Browsing by Author "Wang, Shu-Chi"

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Association of serial serum major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A measurements with hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients after viral eradication
(2019-01-01)
Huang, Chung-Feng
;
Wang, Shu-Chi
;
Yeh, Ming-Lun
;
Huang, Ching-I
;
Tsai, Pei-Chien
Background and Aim Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) genetic variants and their serum levels (sMICA) were associated with the development of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in untreated cohorts. The dynamic changes in serial sMICA levels and their association with HCC in the post-curative status are elusive. Methods Single nucleotide polymorphism rs2596542 of MICA and serial sMICA levels were analyzed in chronic hepatitis C patients with a sustained virologic response after antivirals. Forty-two patients who developed HCC and 84 age-matched, gender-matched, and cirrhosis propensity score-matched non-HCC controls were compared. Serial sMICA levels were measured within 6 months before treatment initiation (pre-sMICA), 6 months after the end of treatment (post-sMICA), and on the last visit before the development (or not) of HCC (last-sMICA). Results Cox regression analysis revealed that last-sMICA was the only predictive factor of HCC development (hazard ratio/95% confidence interval: 2.27 (per 1 log pg/mL increase)/1.672-3.082, P < 0.001). Patients without HCC development showed a significantly reduced trend of sMICA levels during follow-up (trend P = 0.001), which was observed only in GG genotype (trend P < 0.001) but not A allele carriers (P = 0.88). In contrast, patients with HCC showed an increased trend of sMICA levels (trend P = 0.024). However, only the GG genotype "high expressors" (trend P = 0.06) but not A allele carriers (P = 0.18) showed a correlation of substantially increased trend of sMICA levels and HCC development. Conclusions Serial sMICA levels were associated with HCC development in SVR patients. The clinical utility of this finding is restricted to MICA rs2596542 GG genotype carriers.
Lower protein expression levels of MHC class I chain-related gene A in hepatocellular carcinoma are at high risk of recurrence after surgical resection
(2018-10-25)
Huang, Chung-Feng
;
Wang, Shu-Chi
;
Chang, Wen-Tsan
;
Yeh, Ming-Lun
;
Huang, Ching-I
MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) variants have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their association with MICA expression in cancer cells and cancer recurrence is unknown. SNP rs2596542 of MICA was tested in 193 HCC patients with surgical resection. The corresponding MICA expression in the cancer tissue was measured by immunochemistry microarray. Patients with the SNP rs2596542 A allele had significantly lower MICA expression in tumor tissue than did those with the GG genotype (24.7 +/- 15.1% vs. 41.5 +/- 23.4%, P < 0.001). Patients who had HCC recurrence had significantly lower MICA expression in tumor tissue (34.2 +/- 21.8% vs. 24.0 +/- 19.8%, P = 0.03). Cox regression analysis revealed that the factors independently predictive of HCC recurrence included low MICA expression (hazard ratio [HR]/95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.77/1.07-7.14, P = 0.035) and tumor size (HR/CI: 5.22/2.11-12.96, P < 0.001). Compared to patients with tumors <5 cm and MICA expression >30%, patients with either one and both two risk factors had HCC HRs of 9.76 (C.I. 1.27-75.03, P = 0.03) and 27.30 (C.I. 3.46-215.6, P = 0.002), respectively. We concluded that low cellular MICA expressions were at a greater risk of HCC recurrence after curative treatment.
Serial serologic changes of hepatitis D virus in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleos(t)ides analogues therapy
(1970-01-01)
Jang, Tyng-Yuan
;
Wei, Yu-Ju
;
Hsu, Cheng-Ting
;
Hsu, Po-Yao
;
Liu, Ta-Wei
Background and Aim The serial serologic changes of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection among chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients who received oral nucleotide/nucleoside analogues are elusive. Methods Serum anti-HDV and HDV RNA among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were tested at the time of initiating anti-HBV therapy and subsequently during the follow-up period. Results The seropositive rate of anti-HDV and HDV RNA among 2850 CHB patients, was 2.7% and 0.9%, respectively. Factors associated with anti-HDV seropositivity were platelet counts (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.995/0.992-0.999; P = 0.006), HBV DNA levels (OR/CI: 0.81/0.70-0.94; P = 0.005), and hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) seropositivity (OR/CI: 0.22/0.05-0.95; P = 0.04). The only factor associated with HDV RNA positivity among anti-HDV seropositive patients was age (OR/CI: 0.95/0.90-1.00; P = 0.03). The spontaneous clearance rate of serum anti-HDV antibody was 3.0 per 100 person-years with a median follow-up period of 3.5 years (range 2-12 years), whereas the seroclearance rate of HDV RNA was 4.3 per 100 person-years among anti-HDV seropositive patients after a median follow-up period of 6.0 years (range 2-11 years). A baseline anti-HDV titer < 0.5 cut-off index was the only factor predictive of anti-HDV seroclearance (hazard ratio [HR]/CI: 30.11/3.73-242.85; P = 0.001). Conclusions HDV infection was not common among patients treated for HBV in Taiwan. Seroclearance of anti-HDV and HDV RNA did occur over time, albeit the chance is rare.