Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: James J. Stark
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters6 July 2004Prevention of Hepatocellular CarcinomaJames J. Stark, MDJames J. Stark, MDFrom Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA 23707.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-1-200407060-00025 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In their article on the increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States, El-Serag and colleagues commented that the incidence of the disease is rising because of an increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and “is likely to continue to increase for the near future, as those infected with HCV ultimately develop cirrhosis, unless secondary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma improves” (1). In fact, several recent papers have demonstrated the ability of interferon-α therapy to markedly reduce the likelihood that someone infected with HCV will eventually develop hepatocellular carcinoma (2-4). The magnitude of reduction ...References1. El-Serag HB, Davila JA, Petersen NJ, McGlynn KA. The continuing increase in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States: an update. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139:817-23. [PMID: 14623619] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Nishiguchi S, Kuroki T, Nakatani S, Morimoto H, Takeda T, Nakajima S, et al . Randomised trial of effects of interferon-alpha on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis. Lancet. 1995;346:1051-5. [PMID: 7564784] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Yoshida H, Shiratori Y, Moriyama M, Arakawa Y, Ide T, Sata M, et al . Interferon therapy reduces the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma: national surveillance program of cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C in Japan. IHIT Study Group. Inhibition of Hepatocarcinogenesis by Interferon Therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131:174-81. [PMID: 10428733] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Kasahara A, Hayashi N, Mochizuki K, Takayanagi M, Yoshioka K, Kakumu S, et al . Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma and its incidence after interferon treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Osaka Liver Disease Study Group. Hepatology. 1998;27:1394-402. [PMID: 9581697] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: James J. Stark, MDAffiliations: From Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA 23707. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoInterferon Therapy Reduces the Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: National Surveillance Program of Cirrhotic and Noncirrhotic Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Japan Haruhiko Yoshida , Yasushi Shiratori , Mitsuhiko Moriyama , Yasuyuki Arakawa , Tatsuya Ide , Michio Sata , Osami Inoue , Michitami Yano , Motohiko Tanaka , Shigetoshi Fujiyama , Shuhei Nishiguchi , Tetsuo Kuroki , Fumio Imazeki , Osamu Yokosuka , Shingo Kinoyama , Gotaro Yamada , and Masao Omata , for the IHIT Study GroupThe Continuing Increase in the Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States: An Update Hashem B. El-Serag , Jessica A. Davila , Nancy J. Petersen , and Katherine A. McGlynn Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Hashem B. El-Serag Metrics Cited byCurrent awareness: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety 6 July 2004Volume 141, Issue 1 Page: 77 Keywords Cirrhosis Forecasting Hepatitis C virus Hepatocellular carcinoma Infectious diseases Infectious hepatitis Interferons Prophylaxis ePublished: 6 July 2004 Issue Published: 6 July 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...