HBV Genomic Integration and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

The infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most important risk factors of liver carcinogenesis. The infection could influence several aspects of the host liver cells, including liver inflammation resulting in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among of them, HBV DNA integration into the host genome could change host gene expression profiling, genomic stability, and HBV gene expression. The present review is focused on the effects of the integration of HBV genomic DNA into host genome during the carcinogenesis of HCC.