title: Hydroxyurea suppresses HCV replication in humans: a Phase I trial of oral hydroxyurea in chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HCV is the main causative agent of chronic liver disease, which could progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. By using a recently developed genome-length HCV RNA replication reporter assay system, we found that hydroxyurea (HU), an inhibitor of DNA synthesis, inhibited HCV RNA replication.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test the hypothesis that HU suppresses HCV replication in humans, we conducted a Phase I trial involving Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and investigated the safety and effectiveness of a 4-week course of oral HU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of nine patients were treated with an HU dose level of 500 mg three times daily. Dose-limiting toxicity was not observed at this dose level. Of the nine patients, eight exhibited a moderate decrease in serum HCV RNA levels during the trial. A decrease in HCV RNA levels to nadir levels was achieved for the eight patients (median -0.27 log(10) IU/ml [range -0.08--0.44]) at various times during the 4 weeks after therapy initiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this Phase I trial suggest that HU has potential as an anti-HCV agent that could be effective for the treatment of CHC patients.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. akino@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nozaki
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimori
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyajima
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D006918:Hydroxyurea