Research / Clinical Summary

Aleem Siddiqui, PhD Professor, Medicine / Infectious Disease Tumor Growth, Invasion & Metastasis Program Contact by Email

Hepatitis viruses (HBV, HCV) cause chronic infection of human liver, and infection by these viruses is strongly linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although a clear link with any particular viral gene product is elusive, overall gene expression leads to alteration of intracellular events that ultimately leads to survival of cells harboring these viruses (anti-apoptotic program).

Both the HBV and HCV viruses also induce oxidative stress in cells. Reactive oxygen species elevated by these viruses have the potential to cause oxidative damage to macromolecules. Inappropriate or delayed DNA repair will lead to genomic instability, thus paving the way for liver oncogenesis.

Dr. Siddiqui's research is aimed at delineating these events and the mechanims by which viral infection induces malignant phenotype of infected hepatocytes.