Clinical Study

Occurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Was Not a Rare Event during and Immediately after Antiviral Treatment in Japanese HCV-Positive Patients
Tatsuo Kanda^a, Fumio Imazeki^a, Shigeru Mikami^b, Keizo Kato^c, Noritomo Shimada^d, Yutaka Yonemitsu^a, Tomoo Miyauchi^a, Makoto Arai^a, Keiichi Fujiwara^a, Akihito Tsubota^e, Nobuo Takada^f, Takayoshi Nishino^g, Motohide Takashi^h, Nobuyuki Sugiuraⁱ, Michio Kimura^j, Kenichi Fukai^a, Osamu Yokosuka<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba,
^bKikkoman Hospital, Noda,
^cNarita Red Cross Hospital, Narita,
^dShin-Matsudo Central General Hospital, Matsudo,
^eInstitute of Clinical Medicine and Research, Jikei University School of Medicine, Kashiwa,
^fToho University Sakura Medical Center, Sakura,
^gTokyo Women’s Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Yachiyo,
^hSaiseikai Narashino Hospital, Narashino,
ⁱNational Hospital Organization Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, and
^jSocial Insurance Funabashi Central Hospital, Funabashi, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2011;80:366-372 (DOI: 10.1159/000330549)

  Key Words

• Antiviral treatment
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Hepatitis C virus
• Aging
• Virological response

  Abstract

Advanced chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virolological response by antivirals remain at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the incidence of HCC during and immediately after peginterferon-alfa-2a and ribavirin (RBV) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Japan. HCC was detected in 8 of 238 patients during and after these treatments (mean follow-up period: 572 ± 252 days). In conclusion, occurrence of HCC is not a rare event during and immediately after peginterferon-alfa-2a plus RBV treatment. In cases with cirrhosis, higher α-fetoprotein levels, old age, or a previous history of HCC treatment, clinicians should be especially alert for the possible development of HCC during and immediately after peginterferon-alfa-2a and RBV treatment. Clinicians should regularly check for the possible development of HCC even in chronic hepatitis C patients under treatment.

Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Tatsuo Kanda, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology
Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana
Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670 (Japan)
Tel. +81 43 226 2086, E-Mail kandat-cib@umin.ac.jp

  Article Information

Received: April 21, 2011
Accepted after revision: June 2, 2011
Published online: August 3, 2011
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 27