A seven-gene signature (cirrhosis risk score) predicts liver fibrosis progression in patients with initially mild chronic hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED: Fibrosis progression is the main determinant of liver disease outcome in chronic hepatitis C, being influenced by environmental and host factors. Recently, a cirrhosis risk score (CRS) based on seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms was proposed as genetic predictor of cirrhosis in hepatitis C. To assess the role of CRS in predicting fibrosis progression in patients with initially no or minimal to moderate fibrosis, we investigated 271 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C having initial liver biopsy showing METAVIR stage F0 (n = 104), F1 (n = 101), or F2 (n = 59) who had been followed up without antiviral therapies for at least 60 months (mean 108.5 +/- 71.5 months) and had a liver biopsy at the end of this observation period. Of these, 24.4% showed no histologic progression, 75.6% progressed by at least one stage, 45.0% progressed by at least two stages, and 10.3% progressed by more than two stages. The mean CRS was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in patients with fibrosis progression compared with those without progression, and this difference was particularly evident (P = 0.002) with F0 on initial biopsy. Mean CRS scores were not associated with degree of fibrosis progression. The relative risk of fibrosis progression increased with increasing CRS values. This association was significant in males but not in females and was most evident in males with F0 at initial biopsy (odds ratio 16.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6-166; P= 0.02) in the presence of high CRS. Multivariate analysis confirmed the significant association of CRS score with fibrosis progression. The predictive value of CRS was confirmed in hepatitis C virus patients admitting significant alcohol intake. CONCLUSION: Host genetics defined by CRS predict fibrosis progression in males with initially mild chronic hepatitis C and may become a useful parameter for prognostic evaluation and treatment decision.

Genetic polymorphism at the apolipoprotein E locus affects the outcome of chronic hepatitis B.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and H (ApoH) genotypes are known to affect plasma lipoprotein concentrations. By modulating transport and entry of the hepatitis B virus into hepatocytes, apolipoproteins may influence the course of infection. To verify this hypothesis, 105 patients with chronic HBV infection were examined. Sixty-two of the patients were followed-up for a median time of 21 years. One hundred two controls were included. ApoE and ApoH genotypes were determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. A trend was found for progressive overrepresentation of ApoE3/E3 among patients with advanced liver disease: 13/27 (48%) of inactive HBV carriers, 36/61 (59%) of chronic hepatitis B patients and 16/17 (94%) of patients who received liver transplants (P < 0.005). Being an E3/* carrier was associated with a lower probability of loss of HBsAg: 9/56 (16%) versus 3/6 (50%) (P < 0.05); it was also associated with a longer time before HBsAg loss (P < 0.05). No influence of ApoH genotypes on clinical outcomes was found. The probability of disease progression was higher, and that of loss of HBsAg was lower, among patients with the ApoE3 allelic variant. Downregulation and/or reduced binding of the LDL receptor may explain the more benign course of hepatitis B among carriers of ApoE2-E4.

Early signet ring cell carcinoma arising from colonic adenoma: the molecular profiling supports the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Among colorectal cancers, the prevalence of signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is lower than 1%; to date, only 6 cases of early SRCCs arising in colonic adenoma have been reported. In spite of the well-established understanding of the phenotypic and genetic changes occurring in conventional colonic carcinogenesis, the molecular landscape of colon SRCC is still far to be elucidated. We describe the histologic and immunohistochemical phenotype and the molecular profile of a case of intramucosal SRCC developed within a 4.5-cm large sigmoid adenoma. The DNA sequencing of the 2 microdissected neoplastic components (adenomatous and SRCC) showed the same G12V KRAS mutation. Interestingly, although the adenomatous epithelium showed unequivocal p53 overexpression, no signet ring cancer cells featured p53 nuclear immunostain. This molecular pattern supports the unique histogenesis of the 2 coexisting neoplastic oncotypes, also suggesting that the signet ring cell component is derived from the molecular de-differentiation (p53 loss) of the preexisting adenomatous lesion.