Complicated relationships of amino acid substitution in hepatitis C virus core region and IL28B genotype influencing hepatocarcinogenesis

The impact of amino acid (aa) 70 substitution in the core region on hepatocarcinogenesis and survival for liver‐related death in patients of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b (HCV‐1b), who had not received antiviral therapy, is unknown. The relationships among aa 70 substitution, IL28B genotype, and hepatocarcinogenesis are also not clear. A total of 1,181 consecutive HCV‐infected patients, who had not received antiviral therapy, were included in a follow‐up study to determine predictive factors of hepatocarcinogenesis and survival for liver‐related death. The cumulative hepatocarcinogenesis rates in HCV‐1b of Gln70(His70) (glutamine (histidine) at aa 70) were significantly higher than those in HCV‐1b of Arg70 (arginine at aa 70) and HCV‐2a/2b. The cumulative survival rates for liver‐related death in HCV‐1b of Gln70(His70) were significantly lower than those in HCV‐1b of Arg70 and HCV‐2a/2b. Multivariate analysis identified gender (male), age (≥60 years), albumin (