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Kim SW, Yoon JS, Lee M, Cho Y. Toward a complete cure for chronic hepatitis B: Novel therapeutic targets for hepatitis B virus. Clin Mol Hepatol 2022; 28:17-30. [PMID: 34281294 PMCID: PMC8755466 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2021.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects approximately 250 million patients worldwide, resulting in the progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which are serious public health problems. Although universal vaccination programs exist, they are only prophylactic and not curative. In the HBV life cycle, HBV forms covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is the viral minichromosome, in the nuclei of human hepatocytes and makes it difficult to achieve a complete cure with the current nucleos(t)ide analogs and interferon therapies. Current antiviral therapies rarely eliminate cccDNA; therefore, lifelong antiviral treatment is necessary. Recent trials for antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B have been focused on establishing a functional cure, defined by either the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen, undetectable serum HBV DNA levels, and/or seroconversion to hepatitis B surface antibody. Novel therapeutic targets and molecules are in the pipeline for early clinical trials aiming to cure HBV infection. The ideal strategy for achieving a long-lasting functional or complete cure might be using combination therapies targeting different steps of the HBV life cycle and immunomodulators. This review summarizes the current knowledge about novel treatments and combination treatments for a complete HBV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Woong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun Sik Yoon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Minjong Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yuri Cho
- Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
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Zhao Q, Liu K, Zhu X, Yan L, Ding Y, Xu Y, Lou S, Zhao G, Xie Q, Gao Y, Bao S, Wang H. Anti-viral effect in chronic hepatitis B patients with normal or mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase. Antiviral Res 2020; 184:104953. [PMID: 33065138 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Normal/mildly elevated ALT (<2 × ULN) CHB patients are potentially at risk of progression to cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to assess the outcomes of anti-viral therapy for normal/mild elevation of ALT CHB patients. METHODS CHB patients (n = 432) who have had liver biopsied were determined. It was determined that the outcomes of anti-viral therapy in CHB patients with normal/mild elevation of ALT, in response to nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs) (n = 190) and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) (n = 30) treatment for up to 72 weeks. Non-anti-viral treated patients were used as control (n = 40). RESULTS There was about 50% of the CHB patients showed hepatic inflammatory necrosis ≥ G2 and/or fibrosis ≥ S2 among >30-years-old. The rate of undetectable HBV DNA in NAs and PEG-IFN groups was ~50%, ~80% or ~90% at week 24, 48 or 72, respectively. HBeAg clearance rate was lower in NAs treated than that in PEG-IFN group at week 48 (6% vs 20%, P < 0.05). ALT normalization rate was increased by 1.18-fold at week 72. HBsAg decline in HBeAg+ patients treated with NAs or PEG-IFN was 0.418 or 1.217 log IU/mL (P < 0.0001) at week 48; whereas HBsAg decline was 0.176 or 0.816 log IU/mL (P < 0.001) in HBeAg- patients. HBsAg at baseline and week 24 were strong predictors of "low HBsAg at week 48". CONCLUSION Long term anti-viral therapy inhibits HBV replication effectively in ALT<2 × ULN CHB patients. PEG-IFN therapy is recommended for HBeAg+ patients with baseline HBsAg<4.37 log IU/ml and HBeAg- patients with baseline HBsAg<2.66 log IU/ml to achieve "low HBsAg at week 48".
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Kehui Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin North Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201801, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yezhou Ding
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yumin Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shike Lou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Gangde Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Shisan Bao
- Discipline of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkin Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Wei MT, Nguyen MH. Editorial: the durability of seroconversion of hepatitis B e antigen in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with PEG-interferon alfa-2a. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 47:1556-1557. [PMID: 29878418 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M T Wei
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - M H Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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