Molecular Aspects of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Caused by Hepatitis C Virus

authors:

avatar Ali Karami 1 , * , avatar Seyed Moayed Alavian 2 , avatar Ali Najafi 2 , avatar Mohammad Javad Hosseini 2

Research Center of Molecular biology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Karami@bmsu.ac.ir, Tehran, IR.Iran
Liver and Gastroentestinal Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences and Tehran Hepatitis Center, Tehran, IR.Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.6, issue 2; 75-82
article type: Review Article
received: May 12, 2006
accepted: May 25, 2006

How To Cite Karami A, Alavian S, Najafi A, Hosseini M. Molecular Aspects of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Caused by Hepatitis C Virus. Hepat Mon. 2006;6(2): 75-82. 

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small, enveloped, single-stranded positive sense RNA virus with a diameter of about 50 nm belonging to the Hepacivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae. The HCV genome is translated to produce a single protein of around 3011 amino acids. This "polyprotein" is then proteolytically processed by viral and cellular proteases to produce structural (core protein, envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, ARFP/F protein, p7) and nonstructural (NS2-3 autoprotease, NS3-4A, NS4B, NS5A, NS5B) proteins. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors worldwide, with increasing incidence. It is estimated that approximately 300-400 thousands of people in the IRAN and 4 million in the United States are persistently infected. It is important for tumor control to identify the factors that predispose patients to death. A large number of molecular factors have been shown to associate with the invasiveness of HCC, and have potential prognostic significance.

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