BACKGROUND: HCV is the main causative agent of chronic liver disease, which could progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. By using a recently developed genome-length HCV RNA replication reporter assay system, we found that hydroxyurea (HU), an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, inhibited HCV RNA replication. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that HU suppresses HCV replication in humans, we conducted a Phase I trial involving Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and investigated the safety and effectiveness of a 4-week course of oral HU. RESULTS: A total of nine patients were treated with an HU dose level of 500 mg three times daily. Dose-limiting toxicity was not observed at this dose level. Of the nine patients, eight exhibited a moderate decrease in serum HCV RNA levels during the trial. A decrease in HCV RNA levels to nadir levels was achieved for the eight patients (median -0.27 log(10) IU/ml [range -0.08--0.44]) at various times during the 4 weeks after therapy initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this Phase I trial suggest that HU has potential as an anti-HCV agent that could be effective for the treatment of CHC patients.
BACKGROUND: HCV is the main causative agent of chronic liver disease, which could progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. By using a recently developed genome-length HCV RNA replication reporter assay system, we found that hydroxyurea (HU), an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, inhibited HCV RNA replication. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that HU suppresses HCV replication in humans, we conducted a Phase I trial involving Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and investigated the safety and effectiveness of a 4-week course of oral HU. RESULTS: A total of nine patients were treated with an HU dose level of 500 mg three times daily. Dose-limiting toxicity was not observed at this dose level. Of the nine patients, eight exhibited a moderate decrease in serum HCV RNA levels during the trial. A decrease in HCV RNA levels to nadir levels was achieved for the eight patients (median -0.27 log(10) IU/ml [range -0.08--0.44]) at various times during the 4 weeks after therapy initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this Phase I trial suggest that HU has potential as an anti-HCV agent that could be effective for the treatment of CHCpatients.
Authors: Jessica Jones-Carson; James R Laughlin; Amanda L Stewart; Martin I Voskuil; Andrés Vázquez-Torres Journal: Nitric Oxide Date: 2012-04-10 Impact factor: 4.427
Authors: Adnan Agha; Rafaat Chakik; Mamdouh M Abdulhadi Ali; Dib Alsaudi; Giorgio Sammito; Edoardo Giovanni Giannini Journal: Ann Saudi Med Date: 2013 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 1.526