ArticleAlimentary pharmacology & therapeutics2026
Hepatitis B Virus RNA Predicts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Despite Viral Suppression.
Article in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Molecular Basis and Clinical Significance of the High-risk Phenotype of Hepatitis B Virus Genotype C.Journal of clinical and translational hepatology · 2026Review
- MiR-424-5p acts as an oncogene in Hep3B cells by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Frontiers in oncology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDespite achieving undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy, patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Novel covalently closed circular DNA activity biomarkers may improve risk stratification.
aimsTo comprehensively assess the association between serum HBV RNA and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels, measured upon achieving undetectable HBV DNA levels, and subsequent HCC development in NA-treated patients with CHB.
methodsWe retrospectively analysed 311 patients with CHB who achieved undetectable HBV DNA levels during NA therapy between 2000 and 2024. Serum HBV RNA (≥ 10 copies/mL) and HBcrAg (≥ 2.1 log U/mL) were measured in stored samples collected when HBV DNA first became undetectable. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with HCC development.
resultsDuring a median follow-up of 11.0 years, 31 (10.0%) patients developed HCC. At viral suppression, 132 (42.4%) patients had HBV RNA ≥ 10 copies/mL. HCC incidence was significantly higher in patients with quantifiable HBV RNA than in those with unquantifiable HBV RNA (15-year incidence, 17.8% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.026). Quantifiable HBV RNA independently predicted HCC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.313; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-9.507; p = 0.026). HBcrAg showed no association (aHR, 0.821; 95% CI: 0.253-2.669; p = 0.743). Patients with quantifiable HBV RNA and albumin-bilirubin score ≥ -2.60 had the highest risk (5-year incidence: 15.8%).
conclusionsHBV RNA levels at viral suppression predict HCC development in NA-treated patients with CHB, outperforming HBcrAg. Incorporating HBV RNA assessment can improve risk-stratified HCC surveillance strategies.
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