The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, the most common form of liver cancer) is no different after curing hepatitis C virus (HCV) with interferon versus curing the virus with the modern crop of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), Targeted Oncology reports. However, curing hep C in the first place does lower the risk of liver cancer.

Researchers conducted a systematic review, meta-analyses and meta-regression analysis of 41 studies including 13,875 people with hep C, including 26 studies looking at first diagnosis of liver cancer (including 17 studies of interferon treatment and nine studies of DAAs) and 15 looking at recurrence of liver cancer (including seven interferon and eight DAA studies). The studies were published between January 2000 and February 2017.

Findings were presented at the 52nd International Liver Congress in Amsterdam.

After adjusting the data for characteristics of the study participants, including age and length of follow-up, the researchers found that there was no difference in the risk of a first diagnosis of liver cancer or recurrence of liver cancer between those cured of HCV with interferon compared with those cured with DAAs.

To read the Targeted Oncology article, click here.