Antiviral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 for hepatocellular carcinoma coexisting with chronic hepatitis B infection.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the recurrence and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexisting with chronic hepatitis B infection with active virus replication after receiving antivirus therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively.


METHODS
From Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, 33 patients with HCC coexisting chronic hepatitis B infection with active virus replication were prospectively divided into two groups: control group (n= 17) received hepatectomy only, treatment group (n= 16) received hepatectomy and lamivudine plus thymosin alpha1 therapy postoperatively. The suppression of HBV-DNA, HBeAg seroconverted rate, recurrent tumor rate and the median survival for the two groups were observed and calculated.


RESULTS
For the treatment group and control group, the one-year HBV-DNA suppression rate was 100% vs. 6% (p=0.0016); HBeAg seroconverted rate was 62.5% vs. 5.9% (p=0.0157); The median recurrent time was 7.0 vs. 5.0 months (p=0.0052); The median survival period was 10.0 vs. 7.0 months (p=0.10053), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Antivirus therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively may suppress the HBV reaction, delay the recurrent time and prolong the survival for HCC patients coexisting with chronic HBV infection with active virus replication.
Shuqun
Cheng
C
Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China. chengshuqun@yahoo.com.cn
Mengchao
Wu
W
Han
Chen
C
Feng
Shen
S
Jiahe
Yang
Y
Wenming
Cong
C
Zhengfeng
Yin
Y
Yuxiang
Zhao
Z
Peijun
Wang
W
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077596:Thymalfasin; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D013947:Thymosin; D000077596:Thymalfasin