Phosphorylated <scp>S</scp>mad2 and <scp>S</scp>mad3 signaling: Shifting between tumor suppression and fibro‐carcinogenesis in chronic hepatitis <scp>C</scp>

Abstract

HCV clearance limits fibrosis and reduces HCC incidence by switching inflammation-dependent phospho-Smad signaling from fibro-carcinogenesis to tumor suppression. However, progression to HCC would occur in severely fibrotic livers if an inflammation-independent fibro-carcinogenic process has already begun before HCV clearance.