Aflatoxin exposure increases HCC risk especially with co-infection by which virus?

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Multiple Choice

Aflatoxin exposure increases HCC risk especially with co-infection by which virus?

Aflatoxin B1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by licking at DNA and promoting mutations, especially a G to T change in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene, which disables p53 and lets damaged cells proliferate. When hepatitis B virus is also present, the risk multiplies because HBV drives ongoing liver inflammation, integrates into the genome, and expresses oncogenic proteins like HBx that disturb cell regulation. This combination—the mutagenic hit from aflatoxin plus HBV-driven genomic instability and inflammation—synergistically accelerates malignant transformation, making hepatitis B the virus most strongly linked with aflatoxin-related HCC.

Aflatoxin B1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by licking at DNA and promoting mutations, especially a G to T change in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene, which disables p53 and lets damaged cells proliferate. When hepatitis B virus is also present, the risk multiplies because HBV drives ongoing liver inflammation, integrates into the genome, and expresses oncogenic proteins like HBx that disturb cell regulation. This combination—the mutagenic hit from aflatoxin plus HBV-driven genomic instability and inflammation—synergistically accelerates malignant transformation, making hepatitis B the virus most strongly linked with aflatoxin-related HCC.

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