Epidemiological Analysis of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Death and Its Mechanism of Promoting Cancer

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the sixth most common cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer deaths in China. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main histological type of PLC. Globally, 56% of PLC cases are due to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, while 20% are due to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Chronic HBV infection is the main cause of PLC in East Asian countries including China, whereas HCV infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are the main causes in most Western countries. This article analyzes the epidemiology of primary liver cancer deaths both domestically and internationally, as well as the impact of HBV infection on the survival of HCC patients, discussing the significant role of HBV infection in HCC. It explores the specific mechanisms through which HBV infection regulates TERT transcription via HBV-TERT integration, impacting the progression of HCC, and provides insights for clinical research on liver cancer.