title: Interferon-free regimens: the near future, the likely and the not so likely.
abstract: Remarkable progress has been achieved in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) since interferon was first used to treat this pathogen more than 20 years ago. This article reviews the mechanisms through which interferon is believed to suppress HCV and lead to SVR. These observations are used to speculate as to whether an all-oral antiviral cocktail could "cure" HCV in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Liver Institute of Virginia, Bon Secours Health System, Newport News, VA 23602, USA. mitchell_shiffman@bshsi.org
authors.forename: Mitchell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shiffman
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda