[Anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin is helpful to prevent recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma with coexisting active hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of postoperative anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexisting with active hepatitis B.


METHODS
From Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, 33 HCC patients with coexisting with active hepatitis B were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 17) received hepatectomy only, and Group II (n = 16) received hepatectomy and postoperative therapy using lamivudine plus thymosin alpha1. The suppression of HBV-DNA, HBeAg seroconversion rate, tumor recurrence rate and median survival in the two groups were observed and compared.


RESULTS
In Group II and Group I, the 1-year HBV-DNA suppression rate was 100.0% vs 6.0% (P < 0.01), HBeAg seroconversion rate was 62.5% vs 5.9% (P < 0.05), tumor recurrence rate was 81.3% vs 95.5% (P > 0.05), the recurrence time was 7.0 vs 5.0 months (P < 0.01) and median survival 10.0 vs 7.0 months (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively may suppress the HBV reaction, delay the recurrence and prolong the survival for patients with HCC with coexisting active hepatitis B.
Cheng
Shu-qun
SQ
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, East Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China. chengshuqun@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Meng-chao
MC
Chen
Han
H
Shen
Feng
F
Yang
Jia-he
JH
Cong
Wen-ming
WM
Zhao
Yu-xiang
YX
Wang
Pei-jun
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004279:DNA, Viral; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin