ReviewPharmaceutical biology2026
Natural products targeting hepatitis B virus X protein and HBx-associated pathways in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
Review in Pharmaceutical biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
contextHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), largely driven by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, remains a major global health challenge with limited curative options in advanced stages. The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is a multifunctional viral oncoprotein that plays a central role in HBV persistence and hepatocarcinogenesis by disrupting transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, apoptosis, and immune responses.
objectiveThis review aims to evaluate the role of HBx in HBV‑related HCC progression and to examine the therapeutic potential of natural products that directly target HBx and indirectly modulate HBx‑driven antiviral and oncogenic pathways.
methodsA comprehensive literature analysis was conducted focusing on studies published over the past decade, including
resultsAccumulating evidence indicates that some natural products suppress HBV replication by reducing HBx expression, promoting HBx degradation, or limiting HBx‑dependent cccDNA transcription, whereas others primarily influence biological pathways associated with HBx‑driven hepatocarcinogenesis, including migration, invasion, fibrosis, metabolic reprogramming, and apoptosis resistance.
conclusionNatural products represent a promising multi-target therapeutic strategy for HBV-related HCC by intervening in HBx-driven oncogenic processes. Future studies should focus on mechanistic validation, standardization of bioactive compounds, and well-designed clinical trials to support their translational application as adjunctive or alternative therapies.
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Registered trials
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