HCC Risk After HCV Treatment in Japan

Studies were identified through PubMed as of April 5, 2022, using the following search terms determined a priori: (interferon or daclatasvir or asunaprevir or sofosbuvir or ledipasvir or ombitasvir or paritaprevir or ritonavir or elbasvir or grazoprevir or beclabuvir or glecaprevir or pibrentasvir or velpatasvir or direct acting antiviral) AND (hepatitis c) AND (hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer or liver neoplasm) AND (Japan or Japanese). Two investigators (YY and KT) independently screened all article titles and abstracts, and conducted full-text assessment to determine eligibility, according to criteria determined a priori. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies on Japanese populations, (2) examination of HCC incidence related to SVR and non-SVR and/or non-IFN treatment as chronic hepatitis C therapy, and (3) follow-up duration of 2 or more years. The exclusion criteria were (1) examination of HCC recurrence, (2) examination of continuing therapy for chronic hepatitis C, (3) studies including participants with liver transplantation, (4) studies including participants with co-infection by human immunodeficiency virus, and (5) studies with less than 20 total participants or with less than 10 participants with SVR or non-SVR. For overlapping study populations identified by study period and institute, studies that included a more comprehensive population and more complete data were selected. Inconsistencies in study selection between the reviewers were solved by discussion.