title: Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels during and after interferon therapy and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The association between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels during and after interferon (IFN) therapy and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was evaluated in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). A total of 263 patients treated by IFN with or without ribavirin were enrolled in the study. Serum AFP levels during and after IFN therapy were investigated retrospectively, and statistical analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with HCC development. During IFN therapy, serum AFP levels significantly decreased, regardless of virologic response to treatment. Increased serum AFP levels (>or=10 ng/ml) at the end of IFN therapy (EOT) was a close-to-significant variable affecting the development of HCC (P = 0.057), and a significantly higher cumulative incidence of HCC was seen in patients with increased serum AFP levels at EOT (P = 0.021). Serum AFP level at EOT is a possible predictor of HCC in CHC patients after IFN therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan. ytamura@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamagiwa
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: So
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkoshi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007372:Interferons