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01-04-2012 | Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract

Decrease in alpha-fetoprotein levels predicts reduced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection receiving interferon therapy: a single center study

Authors: Yukio Osaki, Yoshihide Ueda, Hiroyuki Marusawa, Jun Nakajima, Toru Kimura, Ryuichi Kita, Hiroki Nishikawa, Sumio Saito, Shinichiro Henmi, Azusa Sakamoto, Yuji Eso, Tsutomu Chiba

Published in: Journal of Gastroenterology | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

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.

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Title: Decrease in alpha-fetoprotein levels predicts reduced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection receiving interferon therapy: a single center study
Authors: Yukio Osaki
Yoshihide Ueda
Hiroyuki Marusawa
Jun Nakajima
Toru Kimura
Ryuichi Kita
Hiroki Nishikawa
Sumio Saito
Shinichiro Henmi
Azusa Sakamoto
Yuji Eso
Tsutomu Chiba
Publication date: 01-04-2012
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Journal of Gastroenterology / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0944-1174
Electronic ISSN: 1435-5922
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0505-8

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Decrease in alpha-fetoprotein levels predicts reduced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection receiving interferon therapy: a single center study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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