Affected individuals survive an average of less than one year without a liver transplant.
Possible factors in the pathogenesis include hepatitis B and C, chronic alcoholism, and dietary aflatoxin. The monthly series of lectures has been sponsored by the School of Medicine's Dean's Office for nearly 15 years. Although he sponsors the series, puts together each year's roster of speakers, and personally attends nearly every lecture, Debas has never participated as a speaker. Debas will summarize the clinical picture, including the results of hepatic resection, liver transplantation, and medical therapy, all of which show a dismal outcome and indicate a critical need for new approaches to treatment. Bishop will describe a mouse model that illuminates the genetic underpinnings of HCC and provides an improved setting for preclinical studies of potential new therapies.