The association between hepatitis C virus infection and renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To update the current evidence on whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a possible risk factor for renal cell cancer (RCC), prostate cancer (PCa), and bladder cancer (BC). We searched the literature on Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embases before April 2021. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. Finally, we extracted 12 studies based on the eligible criteria. Across 11 studies for HCV and RCC, the incorporated RR was 1.28 (95% CI 1.05-1.55), which meant that participants with HCV infection were associated with higher RCC risk. The pooled RR in hazard ratio (HR) subgroup (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.22-2.08), cohort studies subgroup (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18-1.82), and North America subgroup (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.40-2.09) detected a stronger association between HCV and RCC risk. Although an inverse association was seen for PCa (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.54-1.03) across seven studies, it was not statistically significant (P=0.075). There was no significant association between HCV and BC with an incorporated RR of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.82-1.03) across five studies. Our study demonstrated that HCV infection was significantly associated with increased RCC risk. There appeared to be an inverse association for HCV in PCa risk but not statistically significant. No significant association was found between HCV and BC risk. Prospective, large-scale, and well-designed cohort studies are required to validate the association between HCV and RCC, and to investigate the role of HCV on PCa.

Automated summary

The study found that HCV infection was significantly associated with increased RCC risk. There appeared to be an inverse association for HCV in PCa risk but not statistically significant. No significant association was found between HCV and BC risk.