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

J Infect Dis. 2007 Oct 1;196(7):1006-9. doi: 10.1086/521309. Epub 2007 Aug 23.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology*
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus / classification*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Risk Factors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins