title: Occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma was not a rare event during and immediately after antiviral treatment in Japanese HCV-positive patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan. kandat-cib@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Imazeki
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Noritomo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonemitsu
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsubota
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Motohide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takashi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a