HCV INFECTION AND LIVER-CANCER MORTALITY IN A JAPANESE POPULATION WITH HTLV-I

In a cohort study of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infect ion in japan, 10 cases of liver cancer death occurred from 1984 throug h 1993. To analyze the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which has been associated with an increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) in Japan, a nested case-control study was performed. Five of the 10 liver cancer cases were positive for antibody to HTLV-1 (anti-HTLV- 1). The possible interaction between HCV and HTLV-1 infections in the etiology of HCC was investigated, with each liver cancer case matched to 5 cohort controls by gender, age, serum sample date and anti-HTLV-1 status. Using a matched analysis, odds ratios (OR) were generated for the relationship between HCV serologic status and death from liver ca ncer. Based on second-generation enzyme immunoassay with confirmation by recombinant immunoblot assay, 8 of 9 cases with adequate serum avai lable (89%) and 9 of 50 (18%) controls were found to be positive for a ntibody to HCV(anti-HCV). Liver cancer death war highly associated wit h anti-HCV (matched OR = infinity; p < 0.001). Anti-HTLV-1 seroprevale nce war somewhat correlated with HCV infection. However, the high risk of liver cancer death observed for anti-HCV-positive individuals in t his population did not vary with respect to whether or not the subject s were also infected with HTLV-1. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.