The effect of direct-acting antivirals on hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence: still waiting for the turning point

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide accounting for about 9% of all cancer deaths (1). The natural history of HCC is extremely variable due to high effectiveness of treatment only in early stages and low overall survival rate in patients with advanced disease who are poor responders to any treatment. Unlike other cancers, HCCs usually develop in patients with underlying liver disease that limits the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the high risk of complications (2).