Administration of interferon for two or more years decreases early stage hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rate after radical ablation: A retrospective study of hepatitis C virus-related liver cancer.
BACKGROUND
Since hepatocellular carcinoma often recurs after surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation, we analyzed a retrospective large cohort of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).


METHODS
Among 379 patients with HCV RNA-positive small hepatocellular carcinoma (multiple up to three nodules, 3 cm or less each), 77 received interferon-alpha injection and 302 received no anti-viral therapy.


RESULTS
Four patients (5.2%) attained sustained virological response (SVR). Cumulative recurrence rates in the treated and untreated groups were 41.1% and 57.5% at the end of the third year, and 63.0% and 74.5% at the fifth year, respectively (P = 0.013). Fifth year-recurrence rates in treated group were 25.0% in SVR, 85.7% in biochemical response, 71.1% in no response, and 46.7% in patients with continuous administration. When four patients with SVR were excluded, recurrence rates in short-term interferon therapy (<2 years) and long-term therapy (≥2 years) were 46.2% and 39.3% at the third year, and 66.2% and 57.4% at the fifth year, respectively (P = 0.012). Multivariate analysis showed that long-term interferon therapy significantly decreased recurrence rate (hazard ratio for interferon <2 years 0.80, interferon ≥2 years 0.60, P = 0.044), after adjustment with background covariates including indocyanine green retention rate (P = 0.018), alpha-fetoprotein (P = 0.051), and tumor treatment (P = 0.066).


CONCLUSIONS
A long-term administration of low-dose interferon significantly decreased recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation.
Ikeda
Kenji
K
Department of Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, and Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Tokyo, Japan.
Kobayashi
Masahiro
M
Seko
Yuya
Y
Imai
Norihiro
N
Hirakawa
Miharu
M
Kawamura
Yusuke
Y
Sezaki
Hitomi
H
Hosaka
Tetsuya
T
Akuta
Norio
N
Saitoh
Satoshi
S
Suzuki
Fumitaka
F
Suzuki
Yoshiyuki
Y
Arase
Yasuji
Y
Kumada
Hiromitsu
H