Topic Highlight
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2014; 20(41): 15018-15027
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15018
Linker phosphorylation of Smad3 promotes fibro-carcinogenesis in chronic viral hepatitis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Miki Murata, Katsunori Yoshida, Takashi Yamaguchi, Koichi Matsuzaki
Miki Murata, Katsunori Yoshida, Takashi Yamaguchi, Koichi Matsuzaki, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 570-8506, Japan
Author contributions: All the authors contributed to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Miki Murata, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizonocho, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan. muratami@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-6-69921000 Fax: +81-6-69975490
Received: December 26, 2013
Revised: March 8, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are major causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most patients with persistent viral infection remain asymptomatic, while some patients have poor prognosis and develop HCC. Therefore, identifying persons at high-HCC risk among chronic hepatitis patients is crucial for preventing HCC. Analyses of domain-specific phosphorylation of Smad3 in liver specimens can be helpful to understand the stages of diseases and might represent a marker to predict HCC development.