High sustained virologic response rate after 8 weeks of direct-acting antivirals in cancer patients with chronic hepatitis C virus

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Oct 1;34(10):1098-1101. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002437. Epub 2022 Aug 24.

Abstract

Objective: There is no prospective data on 8 weeks of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) therapy with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) or ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with different types of malignancies. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety with 8 weeks of DAA therapy in cancer patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: Patients treated with DAAs at our center during 2014-2021 were included in a prospective observational study. Efficacy (sustained virologic response at 12 weeks; SVR12) and safety [adverse events and clinically significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs)] were assessed.

Results: We included 47 patients. Most were men (29; 62%), white (33; 70%), non-cirrhotic (45; 96%), and with HCV genotype 1 (38; 85%). None of the patients had HCC. The SVR12 rate was 96% (45/47; 95% CI: 86-99%) for the entire study cohort, 100% [17/17; 95% CI: 82-100%] for the patients treated with GLE/PIB and 93% [28/30; 95% CI: 79-98%] for the patients treated with LDV/SOF. Fisher's exact test showed no significant difference in SVR12 rates between the regimens (P = 0.53). No patients had serious adverse events (grade 3-4) or treatment discontinuation. Among the 17 patients who received concomitant cancer therapy, no DDIs occurred.

Conclusion: Eight weeks of DAA therapy is highly effective and safe in HCV-infected patients with different types of malignancies and may grant access to investigational cancer therapy, broadening treatment options.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / chemically induced
  • Male
  • Sofosbuvir / adverse effects
  • Sustained Virologic Response
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Sofosbuvir