Which virus infection is known to predispose individuals to hepatocellular carcinoma?

Hepatitis C virus is known to be a significant risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a primary liver cancer. Chronic infection with hepatitis C can lead to progressive liver damage, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and ultimately, the transformation of normal liver cells into cancerous cells. This relationship is well-established in medical literature, and patients with a long-standing hepatitis C infection are monitored for liver cancer as part of their management.

In contrast, hepatitis A virus primarily causes acute hepatitis and does not lead to chronic infection or predispose individuals to cancer. Coxsackie viruses are primarily associated with diseases like myocarditis or hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and do not have a known direct link to liver cancer. Rubella virus, known for causing congenital rubella syndrome and mild illness in children, also does not have any association with liver cancer. This differentiation is crucial in understanding the various impacts of different viruses on human health.