Pre-treatment prediction of response to pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C using genetic polymorphism in IL28B and viral factors

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.07.037
• Publication Date: 2010-09-20T08:14:48Z
• Authors: Masayuki Kurosaki; Yasuhito Tanaka; Nao Nishida; Naoya Sakamoto; Nobuyuki Enomoto; Masao Honda; Masaya Sugiyama; Kentaro Matsuura; Fuminaka Sugauchi; Yasuhiro Asahina; Mina Nakagawa; Mamoru Watanabe; Minoru Sakamoto; Shinya Maekawa; Akito Sakai; Shuichi Kaneko; Kiyoaki Ito; Naohiko Masaki; Katsushi Tokunaga; Namiki Izumi; Masashi Mizokami
• Keywords: Interleukin 28B; Pegylated interferon

Pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection is effective in 50% of patients. Recent studies revealed an association between the IL28B genotype and treatment response. We aimed to develop a model for the pre-treatment prediction of response using host and viral factors.Data were collected from 496 patients with HCV genotype 1 treated with PEG-IFN/RBV at five hospitals and universities in Japan. IL28B genotype and mutations in the core and IFN sensitivity determining region (ISDR) of HCV were analyzed to predict response to therapy. The decision model was generated by data mining analysis.The IL28B polymorphism correlated with early virological response and predicted null virological response (NVR) (odds ratio=20.83, p<0.0001) and sustained virological response (SVR) (odds ratio=7.41, p<0.0001) independent of other covariates. Mutations in the ISDR predicted relapse and SVR independent of IL28B. The decision model revealed that patients with the minor IL28B allele and low platelet counts had the highest NVR (84%) and lowest SVR (7%), whereas those with the major IL28B allele and mutations in the ISDR or high platelet counts had the lowest NVR (0-17%) and highest SVR (61-90%). The model had high reproducibility and predicted SVR with 78% specificity and 70% sensitivity.The IL28B polymorphism and mutations in the ISDR of HCV were significant pre-treatment predictors of response to PEG-IFN/RBV. The decision model, including these host and viral factors may support selection of optimum treatment strategy for individual patients.