Risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cholangiocarcinoma in Taiwanese parous women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

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http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100416/Study-Higher-risk-of-NHL-and-Cholangio\

carcinoma-associated-with-HBV-infection.aspx

Study: Higher risk of NHL and Cholangiocarcinoma associated with HBV infection

16. April 2010 08:28

Risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cholangiocarcinoma in Taiwanese parous women

with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

New data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2010 found a link

between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and progression to cancers other than

hepatocellular carcinoma.

The study found that a higher risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and

Cholangiocarcinoma was associated with HBV infection in the presence of higher

levels of viral replication.

The data could indicate a causal effect for HBV infection and if proven to be

the case in further trials, the benefits of a vaccine against and treatment of

HBV will extend beyond reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Worldwide, more than 350 million people are persistently infected with HBV and

chronic HBV causes about 1 million deaths each year.

NHL is any of a large group of cancers of the lymphoid system (white blood

cells) that can occur at any age. About 80% of all lymphomas diagnosed are NHL

and NHL account for 4% of all cancers in the UK.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile duct cells with no medical treatment

except surgery. It is relatively rare with an annual incidence of 1𔃀 cases

per 100,000 in the Western world, although rates are increasing.

Source: European Association for the Study of the Liver