Effects of Long-Term Postoperative Interferon- Therapy on Intrahepatic Recurrence after Resection of Hepatitis C Virus–Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A Randomized, Controlled Trial

15 May 2001 | Volume 134 Issue 10 | Pages 963-967

Background: Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To evaluate effects of interferon- 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- group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15).

Intervention: Patients in the interferon- group received interferon-, 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- group and in 12 control patients. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the interferon- group than in the control group (P = 0.037).

Conclusion: Postoperative interferon- therapy appears to decrease recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus–related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Author and Article Information

From Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka City General Hospital, and Joto Central Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

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.