Absence of impact of direct acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus on recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma tumor growth in the AFEF/ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although it has now been excluded that direct-acting antivirals (DAA) are associated with a significant risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HCV-infected patients, a possible effect of DAA on tumor growth is still a subject of debate. We performed a blind comparison of the kinetics of HCC recurrence in patients after HCV treatment with or without DAA to evaluate the potential aggressiveness of HCC after DAA treatment.

BASIC PROCEDURES:

Thirty-nine HCV-infected patients from the AFEF/ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort who experienced HCC recurrence after so-called curative treatment were evaluated. Contrast-enhanced CT and/or MR images were read blindly 6 months before HCC recurrence and during the follow-up period. Seventeen patients who received DAA (DAA+) before HCC recurrence were compared to the 22 who did not receive (DAA-), according to the LiRads and mRECIST criteria.

MAIN FINDINGS:

There were 28 men and 11 women, median age 62 years old, 37 (95%) with cirrhosis. DAA+ patients had a lower median MELD score (8±2 vs. 10±4, P=0.0286) than DAA- patients. The median time to HCC recurrence (time from the date of curative treatment to the diagnosis of recurrence) was not different (20 vs. 18 months) (P=0.73) between the two groups. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the overall survival and/or transplantation-free survival (P=0.71) and for the mRECIST time to progression (P=0.25).

CONCLUSION:

This blinded analysis of HCC recurrence after HCC treatment does not support any negative impact of DAA therapy on the severity or progression of recurrent HCC.

• Authors: Anais Vallet-Pichard, Jean-Michel Correas, Celine Dorival, Fabien Zoulim, Albert Tran, Marc Bourlière, Paul Calès, Dominique Guyader, Jean-Pierre Bronowicki, Dominique Larrey, Christophe Hezode, Veronique Loustaud-Ratti, Jerome Gournay, Victor de Ledinghen, Tarik Asselah, Nathalie Ganne, Sophie Metivier, Olivier Chazouillères, Vincent Leroy, Isabelle Rosa, Didier Samuel, Philippe Mathurin, Carole Cagnot, Helene Fontaine, Fabrice Carrat, Stanislas Pol, AFEF ANRS study group
• Journal: Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology (Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol) Vol. 45 Issue 1 Pg. 101459 (Jan 2021) ISSN: 2210-741X [Electronic] France
• PMID: 32595103 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (drug therapy)
• Female
• Hepacivirus
• Hepatitis C (drug therapy)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (drug therapy)