Effect of Adjuvant Interferon Therapy on Hepatitis B/C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Therapy - Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common malignant cancer in the world. Liver resection and local ablation are the most effective therapeutic approaches for most HCC patients. Recurrence after curative therapy is very common. Some studies reveal that IFNs have an effect on recurrence. While the opinion is disagreement. Objectives. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether interferon therapy could reduce the recurrence of patients of hepatitis B/C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative therapy. Material and Methods. All randomized controlled trials about interferon on recurrence of hepatitis B/C virus--related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative surgery treatment were searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library (all from 1977 to January 2014). Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of each included study and extracted data. RevMan 5.1 was used for meta-analysis. Results. Pooled data analysis revealed that the interferon group had no statistical significance on the recurrence of hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma compared to the control group (RR = 0.91, 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.00); p = 0.11). While from the subgroup analysis of adjuvant interferon can reduce the recurrence of the median tumor size below 3 cm (RR 0.50, p = 0.00002). Conclusions. Adjuvant IFN after curative treatment of hepatitis-related HCC can improve the survival of HCC patients. In addition, IFN could decrease the recurrence rate of HCC patient with median tumor size below 3 cm but not exceeding 3 cm (Adv Clin Exp Med 2015, 24, 2, 331-340).

Adjuvant pegylated interferon therapy improves the survival outcomes in patients with hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment

“…[ 12 , 13 ] IFN therapy has been confirmed to improve the survival rate of hepatitis-related HCC, but its effects on preventing recurrence seem conflicting. [ 16 – 19 ] Peg-IFN with an extended serum half-life and enhanced clinical efficacy has been adopted for the treatment of hepatitis-related HCC after curative therapy. However, studies on adjuvant Peg-IFN-based therapy for hepatitis-related HCC remain limited.…”

“…[ 14 , 15 ] Among them, interferon therapy was reported to be effective on reducing the mortality rate of hepatitis-related HCC after curative treatment, but its effect on reducing recurrence rates seems insignificant. [ 16 – 19 ]…”

Viral hepatitis status does not affect survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Presenting at a younger age, or a different tumor biology may explain why viral patients had a similar prognosis to their non-viral counterparts. A recent meta-analysis showed that adjuvant interferon therapy after curative treatment for viral-associated HCC improved survival and decreased the recurrence rate [19]. This is in contrast to patients with NBNC-HCC who receive no therapeutic agents targeting the underlying cause of liver disease.…”

A kojic acid derivative promotes intrinsic apoptotic pathway of hepatocellular carcinoma cells without incurring drug resistance

“…Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and third prevalent cause of cancer-related death worldwide (Lodato et al, 2006;Tsuchiya et al, 2015;Wong & Frenette, 2011). Risk factors for HCC include hepatitis B or C infection, chronic liver disease, perpetual alcohol consumption, cirrhosis, and inherited metabolic diseases (Streba, Vere, Rogoveanu, & Streba, 2015;Tachi et al, 2018;Xu, Zhou, Wang, & Qiao, 2014;Xu, Li, Chen, & Liu, 2015). Early diagnosis and management of HCC should be secured for good prognosis and for increasing overall survival period (Tsuchiya et al, 2015;Wong & Frenette, 2011).…”