Premium
Similar effects of recombinant interferon‐α‐2b and natural interferon‐α when combined with intra‐arterial 5‐fluorouracil for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Uka Kiminori,
Aikata Hiroshi,
Takaki Shintaro,
Miki Daiki,
Jeong Soo Cheol,
Hiramatsu Akira,
Kodama Hideaki,
Shirakawa Hiroo,
Kawakami Yoshiiku,
Takahashi Shoichi,
Toyota Naoyuki,
Ito Katsuhide,
Chayama Kazuaki
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01554.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , alpha interferon , gastroenterology , adverse effect , recombinant dna , interferon alfa , fluorouracil , portal vein thrombosis , combination therapy , thrombosis , interferon , surgery , immunology , chemotherapy , biology , biochemistry , gene
Aim: Intra‐arterial 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) plus interferon (IFN) combination therapy is effective against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumour thrombosis. In this study, we compared the efficiency and safety of recombinant IFN‐α‐2b with natural IFN‐α as components of the combination therapy. Methods: Consecutive HCC patients ( n =31) with portal vein tumour thrombosis were enrolled in this prospective study. They received combination therapy of 5‐FU and either recombinant IFN‐α‐2b (R group, n =15) or natural IFN‐α (N group, n =16). We compared the two groups for the early response rate, adverse reactions, time to progression (TTP) and survival rates. In addition, we assessed the cost‐effectiveness of each protocol. Results: The early response rate (R: 26.7%, N: 31.2%), median TTP (R: 5.8 months, N: 5.6 months) and median survival time (R: 7.5 months, N: 6.5 months) were not significantly different between the R and N groups. There were no differences in adverse reactions between the two groups. The estimated cost‐effectiveness ratio of recombinant IFN‐α‐2b was better than natural IFN‐α. Conclusions: In our protocol of combination therapy, there were no significant differences between recombinant IFN‐α‐2b and natural IFN‐α with regard to early response to therapy, adverse effects, TTP and survival rates. 5‐FU could be combined with either recombinant IFN‐α‐2b or natural IFN‐α, although the cost‐effectiveness of the former warrants its use clinically.