{"title":"Risk of de novo HCC in patients with MASLD following direct-acting antiviral-induced cure of HCV infection","authors":"Chen-Hua Liu, Pin-Nan Cheng, Yu-Jen Fang, Chi-Yi Chen, Wei-Yu Kao, Chih-Lin Lin, Sheng-Shun Yang, Yu-Lueng Shih, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Yu-Ping Chang, Shang-Chin Huang, Tung-Hung Su, Tai-Chung Tseng, Chun-Jen Liu, Pei-Jer Chen, Jia-Horng Kao","doi":"10.1016/j.jhep.2024.09.038","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Background & Aims</h3>Data are limited on the risk of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR<sub>12</sub>) using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV).<h3>Methods</h3>1598 eligible patients received biannual alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and liver imaging surveillance to detect de novo HCC beyond achieving SVR<sub>12</sub>. MASLD was defined as presence of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 248 dB/m and ≥ one cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF). Cumulative HCC incidence was compared between patients with/without MASLD. We built univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate factors associated with HCC. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards model. Additionally, we evaluated the mediation effect of MASLD on CMRFs and of CMRFs on MASLD for HCC using mediation analysis with bootstrapping.<h3>Results</h3>The incidence rate of HCC was 1.44 per 100 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.74]. Patients with MASLD had a higher cumulative HCC incidence than those without MASLD (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that in addition to age, sex, LSM, platelet count, and AFP, MASLD (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.07 [95% CI:1.36-3.16], p < 0.001) was independently associated with HCC. This finding was confirmed by the Fine-Gray model, which showed a subdistribution HR (sHR) of 2.07 (95% CI: 1.34-3.19, p < 0.001) for MASLD. MASLD significantly mediated CMRFs for HCC development.<h3>Conclusion</h3>After achieving SVR<sub>12</sub>, patients with MASLD exhibited an increased HCC risk compared to those without MASLD. Vigilant HCC surveillance and control of CMRFs to mitigate the effect MASLD on HCC remain crucial for this population.<h3>Impact and implications</h3>The risk of de novo HCC among patients with MASLD, a novel nomenclature of steatotic liver disease (SLD), after the attaining of SVR<sub>12</sub> using DAAs remains to be confirmed. In this study recruiting 1598 patients in Taiwan, individuals with MASLD exhibited approximately a two-fold increased risk of de novo HCC, compared to those without MASLD after achieving SVR<sub>12</sub>. MASLD significantly mediated CMRFs for HCC development. Our findings underscore the critical importance of pharmacological interventions and proactive lifestyle modifications to control CMRFs in patients with MASLD, as well as the need for vigilant HCC surveillance to ensure favorable outcomes following HCV eradication.","PeriodicalId":15888,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hepatology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":26.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hepatology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2024.09.038","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background & Aims
Data are limited on the risk of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR12) using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Methods
1598 eligible patients received biannual alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and liver imaging surveillance to detect de novo HCC beyond achieving SVR12. MASLD was defined as presence of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 248 dB/m and ≥ one cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF). Cumulative HCC incidence was compared between patients with/without MASLD. We built univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate factors associated with HCC. Sensitivity analysis was performed using the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards model. Additionally, we evaluated the mediation effect of MASLD on CMRFs and of CMRFs on MASLD for HCC using mediation analysis with bootstrapping.
Results
The incidence rate of HCC was 1.44 per 100 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.74]. Patients with MASLD had a higher cumulative HCC incidence than those without MASLD (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that in addition to age, sex, LSM, platelet count, and AFP, MASLD (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.07 [95% CI:1.36-3.16], p < 0.001) was independently associated with HCC. This finding was confirmed by the Fine-Gray model, which showed a subdistribution HR (sHR) of 2.07 (95% CI: 1.34-3.19, p < 0.001) for MASLD. MASLD significantly mediated CMRFs for HCC development.
Conclusion
After achieving SVR12, patients with MASLD exhibited an increased HCC risk compared to those without MASLD. Vigilant HCC surveillance and control of CMRFs to mitigate the effect MASLD on HCC remain crucial for this population.
Impact and implications
The risk of de novo HCC among patients with MASLD, a novel nomenclature of steatotic liver disease (SLD), after the attaining of SVR12 using DAAs remains to be confirmed. In this study recruiting 1598 patients in Taiwan, individuals with MASLD exhibited approximately a two-fold increased risk of de novo HCC, compared to those without MASLD after achieving SVR12. MASLD significantly mediated CMRFs for HCC development. Our findings underscore the critical importance of pharmacological interventions and proactive lifestyle modifications to control CMRFs in patients with MASLD, as well as the need for vigilant HCC surveillance to ensure favorable outcomes following HCV eradication.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Hepatology is the official publication of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). It is dedicated to presenting clinical and basic research in the field of hepatology through original papers, reviews, case reports, and letters to the Editor. The Journal is published in English and may consider supplements that pass an editorial review.