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Hepatology International
Published in: Hepatology International 1/2024

02-01-2024 | Interferon | Orginal Article

Interferon therapy improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgery: a meta-analysis

Authors: Jian-Xing Luo, Yang Zhang, Xiao-Yu Hu, Ne Xiang

Published in: Hepatology International | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background and aim

A novel study found interferon enhanced antitumor activity of anti-PD-1-based immunotherapy and played a crucial role in improving efficacy on HCC, but the opposite results about the efficacy of interferon on HBV-related HCC were obtained from previous clinical studies and meta-analyses. Thus, this meta-analysis aimed to re-evaluate whether interferon could improve survival and reduce recurrence of patients with HBV-related HCC after curative surgery.

Methods

MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science and CNKI were searched for eligible studies from inception to November 2022 and a meta-analysis was done.

Results

10 trials with a total of 2062 subjects were screened. Interferon significantly improved 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year OS and 1-, 2- and 3-year DFS, and reduced 2-, 3- and 5-year recurrence rates of patients with HBV-related HCC after curative surgery. However, interferon did not improve 8-year OS and 5-year DFS, did not reduce 1-year recurrence rate.

Conclusions

Interferon may significantly reduce recurrence and improve DFS of patients with HBV-related HCC after curative surgery, and finally improve the OS. However, the efficacy advantage may gradually weaken as time goes on. The clinical application of interferon combined with NAs recommended in this meta-analysis is needed to be further studied.
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Metadata
Title
Interferon therapy improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgery: a meta-analysis
Authors
Jian-Xing Luo
Yang Zhang
Xiao-Yu Hu
Ne Xiang
Publication date
02-01-2024
Publisher
Springer India
Published in
Hepatology International / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 1936-0533
Electronic ISSN: 1936-0541
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-023-10618-6

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