Smoking as an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma due to the α7nAChR modulating the JAK2/STAT3 signalling axis

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a worldwide health problem. Currently, there is no effective clinical therapeutic strategy for HCC. Smoking is associated with several malignant diseases including cancers. Experimental approach: However, the impact of smoking on HCC is still unresolved. Retrospectively reviewed HCC patients diagnosed between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2015 at Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital (Ministry of Health and Welfare). We found that smoking was associated with a poor prognosis, especially recurrence and patient survival after curative surgery using a clinicopathological analysis.