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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2014; 20(20): 6252-6261
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6252
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6252
Molecular mechanisms of gender disparity in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma
Wei-Cheng Liu, Quan-Yan Liu, Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Liu QY contributed to the conception, design of the article and manuscript editing; Liu WC carried out the literature review in addition to the completion of the initial manuscript; all authors were involved in revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 81372552 and 81172349/H1617
Correspondence to: Quan-Yan Liu, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. lqy@whu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-27-87330795 Fax: +86-27-87330795
Received: October 13, 2013
Revised: December 22, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Revised: December 22, 2013
Accepted: January 8, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Increasing evidence indicates that hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may involve gender disparity and that it may be a type of hormone-responsive malignant tumor. Sex hormones have been shown to play very different roles in the progression of an HBV infection and in the development of HBV-related HCC. The article reviews the reported molecular mechanisms of the gender disparity in HBV-related HCC, with an aim to improve the understanding of the development and progression of HBV-associated HCC and exploring more effective prevention and treatment of this disease.