Can antiviral therapy lower risk of liver cancer?

Antiviral therapy can reduce the risk of liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, researchers have found. The licensed oral antiviral agent nucleos(t)ide (NUC) resulted in a reduced long term risk for liver cancer chronic hepatitis B patients, the findings showed. 'Our findings suggest that NUC use reduces the risk of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis B patients, particularly in younger patients with minimal liver damage,' said Chun-Ying Wu from National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan. (Read: Keep your liver healthy with these 5 natural remedies (Gallery))

This study analysed the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer, in patients treated with several different agents. The NUC-treated cohort had a significantly lower seven-year incidence of liver cancer compared with a control group. Liver cancer among hepatitis B patients causes approximately 745,000 deaths worldwide each year. The findings appeared in the journal Gastroenterology. (Read: 9 tips to prevent liver disease (Gallery))

What is liver cancer?

It is a condition that can be caused by many factors including viral infections (hepatitis B and C), chronic alcoholism, certain food contaminants, genetic factors, cirrhosis of the liver. It is when the cells within the liver multiply unnaturally leading to formation of a mass or scar tissue. Scar tissue is a type of tissue that forms over a damaged area of the liver. It is the body's way of healing. Unfortunately this tissue leads to the improper functioning of the liver and can lead to cancer.

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With inputs from IANS

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