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Chronic Hepatitis C Infection as a Risk Factor for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 60, pages 1820–1824 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma but is also etiologically linked to several extrahepatic medical conditions including renal disorders. HCV is also associated with extrahepatic malignancies and may be oncogenic. Whether HCV confers an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains controversial.

Aims

Prospectively determine whether chronic HCV is associated with an increased risk of RCC.

Methods

At an integrated medical center in Detroit, Michigan, adult patients with suspected RCC or newly diagnosed colon cancer (controls) were screened for hepatitis C antibody (HCAB) and HCV RNA. Renal or colon cancers were confirmed histologically. The proportion of patients with HCAB and HCV RNA in each group was compared, and risk factors for renal cell carcinoma were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

RCC patients had a higher rate of HCAB positivity (11/140, 8 %) than colon cancer patients (1/100, 1 %) (p < 0.01). Of the HCAB-positive patients, 9/11 RCC and 0/1 controls had detectable HCV RNA. HCV RNA positivity was a significant risk factor for RCC (OR 24.20; 95 % CL 2.4, >999.9; p = 0.043). Additionally, viremic RCC patients were significantly younger than RCC patients who were HCV RNA negative (p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Patients with chronic HCV are at heightened risk of RCC.

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Acknowledgments

The authors have received Grant support from Merck & Co.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Transplant Surgery, Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute, 1211 Union Ave. Suite 340, Memphis, TN, 38104, USA

    Humberto C. Gonzalez

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Lois Lamerato

  3. Department of Urology, Henry Ford Health System, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Craig G. Rogers

  4. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Henry Ford Health System, 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Stuart C. Gordon

Authors
  1. Humberto C. Gonzalez
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  2. Lois Lamerato
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  3. Craig G. Rogers
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  4. Stuart C. Gordon
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Correspondence to Humberto C. Gonzalez.

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Gonzalez, H.C., Lamerato, L., Rogers, C.G. et al. Chronic Hepatitis C Infection as a Risk Factor for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Dig Dis Sci 60, 1820–1824 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-015-3521-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-015-3521-3

Keywords

  • Hepatitis C
  • Renal cell carcinoma
  • Extrahepatic manifestations
  • Prospective study