Hepatitis Weekly

Research from N. Akuta and co-researchers provides new data on hepatitis C virus

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"To evaluate the impact of aa substitutions in HCV-CR on hepatocarcinogenesis, we performed a follow-up study on 313 noncirrhotic consecutive naive patients infected with HCV genotype 1b who received IFN monotherapy. The median follow-up was 14.7 years. A sustained virologic response (SVR) after the first IFN was achieved by 65 patients (20.8%) (group A). Of 248 patients (79.2%) of non-SVR after first IFN, 112 (35.8%) did not receive additional IFN (group B), and the remaining 136 (43.5%) received multicourse IFN monotherapy (group C). As a whole, cumulative hepatocarcinogenesis rates in double wild-type (arginine at aa 70/leucine at aa 91) of HCV-CR were significantly lower than those in nondouble wild-type. Multivariate analyses identified 3 parameters (fibrosis stage 3, nondouble wild-type of HCV-CR, and group B) that tended to or significantly influenced hepatocarcinogenesis independently. With regard to hepatocarcinogenesis rates in group C according to HCV-CR and the mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) during IFN-firee period, significantly higher rates were noted in patients of nondouble wild-type with ALT levels of more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (25.7%) compared with the others (2.4%)," wrote N. Akuta and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Amino acid substitutions in the HCV-CR are the important predictor of hepatocarcinogenesis. In multicourse IFN therapy to nondouble wild-type, we emphasize the importance of reducing the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis by mean ALT during an IFN-firee period below 1.5 times the upper limit of normal."

Akuta and colleagues published their study in Hepatology (Amino acid substitutions in the hepatitis c virus core region are the important predictor of hepatocarcinogenesis. Hepatology, 2007;46(5):1357-1364).

For additional information, contact N. Akuta, Toranomon General Hospital, Dept. of Hepatology, Minato Ku, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Tokyo 1050001, Japan.

The publisher of the journal Hepatology can be contacted at: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Japan, Toranomon, Biotechnology Business, Biotechnology Company, Carcinogenesis, Drugs, Gastroenterology, HCV, Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatocellular Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Interferon, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Ribavirin, Therapy, Treatment, ViroLogic Inc., Virology.

This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.