Liver transplantation, liver cancer and tumor markers in Asien countries

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary cancer of the liver, and its incidence is steadily increasing. As the malignancy usually develops in HBV/HCV carriers suffering from chronic liver disease such as chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis, it appears that a hepatitis-related proliferative change, mainly sustained by repeated cycles of cell death and regeneration, is important for HBV/HCV hepatocarcinogenesis. Consequently, efforts should be directed towards the reversion of the hypercarcinogenic to the hypocarcinogenic state to prevent or at least postpone the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In order to promote the cooperation between Japan and other Asian countries in this respect, the Japan-Korea Liver Symposia have been initiated in 2004. This publication contains the proceedings of the third symposium held in 2006; it focuses on the subjects of ‘Liver transplantation for virus-related liver disease’ and ‘Liver cancer and tumor markers’ in Asian countries.