Interferon-α therapy after curative resection prevents early recurrence and improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy after curative resection on survival and recurrence in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Of 568 HBV-related HCC patients who underwent curative resection, 101 patients received postoperative IFN-α therapy (5 million units three times every week for 18 months). Clinicopathological factors were compared between patients with postoperative IFN-α therapy or not. Risk factors for survival, early, and late recurrence (2 years as cut-off) were studied.


RESULTS
The median follow-up time was 53.3 months. There was no significant difference in clinicopathological factors between the two groups. Patients with postoperative IFN-α therapy had higher overall survival rates (hazards ratio (HR): 0.612, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.422-0.889, P = 0.010). No significant difference in disease-free survival rates was detected between the two groups (HR: 0.786, 95% CI: 0.597-1.035, P = 0.086). Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative IFN-α therapy was an independent factor for overall survival (HR: 0.611, 95% CI: 0.421-0.887, P = 0.010) and significantly reduced early recurrence (HR: 0.562, 95% CI: 0.375-0.840, P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
IFN-α therapy after curative resection prevented early recurrence and improved overall survival of patients with HBV-related HCC.
Qu
Li-Shuai
LS
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jin
Fei
F
Huang
Xiao-Wu
XW
Shen
Xi-Zhong
XZ
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha