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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2014; 20(11): 2771-2776
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2771
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2771
Challenges in managing hepatitis C virus infection in cancer patients
Roy A Borchardt, Harrys A Torres, Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Borchardt RA and Torres HA contributed equally to this work, and both wrote the article.
Correspondence to: Harrys A Torres, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, United States. htorres@mdanderson.org
Telephone: +1-713-7926830 Fax: +1-713-7456839
Received: September 18, 2013
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Processing time: 181 Days and 8.8 Hours
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 6, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Processing time: 181 Days and 8.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection adds complexity to treatment considerations of cancer patients. This is amplified by the absence of standard of care guidelines for the management of cancer patients with HCV infection. Not only can HCV infection result in the development hepatocellular cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but the presence of HCV infection in cancer patients can affect the treatment of malignancies with antineoplastic chemotherapies. Side effects of HCV therapy can be exacerbated in cancer patients due to underlying cytopenias and comorbidities. In those patients treated for HCV infection, cancer patients have poorer response to treatment than the general non-cancer population.