Control by Vaccination: Asian and Taiwan Experience
Journal
Clinical Dilemmas in Primary Liver Cancer
Pages
18-23
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Most new cases of HCC occur in East or Southeast Asia. Overall, at least 75% of HCC are attributable to persistent viral infections with either hepatitis B virus (HBV) (50-55%) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) (25-30%). Strong geographic correlations have been found between the incidence of HCC and the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to hepatitis C virus. In HBV endemic Asian countries, chronic HBV infection has the strongest association with the development of HCC. Safe and effective vaccines against HBV infection have been available for nearly three decades, and nationwide studies documented that the best and cheapest measure to prevent HBV-related HCC is the implementation of universal hepatitis B vaccination programme, by which the incidence rates of HCC in childhood and early adulthood are reduced in several Asian countries including Taiwan. ? 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subjects
Asia; HBV; HBV vaccine; HCC; Hepatitis B vaccination programme; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Taiwan
SDGs
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Type
book part