Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Hepatitis B- and C-related hepatocellular carcinomas yield different clinical features and prognosis.

Chen CH, Huang GT, Yang PM, Chen PJ, Lai MY, Chen DS, Wang JD, Sheu JC

Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical features and survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) and hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC). A total of 2820 HCC patients were included. The mean age of HBV-HCC patients was 52.5+/-13.4 years, while it was 64.8+/-8.7 years in HCV-HCC patients. The male/female ratio was 7.8 in HBV-HCC, while it was 1.7 in HCV-HCC. The mean alpha-fetoprotein level in HBV-HCC was 11,661+/-22,805 ng/mL, while it was 5079+/-15,005 ng/mL in HCV-HCC. The mean tumour size was 6.4+/-4.1 cm in HBV-HCC, while it was 4.6+/-3.1 cm in HCV-HCC. The median survival was 11.1 months in HBV-HCC, while it was 23.9 months in HCV-HCC. Compared with HBV-HCC patients, HCV-HCC patients were older, had a lower male/female ratio, lower white blood cell count, lower serum albumin level, higher serum ALT level, lower serum alpha-fetoprotein level, smaller tumour size and survived longer.

Published 2 October 2006 in Eur J Cancer, 42(15): 2524-9.
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