Topic: The Role of Chronic Inflammation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Inflammation was initially proposed as an important mechanistic aspect of cancer development by Virchow in 1863 and was subsequently shown to involve the tumor microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops on the basis of several chronic inflammatory diseases, including hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and chronic alcoholism. Several commonly-used markers of inflammation have been used in HCC clinical practice as indices of prognosis and tumor aggressiveness, including C-reactive protein, albumin, the combination of CRP and albumin (Glasgow Index), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and platelet to lymphocyte ratio, as well as several indices of liver inflammation and damage.

There has been a rapid expansion in recent years in our understanding of the hepatic inflammatory components, pathways and mediators and their roles in hepatocarcinogenesis, and the clinical use of inflammation inhibitors in HCC prevention agents and its treatment. The tumor inflammatory microenvironment appears to be a bidirectional process in which the tumor produces inflammatory cytokines, and the body responds to the presence of the tumor by mounting an immune inflammatory attack. This Special Issue aims to present the background and new understanding based on the recent literature on inflammation in relation to HCC.

Potential topics:
1. HCC causes and their separate inflammation paths (-HBV, -HCV, -alcohol, and -steatosis pathways);
2. Hepatic inflammatory microenvironmental mediators;
3. Systemic inflammation;
4. Prognostic nutritional factors and hepatic inflammation in HCC;
5. Dietary influences on inflammation and HCC development;
6. Autophagy and inflammation;
7. Role of microbiota in hepatic inflammation;
8. Effects of inflammation on the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis;
9. Inflammation and PVT;
10. Inflammation and metastasis;
11. Role of inflammation in prognosis post-surgery, LRT, and systemic therapy;
12. Immune checkpoint blockade and inflammation in HCC;
13. Why does inflammation shorten survival?
14. Anti-inflammatory agents in HCC prevention;
15. Anti-inflammatory therapy and HCC prognosis;
16. Psychological aspects and anti-inflammatory mediators;
17. Inflammatory targets for future HCC therapy.

30 Nov 2023