Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and secondary structure of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein amino-terminus, in patients infected with HCV subtype 1b

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective study of 65 patients with chronic hepatitis C, to determine whether the secondary structure of the amino-terminal 120 residues of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein is associated with an increased risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The cumulative incidence of HCC was highest among patients infected with group B HCV-1b, wherein the risk of HCC significantly increased compared with that among patients infected with group A (hazard ratio, 4.95 [95% CI, 1.43-17.11]) after adjustment for age and histological stage. This HCV-1b grouping may be a useful marker for detecting the risk of development of HCC.