Current strategies for chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops frequently in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis caused by persistent infection with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus in Asia. Several studies including ours have revealed that the risk of HCC increases in parallel with the progression of hepatic fibrosis associated with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. It may be delineated reasonably, therefore, that suppression of fibrosis by chemical (or biological) agents would be able to decrease the risk of HCC. We have demonstrated that antifibrotic agents, such as HOE 077, TJ-9 and interferon, can reduce the risk of HCC. Accordingly, antifibrotic agents are promising candidates for chemoprevention of HCC. The results of our study are discussed within the scope of the current state of the art as regards chemopreventing HCC.