We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Environmental factors related to pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on causes of liver cancer, including viral infections, chemical exposures such as arsenic and microplastics, lifestyle habits, and metabolic conditions. It also reviews proposed prevention measures like vaccination and reduced chemical exposure discussed in the scientific literature.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its etiology is complex, involving multiple aspects such as viral infection, dietary exposure, chemical pollution, lifestyle and endogenous factors. This review conducted a comprehensive search in databases such as PubMed and Scopus using keywords including "hepatocellular carcinoma", "environmental factors", "epidemiological trends", and "prevention and treatment strategies". Relevant papers, including clinical case reports, reviews, and basic research, were included. This study systematically reviewed the mechanisms and epidemiological characteristics of external environmental factors such as viral infection, aflatoxin, arsenic, vinyl chloride, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, microplastics, oral contraceptives, nitrite, and microcystin-leucine arginine in the occurrence of HCC; internal environmental factors such as genetic susceptibility, diabetes, obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, metabolic syndrome, gut microbiota, and sex hormones; other factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, insufficient sleep, lack of exercise and aging. A variety of preventive and intervention measures have been proposed, including hepatitis B vaccination, reduction of aflatoxin and alcohol exposure, tobacco control, antioxidant supplementation, regular rest and exercise. The prevention and control of HCC should range from infectious disease prevention and control to metabolic disease management and environmental governance, combined with individualized risk assessment and precise prevention strategies.
More Papers Like This
Exposure to microplastics and liver oncogenesis: A comprehensive review on molecular mechanisms and pathogenic pathways
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed mechanisms by which microplastic exposure may promote liver cancer, identifying oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory signaling, and epigenetic disruption as key pathways, while noting that microplastics can also carry heavy metals and organic pollutants that synergistically amplify hepatotoxic and carcinogenic risk.
Microplastics and nanoplastics: Emerging drivers of hepatic pathogenesis and metabolic dysfunction
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines emerging evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Researchers found that these particles may contribute to liver damage through oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of metabolic pathways. The study highlights the need for further research into how environmental plastic contamination may be influencing the rising rates of liver disease worldwide.
Environmental microplastics and liver health: Brief review on human exposure and accumulation, hepatotoxicity mechanism, and intervention strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review links human exposure to microplastics, their accumulation in the liver and proposed mechanisms of liver toxicity, including oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death. Most of the evidence comes from cell, animal and organoid studies. It also discusses candidate interventions that are still at the research stage.
The mechanistic nexus between microplastics and chronic liver disease: A review of current evidence
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the mechanisms by which microplastics accumulate in liver tissue and worsen chronic liver disease, finding that MPs activate cell death pathways, trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, promote fibrosis, and disrupt metabolic and microbial regulation — and can amplify damage from co-occurring hepatotoxic substances.
Microplastics, nanoplastics and liver disease: an emerging health concern?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed emerging evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in human liver tissue at increasing concentrations over the past decade, trigger oxidative stress, fibrogenesis, and inflammation in cell and animal models, and may carry microbial pathogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, introducing the concept of plastic-induced liver injury as a new focus for environmental hepatology.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.