The Achievement of a Sustained Virological Response Either Before or After Hepatectomy Improves the Prognosis of Patients with Primary Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Yukiyasu Okamura MD, Teiichi Sugiura MD, Takaaki Ito MD, Yusuke Yamamoto MD, Ryo Ashida MD, Katsuhisa Ohgi MD, Katsuhiko Uesaka MD
Hepatobiliary Tumors
Volume 26, Issue 13 / December , 2019

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Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) is associated with a reduced risk of recurrence. The recent introduction of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has resulted in SVR rates of nearly 100% in treated patients. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the outcomes in patients who underwent antiviral therapy and patients without antiviral therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 220 patients with primary HCV-related HCC who underwent hepatectomy. An SVR was defined as a serum HCV-RNA titer below the detection sensitivity limit at 6 months after the termination of antiviral therapy. Postoperative antiviral therapy was introduced after confirming that there was no early recurrence.

Results

Eighty-eight patients received antiviral therapy. Among these, 58 patients (66%) obtained an SVR. With the exception of one patient, all patients who received DAAs obtained an SVR. The overall survival rate of the pre-operative SVR group was significantly better than that of the preoperative untreated group (P = 0.045). Moreover, there was no recurrence at 3 years after surgery in the pre-operative SVR group. The achievement of an SVR was an independent predictor of overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–0.94, P = 0.011] and recurrence (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.40–0.94, P = 0.024).

Conclusions

Obtaining an SVR either before or after surgery was associated with the suppression of HCC recurrence after hepatectomy in patients with primary HCV-related HCC.

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