The path to cancer, and back: Immune modulation during hepatitis C virus infection, progression to fibrosis and cancer, and unexpected roles of new antivirals.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects over 130 million individuals worldwide, and it is the number 1 reason for liver transplantation in the United States. HCV infection progresses in a slow chronic fashion eliciting a strong but ineffective immune response, mainly characterized by NK cell dysfunction and T cell exhaustion. The chronic hepatic inflammation leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer in a significant number of patients. In recent years, groundbreaking research has led to the discovery of new HCV-specific direct acting antivirals (DAAs), which have an unprecedented efficacy to clear the virus, and establish a sustained virological response. Indeed, curing HCV infection with an oral medication is now reality. The effects of DAAs in mitigating the HCV-related complications of liver fibrosis and cancer are yet largely unknown. Nonetheless, recent controversial reports suggest a potential increase in liver cancer recurrence upon use of DAAs. In the current manuscript we review the most important immune-mediated mechanisms underlying HCV chronicity and the development of liver fibrosis and cancer. Furthermore, we discuss recent concern on use of the new agents. Copyright (C) 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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