BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests the efficacy of interferon therapy for hepatitis C in reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to identify predictive markers for the risk of HCC incidence in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon therapy. METHODS: A total of 382 patients were treated with standard interferon or pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in a single center and evaluated for variables predictive of HCC incidence. RESULTS: Incidence rates of HCC after interferon therapy were 6.6% at 5 years and 13.4% at 8 years. Non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) to antiviral therapy was an independent predictor for incidence of HCC in the total study population. Among 197 non-SVR patients, independent predictive factors were an average alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) integration value ≥10 ng/mL and male gender. Even in patients whose AFP levels before interferon therapy were ≥10 ng/mL, reduction of average AFP integration value to <10 ng/mL by treatment was strongly associated with a reduced incidence of HCC. This was significant compared to patients with average AFP integration values of ≥10 ng/mL (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon therapy reduces the incidence of HCC in hepatitis C patients treated with interferon. Among non-SVR patients, a decrease in the AFP integration value by interferon therapy closely correlates with reduced risk of HCC incidence after treatment.
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests the efficacy of interferon therapy for hepatitis C in reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to identify predictive markers for the risk of HCC incidence in chronic hepatitis Cpatients receiving interferon therapy. METHODS: A total of 382 patients were treated with standard interferon or pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in a single center and evaluated for variables predictive of HCC incidence. RESULTS: Incidence rates of HCC after interferon therapy were 6.6% at 5 years and 13.4% at 8 years. Non-sustained virological response (non-SVR) to antiviral therapy was an independent predictor for incidence of HCC in the total study population. Among 197 non-SVR patients, independent predictive factors were an average alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) integration value ≥10 ng/mL and male gender. Even in patients whose AFP levels before interferon therapy were ≥10 ng/mL, reduction of average AFP integration value to <10 ng/mL by treatment was strongly associated with a reduced incidence of HCC. This was significant compared to patients with average AFP integration values of ≥10 ng/mL (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon therapy reduces the incidence of HCC in hepatitis C patients treated with interferon. Among non-SVR patients, a decrease in the AFP integration value by interferon therapy closely correlates with reduced risk of HCC incidence after treatment.
Authors: G Fattovich; G Giustina; F Degos; G Diodati; F Tremolada; F Nevens; P Almasio; A Solinas; J T Brouwer; H Thomas; G Realdi; R Corrocher; S W Schalm Journal: J Hepatol Date: 1997-07 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: Adrian M Di Bisceglie; Richard K Sterling; Raymond T Chung; James E Everhart; Jules L Dienstag; Herbert L Bonkovsky; Elizabeth C Wright; Gregory T Everson; Karen L Lindsay; Anna S F Lok; William M Lee; Timothy R Morgan; Marc G Ghany; David R Gretch Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: F Hasan; L J Jeffers; M De Medina; K R Reddy; T Parker; E R Schiff; M Houghton; Q L Choo; G Kuo Journal: Hepatology Date: 1990-09 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: H Tsukuma; T Hiyama; S Tanaka; M Nakao; T Yabuuchi; T Kitamura; K Nakanishi; I Fujimoto; A Inoue; H Yamazaki Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1993-06-24 Impact factor: 91.245