Direct-acting Antivirals Show Promise in Treating Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Strategic Insights -

A study published in the Hematological Oncology journal has shown that direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) can induce a favorable response in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, followed 9 patients who were treated with DAAs and monitored for a median duration of 51 months. The results showed that all patients achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12), with 6 patients (67%) experiencing a complete response to the treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) can induce a favorable response in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • All 9 patients in the study achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12).
  • 6 patients (67%) experienced a complete response to the treatment, with 3 patients (33%) experiencing progressive disease.
  • The overall response rate (ORR) was 67%, with a median duration of response (DOR) of 51 months (range 16-81 months).
  • The 5-year duration of response (DOR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 100%, 83%, and 67%, respectively.
  • The study suggested that HCV-associated NHL is a late extrahepatic complication of HCV infection.
  • The research concluded that infected patients with indolent NHL have an excellent virologic response to DAAs and most of them experienced a favorable oncologic response after HCV eradication without chemotherapy.

Statistics:

  • 9 patients met the study criteria and were analyzed.
  • All patients achieved SVR12.
  • 6 patients (67%) had a complete response, and 3 (33%) had progressive disease.
  • The ORR was 67%.
  • The median DOR was 51 months (range 16-81 months).
  • The 5-year DOR, OS, and PFS rates were 100%, 83%, and 67%, respectively.
  • 6 patients were male, 8 were White, and 8 were under the age of 65.
  • 8 patients were non-cirrhotic, 5 had HCV genotype 1, and 7 had been infected for more than 30 years.

Sources:

  • "Direct-acting Antivirals Induce Lymphoproliferative Disease Response In Hcv-infected Patients With Indolent B-cell Non-hodgkin's Lymphoma: a Prospective Observational Study." Hematological Oncology, 2025;43(2).
  • University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dept. of Infectious Diseases Infection Control and Employee Health, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
  • Hematological Oncology, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.
  • Wiley, publisher of Hematological Oncology (www.wiley.com/; onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1069)