The changing epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia versus United States and Europe

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major disease worldwide. There were 782,000 estimated new cases globally in 2012 with the majority (76%) occurring in Asia, especially China. Although the etiologies are similar, the prevalence of each HCC risk factor varies in different geographic regions. In China, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of HCC, whereas in Japan, United States (US) and Europe, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection predominates. With the epidemic of obesity and diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially its more aggressive form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has now become a major contributor to HCC. It is anticipated that NAFLD/NASH is likely to overtake viral hepatitis as the leading contributor to HCC in the future. Prior success in reducing HCC cases through hepatitis B immunization program and effective HBV treatments is likely to be offset by rising significance of NASH-associated HCC. In view of this, appropriate measures such as aggressive monitoring clinical course and prognoses of patients with HCC from NASH, studying pathogenesis and mechanism by which NASH promotes HCC, and developing novel intervention and treatment strategy for these patients would be important to address this important public health challenge.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; viral hepatitis; alcohol-related liver disease; non-alcohol fatty liver disorder Citation: Wu J. The changing epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia versus United States and Europe. Adv Mod Oncol Res 2017; 3(S1): 51-58.

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