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Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein predicts hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and recurrence in nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for chronic hepatitis B

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) patients even after treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) by a mechanism involving an association between the oncogenic factors of integrated HBV and liver fibrosis. An association has been demonstrated between advanced chronic liver disease and elevated levels of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+)-M2BP), a recently discovered serum liver fibrosis marker. Moreover, hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) reflects intracellular HBV protein production and its relationship with liver carcinogenesis has been reported. This study aimed to determine whether the incidence and recurrence of HBV-related liver cancer could be predicted using these serum markers.

Methods

We evaluated 141 CH-B cases treated for more than 1 year with NAs. We compared 17 HCC cases with 124 non-HCC cases and evaluated serum WFA(+)-M2BP, HBV markers including HBcrAg, and other clinical factors. We also evaluated 71 CH-B-related HCC cases who started or continued NAs and compared the incidence and recurrence of HCC after successful cancer treatment.

Results

Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of HCC was significantly associated with higher histological stage and grade before NA treatment and with WFA(+)-M2BP and HBcrAg positivity during NA treatment. The cumulative incidence of HCC was strongly associated with higher WFA(+)-M2BP levels and HBcrAg positivity. HCC recurrence after anti-cancer therapy was also significantly associated with higher WFA(+)-M2BP levels compared with those in cases without recurrence during follow-up.

Conclusion

Serum WFA(+)-M2BP and HBcrAg are useful diagnostic tests for predicting the development and recurrence of HBV-related HCC during NA treatment.

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Abbreviations

WFA(+)-M2BP:

Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein

M2BPGi:

Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer

NA(s):

Nucleos(t)ide analogue(s)

HBcrAg:

HBV core-related antigen

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Nami Nishiyama for management of the serum samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8641, Japan

    Kazunori Kawaguchi, Masao Honda, Takeshi Terashima, Tetsuro Shimakami, Kuniaki Arai, Taro Yamashita, Yoshio Sakai, Tatsuya Yamashita, Eishiro Mizukoshi, Takuya Komura & Shuichi Kaneko

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Kanazawa Medical Center, Kanazawa, Japan

    Hajime Ohta, Takuya Komura & Masashi Unoura

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  1. Kazunori Kawaguchi
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  2. Masao Honda
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Correspondence to Masao Honda.

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Kawaguchi, K., Honda, M., Ohta, H. et al. Serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein predicts hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and recurrence in nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for chronic hepatitis B. J Gastroenterol 53, 740–751 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-017-1386-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-017-1386-2

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