Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	116955
Country	Italy

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Case Report
Article Title	Uncommon hepatocellular carcinoma in a non-cirrhotic woman with chronic hepatitis B virus infection after medical assisted reproduction: A case report
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Clelia Asero, Giuliana Ciappina, Maria Stella Franzè, Teresa Maltese, Salvatore Gruttadauria, Duilio Pagano, Daniele Lombardo, Alessia Pitrone, Cristina Musolino, Massimiliano Berretta and Irene Cacciola
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca PRIN_2022PNRR_P2022KCHLN_002 - CUP J53D23018010001 Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca CUP J43C22000310006 ID ECS00000022
Corresponding Author	Irene Cacciola, MD, Professor, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, Messina 98124, Sicilia, Italy. icacciola@unime.it
Key Words	Hepatocellular carcinoma; Chronic hepatitis B; Pregnancy; Reproductive techniques; Oestrogens; Case report
Core Tip	Hepatocellular carcinoma is rare during pregnancy and is associated with adverse outcomes for both the mother and the foetus. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B infection (HBV) who developed recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after a pregnancy achieved through medically assisted reproduction. After surgical resection, immunofluorescence analysis of tumour samples showed no expression of oestrogen receptors, while molecular analyses performed on tumour and non-tumour tissues revealed high levels of total HBV DNA, HBV covalently closed circular DNA and HBV RNA, suggesting a virus-host interaction that may account for the aggressive behaviour of the neoplasm.
Citation	Asero C, Ciappina G, Franzè MS, Maltese T, Gruttadauria S, Pagano D, Lombardo D, Pitrone A, Musolino C, Berretta M, Cacciola I. Uncommon hepatocellular carcinoma in a non-cirrhotic woman with chronic hepatitis B virus infection after medical assisted reproduction: A case report. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2025-12-02 02:04
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-02 02:04
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-09 10:07
Return for Revision	2025-12-10 13:51
Revised	2025-12-16 10:39
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-01-08 08:45
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-28 02:30
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-28 08:12
Articles in Press	2026-02-28 08:12
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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