Published online Dec 27, 2023. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i12.1258
Peer-review started: August 21, 2023
First decision: September 27, 2023
Revised: November 6, 2023
Accepted: November 24, 2023
Article in press: November 24, 2023
Published online: December 27, 2023
Primary liver cancer is a severe and complex disease, leading to 800000 global deaths annually. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation is one of the critical factors in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and steatohepatitis symptoms are at higher risk of developing HCC. However, not all inflammatory factors have a pathogenic function in HCC development. The current study describes the process and mechanism of hepatitis development and its progression to HCC, particularly focusing on viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and steatohepatitis. Furthermore, the roles of some essential inflammatory cytokines in HCC progression are described in addition to a summary of future research directions.
Core Tip: Primary liver cancer is the second most common tumor in the world, and the number of deaths due to this disease is increasing every year. A large number of studies have shown that inflammation has a certain regulatory effect in the occurrence and exacerbation of liver cancer. However, the function of inflammation in liver cancer remains to be studied. This review introduces the classification of hepatitis, the correlation between various inflammatory factors and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and some of the anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of HCC.