Does Nucleos(t)ide (NUC) Analogs Therapy in Hepatitis B Impact the Incidence of Liver Cancer?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major source of mortality. It is the second most common cause of death worldwide, the fifth most common cancer in men, and ninth in women. It is estimated that 782,000 cases are diagnosed annually, of which half occurs on China [1]. It is more prevalent in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and less prevalent in the USA and Northern Europe [2]. It carries a high burden on society and significantly impairs quality of life. It is estimated that up to 746,000 deaths occurs annually from hepatocellular carcinoma with approximately half of the death associated with hepatitis B [2]. Fortunately, an increasing body of evidence confirms the efficacy of HBV vaccination and antiviral therapy in reducing the incidence of HCC. In this review, we address treatment of hepatitis B and its impact on development of HCC.