Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Non-Hepatocellular Malignancies in the DAA Era: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Direct antiviral agents have greatly improved therapeutic options for chronic hepatitis C. Indeed, former "difficult-to-treat" patients can now be treated and can achieve sustained response. HCV is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma(B-NHL). Other malignancies have been reported to be associated with HCV infection albeit with various grades of evidence. Antineoplastic treatment is often reduced or suspended in HCV-positive cancer patients to avoid "HCV reactivation". In this setting, antiviral therapy combined with antineoplastic protocols may improve the outcome. For this reason, we conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to update the association between HCV infection and non-hepatocellular malignancies, and to shed light on the effects exerted by antiviral treatment on the natural history of oncological diseases.