Value of autotaxin for hepatocellular carcinoma risk assessment in chronic hepatitisB patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs.

Abstract

Autotaxin (ATX) is a newly identified liver fibrosis biomarker; however, its clinical usefulness remains unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the changes in patients with chronic hepatitisB virus infection treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) to evaluate its usefulness. We also investigated the predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma development, including ATX, in patients with chronic hepatitisB based on their clinical characteristics. This retrospective study included 179 patients with hepatitisB virus infection treated with NAs for >2years. First, we measured the ATX levels before and up to 10years after initiating entecavir (therapy for 88 patients whose serial ATX levels could be measured before and during entecavir therapy. Subsequently, for 179 patients whose ATX levels could be measured at the commencement of NAs, we examined the factors involved in developing hepatocellular carcinoma, including ATX. The ATX levels showed a gradual and significant decrease during the observation period of up to 10years. Multivariable analysis showed that a baseline ATX/upper limits of normal ratio ≥1.214, age, and alkaline phosphatase levels were independent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma development. The combination of age and ATX/upper limits of normal ratio was used to stratify the high-risk groups for liver carcinogenesis. A decrease in ATX levels up to 10years after the commencement of therapy suggested that ATX is a helpful biomarker in evaluating fibrosis in patients undergoing long-term NA therapy. Furthermore, this study showed that combining age and the baseline ATX/upper limits of normal ratio may help identify high-risk carcinogenesis groups.