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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Hepatitis B | Research article

Correlation between low-level viremia and hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and recurrence: a retrospective study

Authors: Furong Sun, Zhifei Liu, Bingyuan Wang

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Low-level viremia generally refers to detectable HBV DNA levels lower than 2000 IU/mL. Studies show that low-level viremia is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of low-level viremia patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and identify prognostic factors after curative hepatectomy.

Methods

Data from chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving curative hepatectomy for the first time in the first hospital of China Medical University were studied. Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative HBV DNA levels: group 1 (low-level viremia group, HBV DNA < 2000 IU/mL) and group 2 (HBV DNA ≥ 2000 IU/mL).

Results

Of the 212 patients, 104 patients were in group 1 and 108 patients were in group 2. There was a lower proportion of patients with HBsAg levels > 250 IU/mL (the upper limit of detection in our laboratory) in group 1 than in group 2 (71.2% vs. 86.1%, P < 0.01). The percentage of patients with a tumor diameter < 5 cm was 67.3% in group 1 and 37.0% in group 2 (P < 0.000). The percentage of tumor recurrence was 40.4% (42) in group 1 and 54.6% (59) in group 2 (P < 0.05). Median recurrence-free survival was 30.1 months in group 1 and 17.6 months in group 2 (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that a tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.819, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.193–2.775, P = 0.005), intrahepatic metastasis (HR = 1.916, 95% CI 1.077–3.407, P = 0.027), and an HBV DNA level ≥ 100 IU/mL (the lower limit of detection in our laboratory, HR = 2.943, 95% CI 1.916–4.520, P < 0.000) were independent prognostic factors associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.

Conclusion

Preoperative low-level viremia was related with a long tumor recurrence interval and complete virologic response after curative hepatectomy was associated with a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.

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Title: Correlation between low-level viremia and hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and recurrence: a retrospective study
Authors: Furong Sun
Zhifei Liu
Bingyuan Wang
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Hepatitis B
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08483-3

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