Lack of correlation between serum anti-HBcore detectability and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: While the likelihood of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients coinfected with both HBV and HCV is increased, the role of previous exposure to HBV as a risk factor associated with tumor occurrence in subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis has not been fully investigated. AIM: To assess whether serum anti-HBc positivity, as a marker of previous HBV exposure, is associated with HCC development in HCV-related positive, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients with cirrhosis treated with alfa-interferon (IFN) monotherapy. PATIENTS AND: A database including 883 consecutive patients (557 men, mean age 54.7 yr) with histologically METHODS: proven cirrhosis trea…