title: Effects of long-term postoperative interferon-alpha therapy on intrahepatic recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. A randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of interferon-alpha on recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, medical center, and affiliated hospital in Osaka, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 men were randomly allocated after resection to the interferon-alpha group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in the interferon-alpha group received interferon-alpha, 6 MIU intramuscularly daily for 2 weeks, then three times weekly for 14 weeks, and finally twice weekly for 88 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recurrence rates after resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recurrent tumors were detected in 5 patients in the interferon-alpha group and in 12 control patients. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the interferon-alpha group than in the control group (P = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative interferon-alpha therapy appears to decrease recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirohashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shuto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Igawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015993:Life Tables; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha