Association Between Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Hematologic and Thyroid Cancers

This study will investigate the possible relationship between infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the development of certain hematologic cancers (Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma) and thyroid cancer. HCV causes chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It is transmitted primarily through injection drug use and transfusion of infected blood. Studies have shown that HCV may also be linked to hematologic cancers and thyroid cancer.

This retrospective study will examine medical records from veterans with and without HCV infection who previously received treatment in the Veterans Administration medical system. Data collected on each subject will include the subject's race, sex, age and era of military service, presence of liver disease or thyroiditis at their baseline clinic visit, number of inpatient visits in the past 5 years and outpatient visits in the past year, and the presence of various specified cancers. The prevalence of cancer and other conditions among HCV-infected subjects and non-HCV infected subjects at baseline and the subsequent development of the cancers of interest in these two groups will be compared and analyzed for a possible causal relationship.

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Key information

Conditions

Hepatitis C Virus Blood Protein Disorders Blood-Borne Infections Cardiovascular Diseases Communicable Diseases Digestive System Diseases Endocrine System Diseases Flaviviridae Infections Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Hemorrhagic Disorders Hemostatic Disorders Hepatitis Hepatitis C Hepatitis, Viral, Human Immune System Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Infections Liver Diseases Lymphatic Diseases Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorders Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Paraproteinemias RNA Virus Infections Thyroid Diseases Thyroiditis Vascular Diseases Virus Diseases

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Houston Veterans AFfairs Medical Center

Houston, Texas, United States

About this study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be a cause of hematologic malignancies and thyroid cancer. HCV infection is common among U.S. military veterans receiving care in the Veterans Administration healthcare system. The investigators propose a retrospective cohort study using VA administrative databases. A cohort of approximately 147,000 HCV-infected veterans has been identified for the period 1997-2004. Likewise, a cohort of approximately 573,000 HCV-uninfected veterans has been identified for the same period. These subjects are being evaluated for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies, thyroid cancer, and related medical conditions as recorded in VA databases. The comparison of the prevalence and incidence of these cancers in the two cohorts will provide a test of the hypothesis that HCV infection can cause these cancers.

The investigators will also evaluate the association between HCV infection and several other medical conditions, which might be related to HCV infection, specifically: immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cholangiocarcinoma, cholangitis, and pancreatic cancer.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

None given.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

Associations of Hematologic Malignancies and Thyroid Cancer With HCV Infection Among US Military Veterans

Important dates

Study start: 2005
Study completion: 2011
First posted: Jun 21, 2006
Registry last updated: Jul 2, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed