Prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma： Focusing onantioxidant therapy

Oxidative stress has been investigated in the context ofalcoholic liver injury for many years and shown to be acausal factor of chronic hepatitis C （CHC）, nonalcoholicsteatohepatitis （NASH）, drug-induced liver injury, Wilson＇s disease, and hemochromatosis. In CHC, it has beendemonstrated that oxidative stress plays an importantrole in hepatocarcinogenesis. In cases with persistenthepatitis due to failure of hepatitis C virus eradication,or chronic liver disease, such as NASH, the treatment ofwhich remains unestablished, it is important to reduceserum alanine aminotransferase levels and prevent liverfibrosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.This also suggests the importance of antioxidanttherapy. Among treatment options where it would beexpected that anti-inflammatory activity plays a rolein their confirmed efficacy for chronic hepatitis, irondepletion therapy, glycyrrhizin, ursodeoxycholic acid,Sho-Saiko-To, and vitamin E can all be consideredantioxidant therapies. To date, however, the ability ofthese treatments to prevent cancer has been confirmedonly in CHC. Nevertheless, anti-inflammatory and antifibroticeffects have been demonstrated in other liverdiseases and these therapies may potentially be effectivefor cancer prevention.