title: Prospective randomized controlled study of interferon-alpha in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after medical ablation therapy for primary tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after ablation therapy for primary tumors is common.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the effectiveness of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in preventing HCC recurrence, 30 eligible patients were randomized into three groups: 11 patients treated with three mega units (MU) of IFN-alpha three times weekly for 24 months (IFN-alpha-continuous group), 9 patients treated with 3 MU of IFN-alpha daily for 10 days every month for 6 months followed by 3 MU of IFN-alpha daily for 10 days every 3 months for a further 18 months (IFN-alpha-intermittent group), and 10 patients who received no IFN-alpha therapy (control group). The three groups were comparable in terms of etiology, demographics, and laboratory data at entry and HCC characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a median follow-up of 27 months (range 4-53 months), 9 patients (90%) in the control group and 9 patients (45%) in 2 treatment groups (6 patients in the IFN-alpha-continuous group and 3 patients in the IFN-alpha-intermittent group) developed an HCC recurrence (P = 0.021). Cumulative HCC recurrence rates in the IFN-alpha-intermittent, IFN-alpha-continuous, and control groups were 22.2%, 27.3%, and 40% at the end of 1 year and 33.3%, 54.6%, and 90% at the end of 4 years (P = 0.0375), respectively (control vs. IFN-alpha-intermittent group, P = 0.0123; vs. IFN-alpha-continuous group, P = 0.0822). If both IFN-alpha groups were combined, the cumulative HCC recurrence rate of the patients treated with IFN-alpha and the control group was 25% and 40% at the end of 1 year and 47% and 90% at the end of 4 years, respectively (P = 0.0135).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggested that IFN-alpha therapy may reduce HCC recurrence after medical ablation therapy for primary tumors.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospitaland Chang Gung University, 199 Tung-Hwa North Road, Taipei, Taiwan. lsmpaicyto@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Shi-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chao-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Dar-In
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: I-Shyan
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Deng-Yn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yun-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha