Abstract

Treatment with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-NS3-protease inhibitors lead to the selection of resistant variants. Viral kinetics and resistance profiles in patients who are re-treated with the same protease inhibitor are unknown. Viral kinetics and NS3-resistance mutations obtained by clonal sequencing of the NS3-protease were analyzed in nine HCV-genotype-1-infected nonresponder patients who were sequentially treated with boceprevir (400 mg t.i.d.) for 1 week, peginterferon-alfa-2b for 2 weeks and combination of the two for 2 weeks in varying order. In addition to predominant wild-type isolates, previously described boceprevir-resistant mutations (V36, T54, R155, A156, V170) were observed. Furthermore, two resistant mutations (Q41, F43) were detected for the first time in vivo. In three patients, mutations selected after initial treatment with boceprevir were re-selected during subsequent boceprevir exposure. However, mutational patterns after the first and second exposure to boceprevir were different in five patients. In one patient, a viral variant (V55A) known to reduce susceptibility to boceprevir was the predominant variant observed at baseline and throughout treatment and was associated with a shallow viral decline. Different resistance mutations were selected during treatment with boceprevir ± peginterferon. Sequential short-term dosing of boceprevir was not associated with accumulation of resistant variants but pre-existing variants may impair virologic response.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Vermehren J, Susser S, Lange CM, Forestier N, Karey U, Hughes E, Ralston R, Tong X, Zeuzem S, Sarrazin C

Institution

Medizinische Klinik 1, Klinikum der J W Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Source

Journal of viral hepatitis 19:2 2012 Feb pg 120-7

MeSH

Amino Acid Substitution
Antiviral Agents
Drug Therapy, Combination
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis C
Humans
Interferon-alpha
Mutation, Missense
Polyethylene Glycols
Proline
Recombinant Proteins
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Treatment Failure
Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22239501