Effects of preceding interferon therapy on outcome after surgery for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Journal of Surgical Oncology
Published Online: 29 Jun 2010
Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Yoshito Tomimaru, MD, Hiroaki Nagano, MD, PhD *, Hidetoshi Eguchi, MD, PhD, Shogo Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Shigeru Marubashi, MD, PhD, Hiroshi Wada, MD, PhD, Masahiro Tanemura, MD, PhD, Koji Umeshita, MD, PhD, Naoki Hiramatsu, MD, PhD, Tetsuo Takehara, MD, PhD, Yuichiro Doki, MD, PhD, Masaki Mori, MD, PhD 

1. Department of Surgery and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
2. Department of Health Sciences and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
email: Hiroaki Nagano (hnagano@gesurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp)

*Correspondence to Hiroaki Nagano, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka E-2, Suita, 565-0871 Osaka, Japan. Fax: 81-6-6879-3259.

Keywords
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) • interferon (IFN) • hepatitis C virus (HCV) • hepatic resection

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Interferon (IFN) can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA from serum and hepatic tissue, and suppress the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite such effectiveness, HCC develops even in HCV patients successfully treated with IFN therapy.

Methods
HCV-related HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for HCC were divided into three groups according to preceding IFN for HCV infection therapy and the therapeutic effect: responders group (n = 23), non-responders group (n = 46), and no-IFN group (n = 215). Postoperative outcome was retrospectively examined in the three groups.

Results
AST and ALT were significantly lower in responders group than non-responders group (P < 0.001, P = 0.001) and no-IFN group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). Platelet count was significantly higher in responders group than other groups (P = 0.008, P = 0.001). The percentage of cirrhotic patients in responders group was significantly lower than other groups (P = 0.017, P = 0.014). Multivariate analysis identified preceding IFN therapy to be associated with disease-free survival at marginal significance (P = 0.086), and as a significant independent factor for overall survival (P = 0.042).

Conclusions
Preceding IFN therapy for HCV infection improves postoperative outcome in HCV-related HCC patients treated successfully with IFN. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Received: 27 February 2010; Accepted: 26 April 2010
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1002/jso.21633 About DOI

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123563650/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0