Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein predicts early occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virologic response by direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to clarify the value of serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+ -M2BP) for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) by therapy with interferon-free, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study that included 567 patients who underwent antiviral therapy with an interferon-free DAA regimen and achieved SVR. Serum WFA+ -M2BP was measured after SVR. Factors predictive of HCC occurrence and recurrence were analyzed in the patients after stratification by previous treatment history of HCC.

RESULTS

Among 518 patients who had no history of HCC, 13 developed HCC. Post-SVR WFA+ -M2BP ≥1.75 cut-off index (C.O.I., P < 0.001) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) level ≥6 ng/mL (P = 0.01) were significant predictors of HCC development. Multivariate analysis showed that post-SVR WFA+ -M2BP ≥1.75 C.O.I. was an independent factor significantly associated with the development of HCC (hazard ratio [HR] 6.0; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8-19.4; P = 0.003). Among 49 patients who had a previous history of HCC, 22 had recurrence after SVR. Post-SVR AFP ≥6 ng/mL was the only factor associated with recurrence-free survival (HR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.5; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-SVR WFA+ -M2BP is a predictive factor for the development of HCC in patients with no previous HCC history and treated with DAAs. Post-SVR AFP was predictive for HCC recurrence after DAA therapy.