology, and other possible pathways, will be discussed in detail. This review retrospectively describes the main traits of C. sinensis and O. viverrini, their molecular biology and core carcinogenic mechanisms in a contrast pattern.

Human liver flukes

“…Additionally there are some animal data suggesting cholangiocarcinoma as a sequalae of O. felineus infection (33) . Lower The mechanism of carcinogenesis is incompletely understood and is the subject of ongoing research (34,35). Much of the data relate to Opisthorchis viverrini induced cholangiocarcinoma.…”

Snail-borne parasitic diseases: an update on global epidemiological distribution, transmission interruption and control methods

“…Clonorchis sinensis is a typical species of this group. In these parasites, after miracidia are released from the eggs they subsequently develop into sporocysts and finally form cercariae that then infect freshwater fish, which are the second intermediate host [ 5 ]. In group IV, snails may become the first intermediate host and are infected by miracidia [ 6 ].…”

First report and molecular identification of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in human communities from Lower Myanmar

“…Although most cases are asymptomatic, complications can include hepatobiliary diseases such as hepatomegaly, cholangitis, cholecystitis, peri-ductal fibrosis and gallstones. Severe chronic infection is a strong risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma [4–6]. More than ten million people are estimated to be infected with O .…”