Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development after Hepatitis C Virus Eradication Using Serum Wisteria floribunda Agglutinin-Positive Mac-2-Binding Protein

Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Dec 20;17(12):2143. doi: 10.3390/ijms17122143.

Abstract

We aimed to clarify the association between a novel serum fibrosis marker, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2-binding protein (WFA⁺-M2BP), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in 355 patients with chronic hepatitis C who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) through interferon-based antiviral therapy. Pretreatment serum WFA⁺-M2BP levels were quantified and the hazard ratios (HRs) for HCC development were retrospectively analyzed by Cox proportional hazard analysis. During the median follow-up time of 2.9 years, 12 patients developed HCC. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high serum WFA⁺-M2BP (≥2.80 cut off index (COI), HR = 15.20, p = 0.013) and high fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index (≥3.7, HR = 5.62, p = 0.034) were independent risk factors for HCC development. The three- and five-year cumulative incidence of HCC in patients with low WFA⁺-M2BP were 0.4% and 0.4%, respectively, whereas those of patients with high WFA⁺-M2BP were 7.7% and 17.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). In addition, combination of serum WFA⁺-M2BP and FIB-4 indices successfully stratified the risk of HCC: the five-year cumulative incidences of HCC were 26.9%, 6.8%, and 0.0% in patients with both, either, and none of these risk factors, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, pretreatment serum WFA⁺-M2BP level is a useful predictor for HCC development after achieving SVR.

Keywords: WFA+-M2BP; chronic hepatitis C; hepatocellular carcinoma; risk factor; sustained virological response.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / blood*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / therapy
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / blood*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Plant Lectins / metabolism*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Plant Lectins
  • Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • TAA90K protein, human
  • wisteria lectin
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a