Impact of Mutations at Amino Acid 70 in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genotype 1b Core Region on Hepatocarcinogenesis following Eradication of HCV RNA

The impact of the HCV genotype 1b core amino acid (aa) 70 mutant on the cumulative rate of hepatocellular carcinoma following eradication of HCV RNA by antiviral therapy was investigated with the Q-Invader assay. Multivariate analysis based on 649 patients indicated that a core aa70 Q-Invader mutant level >= 20% is a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma.