Liver cancer is a devastating disease that claims the lives of thousands of people each year. But what if there was a way to improve survival rates for those diagnosed with liver cancer? Recent research suggests that treating Hepatitis C (HCV), a common cause of liver cancer, could have a profound impact on patient outcomes.

HCV is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. It can lead to serious liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. In the past, liver cancer has been notoriously difficult to treat, with low survival rates and limited treatment options.

However, a retrospective study presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2023 annual meeting in Boston in November held suggests that treating HCV can significantly improve survival rates for patients with liver cancer. The study was also published this month in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

The real-world U.S. study has found that there is a low antiviral treatment rate for patients with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study aimed to determine the proportion of HCV-related HCC patients who received direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) after 2014 and identify factors associated with treatment receipt. The study included a secondary outcome that evaluated the impact of DAA treatment on overall survival.

The retrospective study analyzed data from 3,922 patients with HCV-related HCC between 2015 and 2021. Only 23.5% of these patients received DAA treatment. Treatment rates were higher for patients with cirrhosis and those who received care from gastroenterology or infectious disease specialists with or without an oncologist.

Leslie Kam, M.D., and colleagues found that younger age, being seen by a gastroenterology or infectious disease physician and having cirrhosis were associated with higher odds of receiving DAA treatment. However, sex and race/ethnicity did not have a significant impact on treatment rates. These findings suggest that targeted interventions and strategies should be implemented to ensure that all eligible patients have access to appropriate care, regardless of their demographics or healthcare provider.

Patients who received DAA treatment had a significantly higher five-year survival rate compared to untreated patients. The authors found that patients who received DAA treatment had a 5-year survival rate of 47.2%, compared to 35.2% for untreated patients. This highlights the importance of early detection and timely treatment of HCV-related HCC.

Adjusting for other factors, DAA treatment remained appreciably associated with lower mortality.

The low antiviral treatment rate for patients with HCV-related HCC highlights the need for improved access to and utilization of antiviral therapies. The availability of all-oral, interferon-free DAAs since 2013-2014 has revolutionized the treatment and cure of HCV. However, this study shows that a significant proportion of insured HCV-related HCC patients are still not receiving this potentially life-saving treatment.