Review article: immunisation against hepatitis B virus infection and the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection results in a high risk of cirrhosis and its complications: cirrhosis decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide), liver transplantation and death. It is now 40 years since development of the first plasmatic vaccine which has been proven to prevent (liver) cancer. AIMS: To update firstly the molecular and epidemiological aspects of HBV-related HCC and its natural history together with the benefits associated with viral suppression and secondly the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of HBV vaccination. METHODS: Analysis of recent published data regarding HBV replication, anti-viral treatments and vaccination. RESULTS: The nuclear HBV replication cycle in the hepatocyte combines two limiting steps to achievement of HBV cure during chronic infection: the formation of a minichromosome, the supercoiled cccDNA, and host-genome integration of HBV DNA which triggers direct viral hepatocarcinogenesis. Even if specific anti-viral treatments significantly reduce viral replication, they decrease but do not cancel the risk of liver-related events in contrast with the prevention of HBV through HBV vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: To achieve the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination plan, the HBV vaccine is a priority tool for achieving the sustainable development goals of the World Health Organization.