Dysregulated cell-signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma: causes and therapeutic options

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer, is among the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is a highly dreaded form of cancer, as it is often detected in the advanced stages, when no available treatment options are usually not effective. Further treatment such as liver resection and transplantation can be provided to only a few patients and may lead to various complications throughout the rest of the patient’s life. The complications that arise in the current treatment options led the drive to explore new approaches for treating hepatic cancer. The studies that have been done in the last two decades have explored the pathogenesis of HCC in detail. One of the major culprits among various causative factors is dysregulated cell signaling; this led to the development of molecular approaches for HCC treatment. Various factors such as the HBx gene of the hepatitis B virus or chemical carcinogens and heavy use of alcohol have been shown to interfere with the normal signaling cascades, leading to HCC. Various mutations leading to the abnormal expression of the proteins may contribute to the development of HCC. Therefore targeting these dysregulated molecules of the signaling pathways holds promise results for the treatment of hepatic cancer. In-depth study of these pathways and their implications in the pathogenesis will help in deciphering the molecular mechanism of tumor development, metastasis, angiogenesis, invasion, and drug resistance. These studies will also empower researchers and clinicians in developing effective drugs to treat HCC and cure it.