Circulating IL-13 Is Associated with De Novo Development of HCC in HCV-Infected Patients Responding to Direct-Acting Antivirals

Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective in targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, but the incidence of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains still high. In this study, we investigated a cohort of HCV-infected patients treated with DAAs who were followed up for 4 year...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2020-12, Vol.12 (12), p.3820
Main Authors: Macek Jílková, Zuzana, Seigneurin, Arnaud, Coppard, Celine, Ouaguia, Laurissa, Aspord, Caroline, Marche, Patrice N, Leroy, Vincent, Decaens, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiviral agents
Communication
Cytokines
Fibrosis
Hepatitis C
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Immune system
Infections
Interleukin 13
Medical prognosis
Patients
Risk factors
Serum levels
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Summary:Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective in targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, but the incidence of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains still high. In this study, we investigated a cohort of HCV-infected patients treated with DAAs who were followed up for 4 years after sustained virological response (SVR) achievement. Patients who developed de novo HCC following DAA treatment were compared to matched controls who did not develop HCC. These control patients were selected based on DAA treatment, sex, age, fibrosis status, and platelet counts. We evaluated serum levels of 30 immune mediators before, during, at the end of, and three months after DAA treatment using Luminex technology. We identified the immune factors associated with de novo HCC occurrence following DAA treatment. Specifically, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels were significantly higher before start of the DAA treatment in the serum of patients who later developed HCC than in controls and stayed higher at each subsequent time point. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression revealed IL-13 as the only strong factor associated with HCC development in this cohort of HCV patients. The difference was observed already at baseline of DAA treatment, which confirms the existence of a specific immune profile in these patients who later develop HCC.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers12123820