Burlone ME, Bellan M, Barbaglia MN, Mocchetti G, Mallela VR, Minisini R, Rigamonti C, Pirisi M. HSD17B13 and other liver fat-modulating genes predict development of hepatocellular carcinoma among HCV-positive cirrhotics with and without viral clearance after DAA treatment.
Clin J Gastroenterol 2022;
15:301-309. [PMID:
35098490 DOI:
10.1007/s12328-021-01578-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Genetic predisposition to accumulate liver fat (expressed by a polygenic risk score, GRS, based on the number of at-risk alleles of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7 and GCKR) may influence the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatitis C treatment. Whether this holds true taking into account carriage of the HSD17B13:TA splice variant, also affecting lipogenesis, and achievement of viral clearance (SVR), is unknown.
METHODS
PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, GCKR and HSD17B13 variants were determined in a cohort of 328 cirrhotic patients free of HCC before starting treatment with direct acting antivirals (DAA).
RESULTS
SVR in the study cohort was 96%. At the end of follow-up, N = 21 patients had been diagnosed an HCC; none of the genes included in the GRS was individually associated with HCC development. However, in a Cox proportional hazards model, a GRS > 0.457 predicted HCC independently of sex, diabetes, albumin, INR and FIB4. The fit of the model improved adding treatment outcome and carriage of the HSD17B13:TA splice variant, with sex, GRS > 0.457, HSD17B13:TA splice variant and failure to achieve an SVR (hazard ratio = 6.75, 4.24, 0.24 and 7.7, respectively) being independent predictors of HCC.
CONCLUSION
Our findings confirm that genes modulating liver fat and lipogenesis are important risk factors for HCC development among cirrhotics C treated with DAA.
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