MOLECULAR GENETIC ASPECTS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATHOGENESIS AND CURRENT OPTIONS OF DRUG THERAPY

Liver cancer is widespread neoplasm type that ranks second among the causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main form of liver cancer generally detected at advanced stages in most patients. HCC development is a result of accumulation of various somatic molecular alterations. Different HCC etiology and chronic liver diseases cause numerous and heterogeneous genetic and epigenetic aberrations that determine diverse gene expression alterations in HCC. Molecular heterogeneity limits the efficacy of targeted therapy that is currently the essential approach for advanced stage HCC treatment.

The present review considers the main genetic and epigenetic alterations detected in HCC, results of transcriptomic investigations and systems biology analysis of the data. Up-to-date information on application of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC therapy are discussed.