The effect of anticancer therapy on anti-hepatitis B antibody titres in patients with haematological malignancies and solid tumours

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of immunosuppressive anticancer therapy on titre levels of anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative and anti-HBs positive patients with haematological malignancies or solid tumours.MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients with haematological malignancies or solid tumours. Pretreatment HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive patients were included in the analysis. Anti-hepatitis B core antibody status was used to evaluate vaccinated patients and those with resolved HBV infections.ResultsThe medical records of 237 patients were reviewed retrospectively. The median anti-HBs titre decreased significantly after anticancer therapy compared with the pretreatment median anti-HBs titre in all patients (71 mIU/ml versus 57 mIU/ml). Anti-HBs titre decreased significantly in patients with haematological malignancies (70 mIU/m versus 37 mIU/ml) and in patients administered rituximab-based chemotherapy (67 mIU/ml versus 33 mIU/ml) following chemotherapy, whereas there was no significant change in patients with solid tumours. After chemotherapy, patients with low pretreatment anti-HBs titres (<100 mIU/ml) were more likely to become seronegative (<10 mIU/ml).ConclusionHigh levels of anti-HBs may have a protective effect against the reactivation of HBV especially in patients with haematological malignancies who received immunosuppressive anticancer therapy.

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Pharmacotherapy-Induced Hepatitis B Reactivation Among Patients With Prior Functional Cure: A Systematic Review

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Chemotherapy-Induced Serological Impact in Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Titers in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

“…The present study showed that the patients' anti-HBs titers were decreased after therapy compared with before therapy (a median of 29.75 vs. 6.45 IU/L, respectively). Yılmaz et al 14 found that the posttreatment anti-HBs seronegativity rate was higher in the patients who had pretreatment antibody titers lower than 100 IU/L. (p < 0,001).…”