[Liver cancer and hepatitis B and C virus].

Chronic infection by hepatitis B and C viruses is frequently associated to the development of primary liver cancer. Liver cirrhosis, induced by these viral infection, plays an important role in the liver carcinogenesis. In addition, HBV has a direct role in liver cell transformation by a transactivating effect of some viral proteins as well as insertional mutagenesis. The role of hepatitis C virus is not known. The strong association, even in France, of primary liver cancer to these viral infections underline the importance of their prevention by vaccination.