Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis in Japan. Analysis of infectious hepatitis viruses

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 74; no. 8; pp. 2234 - 2238
• Main Authors: Kato, Yuji, Nakata, Keisuke, Nagataki, Shigenobu, Omagari, Katsuhisa, Furukawa, Ryuji, Kusumoto, Yukio, Mori, Iwao, Tajima, Heiichiro, Tanioka, Hajime, Yano, Michitami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.10.1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - etiology; cirrhosis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis B - immunology; hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - immunology; hepatitis C virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Cirrhosis - virology; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Serologic Tests; Japan
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19941015)74:8<2234::AID-CNCR2820740805>3.0.CO;2-6

Background. The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated closely with cirrhosis. In the present study, the cumulative risk of HCC in patients with cirrhosis was investigated. Methods. A total of 401 patients were registered from April 1977 and followed for a mean of 4.4 years. Of 401 patients, 255 (64%) were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti‐) to the hepatitis C virus (HCV); 87 (34%) patients were positive for HBsAg but were negative for anti‐HCV (hepatitis B virus [HBV] group), 126 (49%) were negative for HBsAg but were positive for anti‐HCV (HCV group), 10 (4%) were positive for both and 32 (13%) were negative for both (non‐B non‐C group) Results. By the end of March 1993, HCC was diagnosed in 127 (31.6%) patients. The cumulative risk of HCC in the HCV group was slightly higher than that in HBV group (P = 0.3, 5‐year risk: 36.9 versus 21.2%). In contrast, the rate was significantly lower in the non‐B non‐C group than in the HBV or HCV groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively, 5 year risk: 12.4%). Conclusions. These results suggest that not only HBV infection but also HCV infection increase the risk for HCC in patients with cirrhosis.