Huang JF, Yu ML, Huang CF, Chiu CF, Dai CY, Huang CI, Yeh ML, Yang JF, Hsieh MY, Hou NJ, Lin ZY, Chen SC, Wang LY, Chuang WL. The efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis c patients with hepatocellular carcinoma post curative therapies - a multicenter prospective trial.
J Hepatol 2011;
54:219-26. [PMID:
21056500 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhep.2010.07.011]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2010] [Revised: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Evidence on the efficacy of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFN/RBV) combination therapy in these patients, compared to cirrhotic patients.
METHODS
This prospective, multicenter, case-control study recruited 82 consecutive CHC patients with HCC after curative management and 87 sex/age-matched cirrhotic patients. All patients received pegIFN-alpha-2a and weight-based RBV according to current treatment recommendations. The primary outcome measurement was sustained virological response (SVR, seronegative of hepatitis C virus RNA throughout the 6-month post-treatment follow-up period).
RESULTS
The SVR rate was significantly lower in the HCC group compared to the cirrhosis group (48.8% vs 64.4%, p=0.04). However, the significantly lower rate of SVR in the HCC group was observed among genotype-1 patients (33.3% vs 60.7%, p=0.005) but not among genotype-2/3 patients (70.6% vs 71.0%, p=0.88). In patients who achieved 80/80/80 adherence, there was no significant difference of SVR rate between groups (50.7% vs 64.2%, p=0.12) Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that rapid virological response (viral clearance during the first 4 weeks of treatment, odds ratio=22.1, p<0.001) and adherence (odds ratio=3.1, p=0.05) were predictive factors associated with SVR, whilst previous occurrence of HCC was not associated with SVR (Odds ratio=0.4, p=0.09). The incidence of severe adverse events did not differ between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The study proved the feasibility of pegIFN/RBV therapy with current treatment guidelines in CHC patients after successful eradication of HCC, with careful monitoring.
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