Effects of Long-Term Postoperative Interferon-α Therapy on Intrahepatic Recurrence after Resection of Hepatitis C Virus–Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Randomized, Controlled Trial
- Shoji Kubo, MD;
- Shuhei Nishiguchi, MD;
- Kazuhiro Hirohashi, MD;
- Hiromu Tanaka, MD;
- Taichi Shuto, MD;
- Osamu Yamazaki, MD;
- Susumu Shiomi, MD;
- Akihiro Tamori, MD;
- Hiroko Oka, MD;
- Sumito Igawa, MD;
- Tetsuo Kuroki, MD; and
- Hiroaki Kinoshita, MD
- From Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka City General Hospital, and Joto Central Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract
Background: Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Objective: To evaluate effects of interferon-α on recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus–related hepatocellular carcinoma.
Design: Randomized, controlled trial.
Setting: University hospital, medical center, and affiliated hospital in Osaka, Japan.
Patients: 30 men were randomly allocated after resection to the interferon-α group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15).
Intervention: Patients in the interferon-α group received interferon-α, 6 MIU intramuscularly daily for 2 weeks, then three times weekly for 14 weeks, and finally twice weekly for 88 weeks.
Measurements: Recurrence rates after resection.
Results: Recurrent tumors were detected in 5 patients in the interferon-α group and in 12 control patients. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the interferon-α group than in the control group (P = 0.037).
Conclusion: Postoperative interferon-α therapy appears to decrease recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus–related hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Hepatitis C-like viruses
- Hepatitis C
- Carcinoma, hepatocellular
- Interferon-α
- Neoplasm recurrence, local
Article and Author Information
-
†Deceased.
-
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Daniel K. Podolsky, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, for critical reading of the manuscript and Hiroyuki Yasuda for statistical analysis.
-
Grant Support: In part by grants from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture (09671330) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.
-
Requests for Single Reprints: Shuhei Nishiguchi, MD, Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan; e-mail, snishiguch{at}med.osaka-cu.ac.jp.
-
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Kubo, Hirohashi, Tanaka, Shuto, and Kinoshita: Second Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
-
Drs. Nishiguchi, Shiomi, and Tamori: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545 8585, Japan.
-
Dr. Yamazaki: Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Osaka City General Hospital, 2-13-22 Miyakojimahondori, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka 534-0021, Japan.
-
Dr. Oka: Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City General Hospital, 2-13-22 Miyakojimahondori, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka 534-0021, Japan.
-
Dr. Igawa: Joto Central Hospital, 5-13-47 Shiginonishi, Joto-ku, Osaka 536-0014, Japan.
-
Author Contributions: Conception and design: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi, T. Kuroki, H. Kinoshita.
-
Analysis and interpretation of the data: S. Kubo, T. Kuroki, S. Nishiguchi.
-
Drafting of the article: S. Kubo.
-
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: S. Nishiguchi.
-
Final approval of the article: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi, K. Hirohashi, H. Tanaka, T. Shuto, O. Yamazaki, S. Shiomi, A. Tamori, H. Oka, S. Igawa, H. Kinoshita.
-
Provision of study materials or patients: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi, K. Hirohashi, H. Tanaka, T. Shuto, O. Yamazaki, S. Shiomi, A. Tamori, H. Oka, S. Igawa, T. Kuroki, H. Kinoshita.
-
Statistical expertise: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi.
-
Obtaining of funding: S. Kubo, H. Kinoshita.
-
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi, K. Hirohashi, H. Tanaka, T. Shuto, O. Yamazaki, S. Shiomi, A. Tamori, H. Oka, S. Igawa, T. Kuroki.
-
Collection and assembly of data: S. Kubo, S. Nishiguchi, K. Hirohashi, H. Tanaka, O. Yamazaki, S. Shiomi, A. Tamori, H. Oka, S. Igawa.
- Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians
Most Read
