James Weems

Article: Association Between Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver Cancer from Hepatitis C

                Liver cancer is the third most effective cause of cancer death worldwide and the fifth most common type of cancer.  Hepatitis C (HCV), is a viral infection that greatly increases the developmental risk for liver cancer and is responsible for roughly one million deaths annually.  The Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through blood and/or its products such as a blood transfusion, organ donation, unsafe sex and the sharing of needles in drug use.  The purpose of the article: Association Between Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (also known as liver cancer) is too expresses the high variability of liver cancer and clinical treatments.  And more importantly, the relationship between the Hepatitis C virus and liver cancer.

                There are two types of liver cancer causes: direct (hepatitis c) and indirect causes (alcohol related liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).  The direct cause from hepatitis C is from the sharing of needles or unsafe sex.  The hepatitis C infected blood will work its way through the body and find the liver.  Once the virus has invaded the liver, it will inject its viral DNA into healthy liver cells.  The viral DNA will begin to mutate or change healthy hepatic cells into viral like cells, and cause the new liver cells that grow to be infected with the hepatitis c virus.  If the virus is detected early, usually before the initial infection period (roughly six months) the virus can be stopped or significantly slowed down.  However, due to its dormant activity with the liver over the initial infection stage, most individuals are not aware of the infection until it is too late.  After the six month period, inflammation (swelling) and cell death ultimately lead to the loss of function for the liver.

                Another cause of liver cancer is called an indirect cause.  In this case, liver disease is usually caused by heavy alcohol intake, also known as cirrhosis.  Cirrhosis, which is the scarring of liver tissue occurs during a period in which the healthy liver cells are outnumbered by the scarred cells.  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is another indirect cause.  This is caused by excess fat stored in the liver due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. This loss of liver function from the direct/indirect causes is due to an alteration in the liver cell DNA.  This change in DNA leads to cell death and inflammation which ultimately leads to the loss of function of the liver.

                At the moment, the direct cause hepatitis c is the most common form, and commonly unknown form of liver cancer due to the highly unlikely event that the infection will be noticed and dealt with in a reasonable amount of time.  Liver cancer occurring from indirect causes (assuming most commonly known) from alcoholism and obesity, will give the body clues throughout the slow progression of the disease.  The purpose of this paper was not only to educate readers that liver cancer is caused only by alcoholism and obesity, but through a virus as well.