Epidemiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Japan and Korea

Abstract

The worldwide burden of liver cancer has been estimated at 671,000 new cases for the year 2005. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for between 85 and 90% of primary liver cancer and is one of the most frequent malignancies in Asia. In both Japan and Korea, the incidence exceeds 25 cases/100,000/year and ranks third in cancer deaths after stomach and lung cancer. In Korea the number of deaths from liver cancer increased from approximately 5,789 in 1983 to 9,966 in 1994, and then remained steady at 9,500/100,000 in 2003. In Japan the number of deaths from HCC increased until 2002, and then decreased to 34,089 in 2003, up to 15% of HCC cases are caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and ∼80% by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; the corresponding figures in Korea are ∼70 and ∼20%. Recent clinical data have shown that interferon and lamivudine treatment is effective in preventing the occurrence of HCC attributed to HCV and HBV infection, respectively, and that an aggressive vaccination program against the latter reduces the incidence of HCC. With the enormous efforts of researchers devoted to basic and clinical studies, the incidence of HCC is expected, in the near future, to gradually decline in both countries.

Burden of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia

“…Although in Iran, the mass vaccination program started in 1993 and reached 94% coverage in 2005 (Alavian et al, 2007), its impact on decreasing the burden of HCC due to HBV suppose to be in future decades (Pourhoseingholi et al, 2010). Therefore it is expected to see a changing epidemiology as similar changes in Japan (Kim et al, 2008) in which, the main cause of HCC shifted from HBV to HCV.…”

“…80-90% of chronic liver diseases and HCC are caused by HBV in Taiwan (Chen, 1993). In Japan HBsAg-positive cases of HCC constituted 42% in 1977HCC constituted 42% in -1978HCC constituted 42% in , but reduced to 15.5% in 2000HCC constituted 42% in -2001 reported by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (Kim et al, 2008). In Korea approximately 65-75% of HCC patients are positive for HBsAg and the high incidence rate of HCC in this country is related to the high carrier rate of HBV in the general population (Sin et al, 1996;Han and Ahn, 2005;Park and Kim, 2008).…”

“…HCC of unknown origin and other causes increased gradually and constituted 12.7% of cases reported in 2000-2001 Whereas; In Korea approximately 10-20% of HCC patients are positive for anti-HCV (Kim et al, 2008).…”

Functional Characterization of Interferon Regulation Element of Hepatitis B virus Genome In Vivo

“…Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide health problem [17,19]. Although a highly effective preventive vaccine is available [5], it does not help the estimated 350 million people who have already been infected chronically and are at higher risk of developing hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the predominant causes of mortality due to HBV infection [3].…”

Positioning and Indication of Sorafenib in the Treatment Algorithm and Real Practice Setting: Western and Eastern Approach – Asian Perspective

“…Asia has the highest incidence rates of HCC, because chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus infection are endemic in many countries [3]. Furthermore, in a systematic review of 1,437 treatment-naïve HCC patients at the Yonsei Liver Cancer Special Clinic in Korea, a higher proportion of patients was classified as intermediate (26.8%) and advanced (32.4%) stages compared to Western countries (unpublished data).…”