Cytokines Related to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Irrespective of the different etiologies, unresolved chronic inflammation is a common denominator and a feature present in more than 90% of patients with HCC. Local activation of cell populations upon sensing pathogens and/or tissue damage in the liver may trigger a tightly regulated and coordinated multi-step process, followed by immune cell infiltration, and subsequent engagement in tissue repair as the ultimate goal. It is in this fine orchestration of events that the release of a wide array of soluble factors, such as cytokines, takes place.     In this regard, cytokines have been investigated as potential biomarkers to predict different stages of HCC, and to further understand mechanisms of HCC formation. In the presence of HCC-promoting risk factors, the initial inflammatory response in the liver is unresolved, and as a result, the unbalanced expression of cytokines promotes a persistent healing response.     This response may lead to sequential development of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually HCC by enhancing hepatocyte proliferation and regeneration which can lead to mutagenesis and set the stage for HCC development. Once HCC is established, cytokines released by the tumor, neighboring non-tumor cells, or immune cells can act on the malignant lesion to promote tumor survival by multiple mechanisms.     Since cytokines are present throughout the different stages of HCC progression, their evaluation may provide insightful information on HCC detection and management. The ability to detect cytokines in sera and/or plasma could potentially serve as biomarkers to increase early HCC detection rates which would improve disease outcome as well as be used as prognostic factors in response to therapies