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How the Human Genome Can Predict Response to Hepatitis C Therapy

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Abstract

It has long been suspected that host genetic factors influenced treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Three independent genome-wide association studies have recently identified genetic variation in the IL28B gene (coding for IFN-λ3) that determines the outcome of interferon-α-based therapy for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection. These discoveries confirm the potential for a pharmacogenomics approach to personalizing anti-HCV treatment.

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Disclosure

The authors are coinventors of a patent related to the IL28B genetic discovery. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, PO Box 17969, Durham, NC, 27715, USA

    Alexander J. Thompson & John G. McHutchison

  2. Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy Center for Human Genome Variation, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Jacques Fellay

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  1. Alexander J. Thompson
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  2. Jacques Fellay
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  3. John G. McHutchison
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Correspondence to Alexander J. Thompson.

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Thompson, A.J., Fellay, J. & McHutchison, J.G. How the Human Genome Can Predict Response to Hepatitis C Therapy. Curr Hepatitis Rep 9, 1–8 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-010-0029-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-010-0029-3

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