TLL1 variant associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma after eradication of hepatitis C virus by interferon-free therapy

• DOI: 10.1007/s00535-018-1526-3
• Publication Date: 2018-10-31T04:45:11Z
• Authors: Etsuko Iio; Kentaro Matsuura; Noritomo Shimada; Masanori Atsukawa; Norio Itokawa; Hiroshi Abe; Keizo Kato; Koichi Takaguchi; Tomonori Senoh; Yuichiro Eguchi; Hideyuki Nomura; Kai Yoshizawa; Jong-Hon Kang; Takeshi Matsui; Noboru Hirashima; Atsunori Kusakabe; Tomokatsu Miyaki; Kei Fujiwara; Kayoko Matsunami; Susumu Tsutsumi; Katsuhiko Iwakiri; Yasuhito Tanaka
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; 0303 health sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Genotype; Tolloid-Like Metalloproteinases; Incidence; Liver Neoplasms; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Middle Aged; Antiviral Agents; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Japan; Humans; Female; Aged; Follow-Up Studies

The aim of this study is to ascertain whether the TLL1 variant at rs17047200 is associated with the development of HCC after achieving sustained virological response (SVR) by interferon (IFN)-free therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC).A total of 1029 Japanese CHC patients with the following inclusion criteria were enrolled: (i) achieved SVR by IFN-free therapy, (ii) followed up at least 1 year from the end of treatment (EOT) (median 104 weeks), (iii) no history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by 1 year from the EOT.Nineteen patients developed HCC (HCC group) and 1010 did not (non-HCC group). The proportion of rs17047200 AT/TT was significantly higher in the HCC group than the non-HCC group (47.4% vs. 20.1%, P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis showed that higher levels of α-fetoprotein, FIB-4 and rs17047200 AT/TT were independent risk factors for developing HCC (HR = 3.22, P = 0.021 for α-fetoprotein > 4.6 ng/ml; HR = 3.89, P = 0.036 for FIB-4 > 2.67; HR = 2.80, P = 0.026 for rs17047200 AT/TT). Cumulative incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with rs17047200 AT/TT than in those with AA (P = 0.006). Comparing clinical characteristics according to the TLL1 genotypes, patients with rs17047200 AT/TT had significantly lower platelet counts and higher levels of FIB-4 than those with AA (P = 0.011 and 0.032, respectively).The TLL1 variant was independently associated with HCC development after HCV eradication by IFN-free regimen. It might be involved in hepatic fibrogenesis and thereby carcinogenesis.