Cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values.

<p>Cumulative incidences of HCC according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The black solid and dotted lines indicate the stratified post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values with a COI ≤ 2.0 and a COI > 2.0, respectively. The incidence rate differed significantly between the two groups (<i>P</i> < 0.0001 by the log-rank test). The numbers of patients at risk at each time point are shown below the graphs.</p

Characteristics of Patients Enrolled in the Present Study.

<p>Data are given as the medians with ranges.</p><p>*Results are expressed as the means ± standard deviation. Unless otherwise indicated, data were collected at pre-treatment (before administration of IFN therapy; pre-Tx). Several biochemical measurements were made at both pre-Tx and post-treatment (24 weeks after completion of IFN therapy; post-Tx).</p><p>Abbreviations: AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; BMI, body mass index; AFP, α-fetoprotein; HCV, hepatitis C virus; PEG-IFN, pegylated interferon; RBV, ribavirin.</p><p>Characteristics of Patients Enrolled in the Present Study.</p

Chronological changes in the WFA⁺-M2BP and AFP values at pre-treatment, post-treatment, the time of HCC development, and the last visit of the 238 patients with sustained virological response.

<p>Dots represent the median serum WFA⁺-M2BP values at each time point, and the error bar represents the interquartile range. Diamonds represent the median serum AFP values at each time point, and the error bar represents the interquartile range. (A): Patients who developed HCC (n = 16). WFA⁺-M2BP values were decreased at post-treatment and increased at HCC development. And AFP values were decreased at post-treatment and increased at HCC development. (B): Patients who did not developed HCC (n = 222). WFA⁺-M2BP values were decreased at post-treatment and last clinical visit. And AFP values were decreased at post-treatment and last clinical visit.</p

Relationship between post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values and HCC development.

<p>The distribution of WFA⁺-M2BP values was plotted. The dashed line indicates the 2.0 COI for WFA⁺-M2BP. The 16 patients who developed HCC were stratified according to the duration from SVR to HCC development in 5-year increments. Each time point is designated by a distinct symbol as indicated. 222 patients did not develop HCC, and 209 of these 222 patients (94.1%) were in the post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP ≤ 2.0 COI group (white circles). During the follow-up period, 5 of 18 patients (27.8%) developed HCC in the post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP > 2.0 COI group, which was significantly higher than the rate in the post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP ≤ 2.0 COI group (5.0%, <i>P</i> < 0.001). In the post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP > 2.0 COI group, 4 of 5 cases developed HCC within 5 years after IFN treatment (black circles).</p

Factors Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

<p>Hazard ratios for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma were calculated by Cox proportional hazards analysis.</p><p>Abbreviations: AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; γ-GTP, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; BMI, body mass index; AFP, α-fetoprotein; HCV, hepatitis C virus; WFA⁺-M2BP, <i>Wisteria floribunda</i> agglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein.</p><p>Factors Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.</p

Cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values, stratified by age.

<p>(A): Age ≤ 60 years (n = 165). (B): Age > 60 years (n = 73). Cumulative incidences of HCC according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The black solid and dotted lines indicate the stratified post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values with a COI ≤ 2.0 and a COI > 2.0, respectively. The incidence rate differed significantly between the two groups (<i>P</i> < 0.0001 by the log-rank test). The numbers of patients at risk at each time point are shown below the graphs.</p

Cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values, stratified by stage of fibrosis.

<p>(A): F1/2 (n = 172). (B): F3/4 (n = 66). Cumulative incidences of HCC according to post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The black solid and dotted lines indicate the stratified post-treatment WFA⁺-M2BP values with a COI ≤ 2.0 and a COI > 2.0, respectively. There were no significant differences in HCC incidence with F1/2 group (<i>P</i> = 0.09 by the log-rank test). On the other hand, the incidence rate differed significantly with F3/4 group (<i>P</i> < 0.01 by the log-rank test). The numbers of patients at risk at each time point are shown below the graphs.</p

Results of genome-wide association studies.

<p>a) HBV carriers and healthy controls, and b) HBV carriers and HBV-resolved individuals were compared. <i>P</i> values were calculated by chi-squared test for allele frequencies. Dots with arrows on chromosome 6 show strong associations with protective effects against persistent HB infection and with HBV clearance.</p

Results of replication study for protective effects against CHB.

a<p>Minor allele frequency and minor allele in 198 healthy Japanese (ref#19).</p>b<p>Odds ratio of minor allele from two-by-two allele frequency table.</p>c<p>P value of Pearson’s chi-square test for allelic model.</p>d<p>Heterogeneity was tested using general variance-based method.</p>e<p>Meta-analysis was tested using the random effects model.</p

Number of study samples.

<p>Abbreviation: IC, Inactive Carrier; CH, Chronic Hepatitis; LC, Liver Cirrhosis; HCC, Hepatocellular Carcinoma.</p