Author information

¹Research Group "Dynamics of Early Viral Infection and the Innate Antiviral Response", Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (D430), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.

²Department of Internal Medicine IV, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

³Research Group "Dynamics of Early Viral Infection and the Innate Antiviral Response", Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis (D430), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: m.binder@dkfz-heidelberg.de.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, with a risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are available, the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of HCV-associated HCC are still high. This article reviews the current knowledge of the mechanisms of HCV-induced carcinogenesis with a special focus on those processes that continue after virus clearance and outlines implications for patient surveillance after DAA treatment.