title: Hepatitis C virus infection and risk of cancer: a population-based cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of primary liver cancer; however, 5- and 10-year risk estimates are needed. The association of HCV with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is uncertain and the association with other cancers is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study of 4,349 HCV-infected patients in Denmark, computing standardized incidence ratios (SIR) of cancer incidence in HCV infected patients compared with cancer incidence of the general population. We calculated 5- and 10-year risks of developing cancer, stratifying our analyses based on the presence of HIV coinfection and cirrhosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WE RECORDED AN INCREASED RISK OF PRIMARY LIVER CANCER (SIR: 76.63 [95% CI: 51.69-109.40]), NHL (SIR: 1.89 [95% CI: 0.39-5.52]), and several smoking- and alcohol-related cancers in HCV infected patients without HIV coinfection. HCV-infected patients without HIV coinfection had a 6.3% (95% CI: 4.6%-8.7%) risk of developing cancer and 2.0% (95% CI: 1.1%-3.8%) risk of developing primary liver cancer within 10 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed the association of HCV infection with primary liver cancer and NHL. We also observed an association between HCV infection and alcohol- and smoking-related cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Denmark;
authors.forename: Lars Haukali
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Omland
authors.forename: Dora Körmendiné
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jepsen
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Obel
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedersen