J. Murase et al., Correlation of clinicopathologic features of resected hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis C virus genotype, JPN J CANC, 90(12), 1999, pp. 1293-1300
Clinicopathologic findings in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compli
cating hepatitis C virus and outcomes after liver resection were compared b
etween different viral genotypes, One hundred and forty-seven patients with
both anti-hepatitis C virus antibody and hepatitis C virus RNA in their se
ra underwent curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in our departm
ent between 1991 and 1997, Of these patients, 115 were infected with hepati
tis C virus genotype 1b (group 1), and 32 were infected with 2a or 2b (grou
p 2), Clinicopathologic findings and outcomes after operation were compared
between the two groups. Alanine aminotransferase activity was significantl
y higher in group 2 than in group 1, Genotypes did not differ concomitantly
with histopathologic features of the carcinoma or adjacent hepatic tissue,
Although the tumor-free survival rate did not differ significantly between
the two groups, recurrence was not detected during the period beyond 3 yea
rs following operation in group 2, while recurrences arose during that peri
od in 16 group 1 patients, most of whom continued to manifest active hepati
tis, In 7 of these 16 patients, the recurrent tumors were histologically mu
lticentric in origin. The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower
in group 1 than 2, Multivariate analysis indicated that genotype 1b was an
independent risk factor for short survival. Patients infected with genotype
1b may have a relatively high risk of ongoing hepatocarcinogenesis and mor
e aggressive progression of associated liver dysfunction, resulting in a po
orer outcome than with other genotypes.