Resected cases of hepatocellular carcinoma detected after interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients infected with hepatitis C virus. However, hepatocellular carcinoma was detected after interferon therapy in some patients.

METHODOLOGY

Of the 167 patients who underwent liver resection for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma between 1993 and September 1998, the carcinoma was detected after interferon therapy in 11 patients. The clinicopathologic findings in these 11 patients were studied.

RESULTS

The response to interferon was complete (n = 4), partial (n = 4), or no response (n = 3). Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected 2 months to 3 years 9 months, after interferon therapy. The interval period from the end of interferon therapy to the detection of the carcinoma were significantly correlated with the longest diameter of the main tumor (P = 0.0043), indicating that most carcinomas have already developed before the end of interferon therapy. In one non-responder, multicentric carcinogenesis occurred after liver resection for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Another patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma died of the recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma must be performed even in patients successfully treated with interferon because occult carcinoma may have developed before or during the therapy.