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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious global public health issue. With 782,000 new cases diagnosed in 2012, HCC is the second leading cause of death related to cancer worldwide. The majority of HCC cases occur in developing countries in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and China. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and aflatoxin exposure are the two main factors contributing to HCC in these high incidence regions. While HBV vaccination provides an effective way to lower the risk of HCC, there are an estimated 5 billion people at risk of chronic exposure to aflatoxins through contaminated food. To develop effective treatment, early diagnosis, and intervention strategies, a better understanding of the mechanisms by which aflatoxins induce HCC is paramount.