| HCV is a leading cause of HCC worldwide and the morbidity and mortality from HCV-associated HCC is increasing, especially in high-income areas. A cure of HCV infection has been shown to be associated with a reduction in the risk of de novo HCC. The risk of HCC is not eliminated by an SVR. However, the SVR is associated with a substantial reduction in the incidence of HCC in the mid- to long-term. These results have been confirmed in substantial databases examining the risk and determinants of HCC in patients cured with DAA-based treatments. Thus, the arrival of pangenotypic drug regimens that are highly active, safe and well-tolerated and the publication of international society guidelines will lead to a reduced incidence of HCC worldwide. Whether the high SVR rates achieved with DAA-based regimens have an effect on the risk of recurrence following resection or ablation of HCC is currently debated and contradictory results were published. However, a considerable body of data suggests that incident HCC is reduced by a DAA-induced SVR and withholding treatment for HCV-positive patients with treated HCC is not warranted. |
