Figure 2.
Androgen/AR signaling in hepatocarcinogenesis. There are three major factors that contribute to the development of liver tumors, e.g., HBV, carcinogens, and cirrhosis. In HBV-related HCC, AR promotes HBV virus replication to increase viral titers, as well as viral antigens to positively feedback HBV replication. In carcinogen- and DEN-related HCC, AR suppresses p53 and related cellular oxidative stress and DNA damage repair, thereby promoting hepatocyte transformation. However, it is still unknown how AR is involved in cirrhosis-related HCC.