Antiviral Treatment Reduces Risk of Lung Cancer and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Strategic Insights -

Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention has found that antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) significantly reduces the risk of developing lung cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in patients with chronic HCV. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Henry Ford Health System, followed a large cohort of 17,485 HCV patients for up to 15 years, adjusting for treatment selection bias and competing risks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Antiviral treatment for HCV has been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer by 65% (hazard ratio [HR]= 0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.52) in patients who achieve sustained virological response (SVR).
  • The risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was reduced by 34% (HR= 0.34, 95% CI 0.21-0.55) in patients who achieved SVR.
  • There were no significant associations between antiviral therapy and risks of breast and prostate cancer.
  • Timely initiation of antiviral therapy is crucial in reducing the risk of lung cancer and NHL in patients with chronic HCV.
  • The study's findings support the importance of antiviral treatment in patients with chronic HCV.
  • Additional authors of the research include Meng Hua Tao, Stuart C. Gordon, Yueren Zhou, Loralee B. Rupp, Sheri Trudeau, Mark A. Schmidt, Yihe G. Daida, and Mei Lu.

Statistics:

  • 17,485 HCV patients were followed for up to 15 years in the study.
  • 408 incident cases of cancers were identified, including 140 lung, 72 NHL, 81 breast (female), and 115 prostate.
  • Antiviral treatment reduced the risk of lung cancer by 65% and NHL by 34% in patients who achieved SVR.
  • The study found no significant associations between antiviral therapy and risks of breast and prostate cancer.

Sources:

  • Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2025.
  • Antiviral treatment Reduces Risk of Development of Lung Cancer and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.
  • Trueman Wu, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, United States.
  • Amer Assoc Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St, 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA.