De novo hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C 5 years after sustained virologic response to interferon/ribavirin therapy

Successful anti-viral treatment improves survival of patients with advanced liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis C patients with successful viral eradication seems to be promising.

AIM

To evaluate mortality, incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver failure and liver transplantation in sustained virological responders (SVR) and non-SVR patients with different stages of fibrosis.

METHODS

Seven hundred and fourteen patients with a follow-up of 7.2 (1-21.1) years (age: 51.4 ± 12.0 years, 276 female, IFN-monotherapy: n = 19, IFN/RBV: n = 122, peg-IFN/RBV: n = 573, SVR: 551, non-SVR: 163) were studied. Two hundred and ten of 540 patients with a liver biopsy prior to treatment had advanced stages of fibrosis (Metavir F3/F4).

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients died during follow-up, 15 with SVR and 33 without (P < 0.001). Five- and 10-year mortality rates were 1.8% (10/551) and 2.7% (15/551) in the SVR group and 8.6% (14/163) and 19.1% (31/163) in the non-SVR patients (P < 0.001). In 29 patients, decompensation of liver disease [SVR: 9 (1.6%) vs. non-SVR: 20 (12.3%); P < 0.001] occurred and in 29 patients, HCC developed during follow-up [SVR: 10 (1.8%) vs. non-SVR: 19 (11.7%); P < 0.001]. Non-SVR was an independent predictor for developing (i) HCC [HR: 2.36 (95% CI: 1.07-5.23; P = 0.034], (ii) liver-related complications [HR: 2.62; (95% CI: 1.18-5.81; P = 0.018] and (iii) mortality (HR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.91-6.29; P < 0.001). For patients with early stages of fibrosis (F0-F2), a survival benefit of SVR patients could not be demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful anti-viral therapy decreases mortality, incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure in patients with advanced fibrosis. However, hepatocellular carcinoma development or liver failure are not prevented completely, and further follow-up of patients is advisable.

Intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma developed after a 6-year sustained virological response to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C

A 67-year-old male patient presenting with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) following 6 months of treatment with 6 million units of beta-interferon (IFN). The SVR state continued for 6 years. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in liver segments 4 and 5, and was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, followed by radiofrequency ablation of the tumors. A recurrence of HCC occurred in segment 4 one and a half years after the initial treatment for HCC and a new tumor also developed in segment 8. These tumors were diagnosed to be recurrent HCC, and the three hepatic segments were resected. The pathological examination and immunostaining of the tumors revealed the tumor in segment 4 to be a well to moderately differentiated typical HCC. On the other hand, the tumor in segment 8 was a moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and was diagnosed as an intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC). HCC developed from CHC in a patient who achieved a 6-year SVR after IFN therapy, followed one and a half years later by the development of a heterochronous ICC at a different site, thus indicating the presence of HCC-ICC double cancer. This was an exceedingly rare and clinically important case in terms of the carcinogenic mechanism of HCC and ICC from a post-SVR CHC patient. We have to be aware of the possible development not only of HCC but of ICC after SVR in CHC patients.

Long-term effects of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C is a major cause of chronic liver disease globally, and the natural history of progression may lead to cirrhosis with liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and premature liver-related death. Emerging data demonstrates that interferon-based therapy, particularly among those achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR), is associated with long-term persistence of SVR, improved fibrosis and inflammation scores, reduced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, and prolonged life expectancy. This reduction in the rate of progression has also been demonstrated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis in some but not all studies. The majority of these results are reported with standard interferon therapy, and long-term results of peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy with a higher likelihood of SVR should have a yet greater impact on the population of treated patients. The impact on slowing progression is greatest in patients with an SVR, less in relapsers, and equivocal in nonresponders. Thus, the natural history of chronic hepatitis C after completion of antiviral therapy is favorable with achievement of an SVR, although further data are needed to determine the likely incremental impact of peginterferon plus ribavirin, late long-term effects of therapy, and the benefit of treatment in patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Hepatitis C genotype 4 after viral clearance and in absence of cirrhosis: two case reports

Genotype 4 Hepatitis C virus represents approximately 20% of global Hepatitis C virus infection and is the source of a considerable burden to health-care providers across the globe. Many studies reported that interferon reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Hereby, we are reporting two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in Hepatitis C virus-genotype 4 after complete viral eradication and in absence of cirrhosis. We aim to highlight the possible direct oncogenic effect of Hepatitis C virus-genotype 4, particularly with concomitant bilharzial infection and the importance of life-log follow up of these patients even in absence of cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virologic response in hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis on a pretreatment liver biopsy

Among hepatitis C patients, lack of cirrhosis and sustained virologic response (SVR) reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Japanese studies document multiple cases of HCC among these patients, but only one case has been reported outside of Asia. We identified five patients with hepatitis C in our university-based hepatology practice who developed HCC despite SVR and lack of cirrhosis on their pretreatment liver biopsy. At the time of HCC diagnosis, two remained noncirrhotic, one had clearly progressed to cirrhosis, and two lacked repeat histology. We present these patients in a case series format and discuss several important implications of their cases. Physicians often base screening and treatment decisions on an initial liver biopsy performed years earlier. As fibrosis may advance, and because SVR and lack of cirrhosis do not fully protect against HCC, future study should further evaluate the risk of HCC among hepatitis C patients after sustained virologic response.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in long-term sustained virological responders following antiviral combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Antiviral treatment results in a sustained virologic response (SVR) in 50-75% of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Long-term follow up studies have observed ongoing SVR in the overwhelming majority of them. Thus chronic hepatitis C is considered 'cured' if an SVR is achieved. Consequently, it is expected that in sustained virologic responders long-term complications of hepatatic C virus (HCV) related chronic liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma are eliminated or have a decreased incidence. We report on five patients (three from Austria, two from USA) who developed hepatocellular carcinoma during follow up (3-6 years) after achieving SVR. During follow up and at diagnosis all were HCV-RNA neg. None of the patients had other liver diseases. One patient presented with bilateral adrenal metastasis, the remaining four with large hepatic tumours. Three patients were noncirrhotic at the start of treatment at the time of tumour diagnosis. Successful antiviral treatment in HCV patients does not prevent development of hepatocellular carcinoma even in non-cirrhotic livers. Long-term follow up of patients with SVR is mandatory and should include surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma appearance in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease 90 and 70 months after sustained virological response to interferon and ribavirin

We report here two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 90 and 70 months, respectively, after successful treatment with interferon (IFN) and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. A 50-year-old Caucasian man and a 66-year-old Caucasian woman with HCV-related cirrhosis were treated with IFN and ribavirin and in both cases a sustained virological response (SVR) was obtained with persistent normalization of serum aminotransferases and continuous disappearance of serum HCV-RNA. Both patients were subsequently followed up within an HCC surveillance programme based on biochemical and ultrasound (US) evaluation every 6 months and the appearance of HCC was detected 90 and 70 months, respectively, after discontinuation of therapy. We introduce these two cases to call attention to the importance of not underestimating the risk of HCC development even many years after complete HCV eradication, especially in the presence of established cirrhosis and concomitance of other risk factors for HCC.