Published online Aug 21, 2023. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i31.4706
Peer-review started: March 28, 2023
First decision: June 17, 2023
Revised: June 29, 2023
Accepted: August 1, 2023
Article in press: August 1, 2023
Published online: August 21, 2023
Processing time: 142 Days and 22.3 Hours
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a high incidence and fatality rate worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for its occurrence and development. Early detection of HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC) can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. Biomarkers are extremely helpful, not only for early diagnosis, but also for the development of therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a subset of non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length, have increasingly attracted scientists’ attention due to their potential utility as biomarkers for cancer detection and therapy. HBV profoundly impacts the expression of miRNAs potentially involved in the development of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the current progress on the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HBV-HCC. From a molecular standpoint, we discuss the mechanism by which HBV regulates miRNAs and investigate the exact effect of miRNAs on the promotion of HCC. In the near future, miRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications will make their way into the clinical routine.
Core Tip: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the predominant risk factors for developing HCC. Early diagnosis and prognosis prediction are pivotal for patients with HBV-associated HCC (HBV-HCC) in their clinical management. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a subset of non-coding RNAs, play an essential role in human diseases including HBV-HCC. Here, we summarize the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of patients with HBV-HCC. Furthermore, we discuss the underlying mechanism by which HBV dysregulates miRNAs, and the potential role of dysregulated miRNAs in promoting hepatocarcinogenesis, laying the foundation for applying potential therapeutic targets.