Combination PEG-IFN a-2b/ribavirin therapy following treatment of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma is capable of improving hepatic functional reserve and survival.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated HCC shows a high rate of recurrence even after curative treatment. Outcomes of pegylated interferon PEGIFN a-2b/ribavirin (RBV) therapy for HCV-associated HCC have yet to be elucidated. We investigated therapeutic response and hepatic functional reserve improvement in patients receiving PEG-IFN a-2b/RBV after curative HCC treatment.


METHODS
We investigated survival rate, metachronous recurrence and hepatic functional reserve in 54 patients with initial HCV-associated Stage I/II HCC; 29 patients were administered a preparation of PEG-IFN a-2b/RBV after HCC treatment (Secondary IFN group) and 25 were not (Non-secondary IFN group).


RESULTS
A significant difference was observed in cumulative survival rates among HCV-associated HCC patients with rates of 100% after 1 year and 90.2% after 3 years in the secondary IFN group compared to 96.0% and 61.2%, respectively, in the non-secondary IFN group. Univariate analysis identified secondary IFN treatment, alanine aminotransferase and albumin levels as factors contributing to survival. Serum albumin level decreased temporarily but subsequently increased and improved hepatic functional reserve was observed in PEG-IFN a-2b/RBV therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
PEG-IFN a-2b/RBV therapy after HCC treatment can improve hepatic functional reserve and may therefore represent a therapeutic option in the event of recurrence. PEG-IFN a-2b/ RBV therapy following HCC treatment shows promise for improving the prognosis of HCC.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Nigata Second Hospital, Niigata, Japan. toruishi@ngt.saiseikai.or.jp
Toru
T
Ishikawa
Kazuo
K
Higuchi
Tomoyuki
T
Kubota
Kei-ichi
K
Seki
Terasu
T
Honma
Toshiaki
T
Yoshida
Tomoteru
T
Kamimura
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b