Role of hepatitis B surface antigen in hepatocarcinogenesis

Abstract

This chapter discusses the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common human malignant neoplasms. It is the fifth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer death in the world. The prognosis of HCC is very poor with or without therapeutic intervention. The overall 5 years survival rate worldwide is estimated at only ∼3% because of late diagnosis. Although the molecular pathogenesis of HCC remains elusive, the etiologic association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocarcinogenesis has been well established. There are an estimated 387 million HBV carriers worldwide, and geographic distribution of HBV carriers match well with HCC incidences. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that the risk of developing HCC among HBV carriers is 100 fold higher than among noncarriers and the death rate from HCC is between 10% and 25%. The HBsAg polypeptides are important for HBV infection and are an important target for diagnosis and vaccine development.