Virology

Lamivudine

Real-time polymerase chain reaction

Biochemistry

Gastroenterology

Virus

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Biology

Gene

Cirrhosis

Hepatitis B virus

Internal medicine

Entecavir

Hepatology

TaqMan

Medicine

Journal of Gastroenterology

Background We aimed to assess whether residual hepatitis B virus (HBV) viraemia is associated with HCC development. Methods This is a case–control study of 104 patients [52 HCC and 52 non-HCC (matched with age, gender, cirrhosis and treatment duration)] on ≥ 3 years entecavir (ETV) with unquantifiable HBV DNA by Cobas Taqman assay v2.0 (Roche Diagnostics; lower limit of quantification [LLOQ] 20 IU/mL). Serial sera within 1, 1–2, and > 2 years prior to HCC diagnosis or last follow-up (LFU) were measured for HBV DNA and pre-genomic (pg) RNA using a highly sensitive semi-quantitative PCR assay with lower limit of detection of 10 IU/mL and LLOQ of 51.5 IU/mL, respectively. Results Among the 104 patients (80.8% male, median age 61.2 years old, 38.5% cirrhosis, median duration of ETV 45.5 months), 38.5% and 9.6% HCC patients had undetectable serum DNA and pgRNA, respectively, compared to 65.4% and 36.5% in non-HCC patients; P = 0.005 & 0.001, respectively, at the time of HCC diagnosis/LFU. Detectable HBV DNA and pgRNA were associated with a higher 2-year risk of HCC development (HR 2.79, 95% CI 1.424–5.468 & HR 4.544, 95% CI 1.07–19.289, respectively). No significant differences were observed for qHBsAg levels between HCC and non-HCC patients. Conclusions More than 50% CHB patients on ETV with HBV DNA < LLOQ by standard assay had persistent viraemia as determined by a more sensitive assay. Detectable HBV DNA or pgRNA by more sensitive assays was associated with HCC development. More potent viral suppression is required to further reduce the risk of HCC.

Residual HBV DNA and pgRNA viraemia is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients on antiviral therapy