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Dai et al. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:16 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2019.40

Original Article Open Access

Treatment efficacy for patients with chronic hepatitis
C and preexisting hepatocellular carcinoma by
directly acting antivirals

Chia-Yen Dai , Chung-Feng Huang 1,3,4 , Meng-Hsuan Hsieh , Ching-I Huang , Ming-Lun Yeh , Pei-Chien
1
1,3
1-4
1,2
Tsai , Ching-Chih Lin , Meng-Szu Lee , Jeng-Fu Yang , Po-Yao Hsu , Yu-Ju Wei , Cheng-Ting Hsu ,
1
1
1
2
1
1,2
1
Po-Cheng Liang , Yi-Hung Lin , Jee-Fu Huang , Wan-Long Chuang , Ming-Lung Yu 1,3,4
3,4
1
3,4
1
1 Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University,
Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
2 Health Management Center & Department of Community Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung
Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
3 Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
4 Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University,
Hsin-Chu, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ming-Lung Yu, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, 100, Shi-Tzyou
1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. E-mail: fish6069@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Dai CY, Huang CF, Hsieh MH, Huang CI, Yeh ML, Tsai PC, Lin CC, Lee MS, Yang JF, Hsu PY, Wei YJ, Hsu
CT, Liang PC, Lin YH, Huang JF, Chuang WL, Yu ML. Treatment efficacy for patients with chronic hepatitis C and preexisting
hepatocellular carcinoma by directly acting antivirals. Hepatoma Res 2020;6:16.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2019.40
Received: 2 Dec 2019 First Decision: 13 Feb 2020 Revised: 23 Mar 2020 Accepted: 27 Mar 2020 Published: 10 Apr 2020
Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang
Abstract
Aim: Despite the high cure rate of interferon-free directly acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC)
patients, the treatment efficacy for patients with preexisting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains undefined.
We aimed in the present study to address the issue by using novel DAAs in treating CHC patients who were
adherent to treatment in Taiwan.

Methods: CHC patients with or without HCC were consecutively enrolled. The primary objective was sustained
virological response (SVR) defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 12 weeks of a post-treatment follow-up
period (SVR12). Only patients with available SVR12 were enrolled for final analysis.

Results: A total of 1237 patients (1113 non-HCC, 101 inactive HCC and 23 active HCC) were enrolled. The overall
SVR12 rate was 98.9%, and was similar between HCV patients with and without pre-existing HCC (98.4% vs.
98.9%, P = 0.64). While HCC patients were classified as those who had active or inactive HCC, the SVR12 was
also similar between patients with and without active HCC (95.7% vs. 99.0%, P = 0.34). Among the 101 patients
without viable HCC at the time of DAA initiation, eighty-four patients exhibited curative therapy and the other 17

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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