Premium
Effect of antiviral therapy in patients with low HBV DNA level on transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Kim Myung Pyo,
Yang Jae Kook,
Jun Baek Gyu,
Kim Young Don,
Cheon Gab Jin,
Jung Hee Jae,
Yoo JeongJu,
Kim Sang Gyune,
Kim Young Seok,
Jeong Soung Won,
Jang Jae Young,
Kim Hong Soo,
Lee Sae Hwan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/jvh.13508
Subject(s) - viremia , hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , antiviral therapy , gastroenterology , hazard ratio , proportional hazards model , stage (stratigraphy) , oncology , hepatitis b virus , liver cancer , hepatitis b , combination therapy , immunology , virus , chronic hepatitis , confidence interval , biology , paleontology
Antiviral therapy improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effect of antiviral therapy in patients with low‐level viremia HBV‐HCC receiving non‐curative therapy remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the role of antiviral therapy in patients with low‐level viremia and treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This retrospective study evaluated 206 patients with HBV‐HCC who underwent TACE as an initial treatment. Of those, 135 patients received antiviral therapy (antiviral group), and 71 did not (non‐antiviral group). The definition of low‐level viremia was an HBV DNA level <2000 IU/ml. Kaplan‐Meier curves, log‐rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. The median follow‐up duration was 39 months (1–174 months). Overall survival (OS) did not differ between groups (P = .227). Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (BCLC), Child‐Pugh (CP) class and α‐fetoprotein level were independent prognostic factors for OS. Antiviral therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.503, P = .022) was a prognostic factor for 2‐year survival. On subgroup analysis, antiviral therapy improved short‐term survival in patients with BCLC stage 0 and A (P = .037) and CP class A (P = .04). In patients with low‐level viremia, antiviral therapy yielded short‐term survival benefits, particularly in patients with early‐stage HCC.