title: Meta-analysis: the efficacy of anti-viral therapy in prevention of recurrence after curative treatment of chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of anti-viral therapy in prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence is to be defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of anti-viral therapy in prevention of tumour recurrence after curative treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic electronic search on keywords including HCC and different anti-viral therapies was performed through eight electronic databases, including Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Databases. The primary outcome was HCC recurrence after curative treatment of HBV-related HCC. The secondary outcomes were mortality related to HCC, mortality related to liver failure and the overall mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine cohort studies were included with a total number of 551 patients: 204 patients with anti-viral treatment group and 347 patients without anti-viral treatment (control group). There was significant difference in the incidence of HCC recurrence in favour of the anti-viral treatment group (55% vs. 58%; odds risk (OR)=0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.97, P=0.04). The risk of HCC was reduced by 41% in the anti-viral treatment group. There were also significant differences in favour of anti-viral treatment group in terms of liver-related mortality (0% vs. 8%; OR=0.13, 95% CI 0.02-0.69, P=0.02) and overall mortality (38% vs. 42%; OR=0.27, 95% CI 0.14-0.50, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-viral therapy has potential beneficial effects after the curative treatment of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of tumour recurrence, liver-related mortality and overall survival. Anti-viral therapy should be considered after curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: J S-W
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: G L-H
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K K-F
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tsoi
authors.forename: V W-S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S Y-S
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: C-N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K-F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P B-S
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: H L-Y
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents