Abstract
The purpose of this study is to study the usefulness of post-remission antiviral therapy in cases of HCV-RNA-positive diffuse large-cell lymphoma. Antiviral therapy against HCV was performed after remission using CHOP or CHOP-like chemotherapy in combination with rituximab in five successive cases of HCV-RNA-positive diffuse large-cell lymphoma. The control groups consisted of a group of HCV-RNA-positive diffuse large-cell lymphoma cases prior to this trial (control 1), and a group of cases that tested negative for HIV, HCV, and HBV (control 2). All the cases were in remission at the time of initial treatment. There were no significant differences between the three groups in terms of age, sex, treatment, stage, or International Prognosis Index (IPI). When HCV antiviral therapy was performed after treatment for diffuse large-cell lymphoma, we observed no recurrence or deaths, and the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were significantly greater than those in the control 1 group (P = 0.0246). It is possible that a better prognosis can be achieved by performing HCV antiviral therapy after achieving remission in cases of HCV-RNA-positive diffuse large-cell lymphoma through the use of R-CHOP or similar treatments.