title: Antiviral therapy improves post-hepatectomy survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective-retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of antiviral therapy on the post-hepatectomy long-term survival in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of antiviral therapy on post-hepatectomy survival and recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective-retrospective study of a total of 404 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HBV-related HCC in a tertiary academic hospital. Data on patient and tumour characteristics, tumour recurrence, treatment for recurrence and survival were compared between antiviral and no antiviral groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient's and tumour characteristics were comparable between the two groups, except a higher proportion of patients with cirrhosis in the antiviral group. With a mean follow-up time of 52.4 months, antiviral group had a better 5-year overall survival (66.7% vs. 56.0%, P = 0.001) while there was no significant difference in the 5-year disease-free survival (44.7% vs. 38.1%, P = 0.166). Use of antiviral therapy was associated with better liver function reserve at the time of recurrence and a greater proportion of patients could receive curative treatment for recurrence (38.5% vs. 24.3%, P = 0.041). There was no significant different in the hazard ratios of patients who started antiviral therapy before or after operation (P = 0.054).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of antiviral therapy improves the long-term post-hepatectomy survival in patients with HBV-related HCC. With a better liver function reserve at the time of recurrence, a greater proportion of patients in antiviral group could receive curative treatment for recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepato-biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C C N
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: G L H
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: V W S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: P C T
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cheung
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: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents