HEPATITIS-C VIRUS 1B IS THE DOMINANT GENOTYPE IN HCV-RELATED CARCINOGENESIS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

In an ongoing case-control study in Athens on the etiology of hepatoce llular carcinoma (HCC), an analysis was made in order to assess whethe r HCV genotype Ib is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). T he HCV genotype was determined in 17 HCC patients, 87 patients with ch ronic hepatitis C (CHC) without cirrhosis (NC-CHC) and 23 patients wit h CHC and cirrhosis (C-CHC). HCV genotype Ib was detected in 14/17, 16 /23 and 23/87 of HCC, C-CHC and NC-CHC respectively. The age- and gend er-adjusted odds ratios contrasting HCC with NC-CHC and C-CHC with NC- CHC were 8.3 and 3.8 respectively. These data strongly support the hyp othesis that HCV 1b is a stronger liver carcinogen than other HCV geno types, probably through increased HCV replication and enhanced liver c ytopathicity. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.