Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2): A Novel Regulator of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. While relatively rare in the US, HCC incidence is rising dramatically and becoming a growing concern. The primary risk factors for HCC in western countries are hepatitis C virus infection, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity-associated Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); a major reason for the rise of HCC in the US is the increase in obesity. HCC is also one of the most lethal cancers, with 5-year survival rates of 5-8%, due, in part, to the late stages of diagnosis. Thus, an improved understanding of HCC development and additional HCC biomarkers are needed to combat this increasingly important cancer. .