Direct-acting antivirals improve survival and recurrence rates after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria

Background The effects of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on survival and recurrence rates after curative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remain controversial. Methods This retrospective, multicenter study involved Child-Pugh class A patients within the Milan criteria who had a first diagnosis of HCC and survived 6 months or longer after undergoing hepatectomy or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The DAA-treated group (DAA group) included 56 patients, and the DAA-untreated group (untreated group) included 261 patients. The study was conducted using the propensity score-matched (1:2) DAA group and untreated group, 56 and 112 patients, respectively. Results The survival rate at 48 months in the DAA group and the untreated group was 91.0% and 68.7%, respectively, showing significantly better survival in the DAA group (HR: 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.84; p = 0.021). The recurrence rate at 48 months was 36.7% and 66.7%, respectively, showing a significantly lower recurrence rate in the DAA group (HR, 0.46; 95% CI 0.27-0.77; p = 0.003). The median albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score at 3 years post-HCC treatment was - 2.84 in the DAA group and - 2.34 in the untreated group. The ALBI score showed a significant improvement from baseline to 3 years post-HCC treatment (p = 0.001), whereas that in the untreated group showed a significant decline (p = 0.040). Conclusions DAAs after HCC treatment prevents deterioration of hepatic functional reserve and significantly improves both recurrence and survival rates.

Automated summary

DAAs treatment after HCC can prevent hepatic functional reserve deterioration and significantly improve both recurrence and survival rates. This study showed that in patients receiving DAAs treatment, the 48-month survival rate was 91.0% and the recurrence rate was 36.7%, both significantly better than in patients not receiving DAAs treatment.