Effects of preceding interferon therapy on outcome after surgery for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Interferon (IFN) can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA from serum and hepatic tissue, and suppress the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite such effectiveness, HCC develops even in HCV patients successfully treated with IFN therapy.


METHODS
HCV-related HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC were divided into three groups according to preceding IFN for HCV infection therapy and the therapeutic effect: responders group (n = 23), non-responders group (n = 46), and no-IFN group (n = 215). Postoperative outcome was retrospectively examined in the three groups.


RESULTS
AST and ALT were significantly lower in responders group than non-responders group (P < 0.001, P = 0.001) and no-IFN group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). Platelet count was significantly higher in responders group than other groups (P = 0.008, P = 0.001). The percentage of cirrhotic patients in responders group was significantly lower than other groups (P = 0.017, P = 0.014). Multivariate analysis identified preceding IFN therapy to be associated with disease-free survival at marginal significance (P = 0.086), and as a significant independent factor for overall survival (P = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Preceding IFN therapy for HCV infection improves postoperative outcome in HCV-related HCC patients treated successfully with IFN.
Tomimaru
Yoshito
Y
Department of Surgery and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Nagano
Hiroaki
H
Eguchi
Hidetoshi
H
Kobayashi
Shogo
S
Marubashi
Shigeru
S
Wada
Hiroshi
H
Tanemura
Masahiro
M
Umeshita
Koji
K
Hiramatsu
Naoki
N
Takehara
Tetsuo
T
Doki
Yuichiro
Y
Mori
Masaki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
D007372:Interferons; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase