11 research outputs found
Lysyl oxidase-like 2 as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus after sustained virological response
Abstract Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) mediates the crosslinking of extracellular collagen, reflecting qualitative changes in liver fibrosis. This study aimed to validate the utility of serum LOXL2 levels as a predictive biomarker for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). This retrospective study included 137 patients with chronic HCV infection without history of HCC development and who achieved SVR via direct-acting antiviral therapy. Median LOXL2 levels decreased significantly after SVR achievement (pre-Tx, 2.33Â ng/mL; post-Tx, 1.31Â ng/mL, pâ<â0.001). Post-Tx LOXL2 levels, fibrosis-4 index, platelet counts, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein levels, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were identified as independent predictive factors for post-SVR HCC development in the univariate analysis. The incidence of post-SVR HCC development was significantly higher in patients with post-Tx LOXL2 levelsââ„â2.08Â ng/mL and AFP levelsââ„â5.0Â ng/mL than in patients with elevated levels of either marker or with lower marker levels. Serum LOXL2 levels can serve as a predictive biomarker for HCC development after achieving SVR. The combination of serum LOXL2 and AFP levels provides robust risk stratification for HCC development after SVR, suggesting an enhanced surveillance strategy
Macâ2âbinding protein glycan isomer predicts all malignancies after sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C
Abstract Despite reports of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after achieving sustained virological response (SVR), only few studies have demonstrated the incidence of other (nonâHCC) malignancies. This study aimed to clarify the incidence, survival probability, and factors associated with malignancy, especially nonâHCC malignancies, in patients with chronic HCV infection after achieving SVR. In this retrospective study, records of 3580 patients with chronic HCV infection who achieved SVR following directâacting antiviral (DAA) treatment were analyzed. The cumulative postâSVR incidence of nonâHCC malignancies was 0.9%, 3.1%, and 6.8% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The survival probability for patients with nonâHCC malignancies was 99.1%, 78.8%, and 60.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively, and the rate was significantly lower than that for patients with HCC. The Cox proportional hazards regression model identified Macâ2âbinding protein glycan isomer (M2BPGi) cutoff index (COI) â„ 1.90 at baseline and â„ 1.50 at 12 weeks following DAA treatment as significant and independent factors associated with the postâSVR incidence of nonâHCC malignancies. Furthermore, patients with either M2BPGi COI â„ 1.90 at baseline or M2BPGi COI â„ 1.50 at SVR12 had a significantly higher risk of postâSVR incidence of nonâHCC malignancies than of HCC. Conclusion: M2BPGi measurements at baseline and SVR12 may help predict the postâSVR incidence of nonâHCC malignancies in patients with chronic HCV infection who achieved SVR following DAA treatment. Early identification of these patients is critical to prolong patient survival