Hepatitis C Virus and its Relation to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the world’s sixth leading cause of death due to its quick progression. It has a poor prognosis and a low survival rate. Though there are several factors leading to malignancy, some of them are not yet fully understood. For example HCV. Hepatitis C virus is known to cause hepatocellular carcinoma and clearing the viral load of HCV from the body using DAAs has helped in improved prognosis and prevention of HCC but there is no concrete evidence to prove the direct carcinogenic effects of HCV in causing HCC. The argument is that HCV does not directly causes HCC but its chronic effects in the liver eventually lead up to HCC.