Characteristics of De novo Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chronic HCV Egyptian patients received Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) therapy: A pilot study

Abstract

HCC is the sixth most common malignancy and the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. Cirrhosis is the strongest risk factor for HCC, and chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common underlying etiology in Egypt, United States and Europe. The annual risk of developing HCC in HCV-related cirrhotic patients is approximately 2%-8%. The new, highly effective DAAs were expected to dramatically decrease HCV‐related liver disease progression to end-stage liver disease and HCC; however, these optimistic expectations were questioned by many reports to illustrate the link between DAAs and possibility of occurrence or recurrence of HCC. Recent studies have suggested that DAA may accelerate the occurrence of HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, the annual risk of HCC in HCV-related cirrhotic patients is approximately 2%-8%. Ultimately, the results of these studies did not show an increased risk of HCC in comparison to the expected annual risk for patients treated with DAAs. The Aim of the study was to compare characteristics and behavior of de novo Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic HCV patients who received direct acting antiviral treatment with those who didn't receive DAAs