Safety and efficacy of adjuvant pegylated interferon therapy for metastatic tumor antigen 1‐positive hepatocellular carcinoma. Issue 12 (5th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Danbi; Chung, Young‐Hwa; Kim, Jeong A.; Park, Won Hyung; Jin, Young‐Joo; Shim, Ju Hyun; Ryu, Soo Hyung; Jang, Myoung Kuk; Yu,, Eunsil; Lee, Young Joo
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 119:Issue 12(2013)
• Page Start: 2239
• Page End: 2246
• Publication Date: 2013-04-05
• Subjects: Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28082
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cncr28082-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p>Metastatic tumor antigen 1 (MTA1) overexpression is closely associated with postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been suggested that pegylated interferon (Peg‐IFN) can prevent the occurrence of HCC in patients who have chronic viral hepatitis. In this study, the authors examined whether postoperative adjuvant Peg‐IFN therapy can reduce the recurrence of MTA1‐positive HCC after curative surgical resection.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28082-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p>In this case‐control study, 93 patients with MTA1‐positive HCC who underwent curative surgical resection were prospectively enrolled. The median patient age was 53 years (range, 27‐78); there were 65 men and 28 women; the etiology was hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 77 patients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 6 patients, and non‐HBV/non‐HCV in 10 patients; 31 patients received Peg‐IFN (Peg‐INTRON<sup>®</sup>) subcutaneously at a dose of 50 μg per week for 12 months (the Peg‐IFN group); and the remaining 62 patients were followed only and did not receive any adjuvant therapies (control group). Patients were followed every 1 to 3 months for a median of 24 months.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28082-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p>HCC recurred postoperatively in 26 of 93 patients (28%), and 9 patients (10%) died during follow‐up. The overall cumulative recurrence rates were significantly lower in the Peg‐IFN group than in the control group (7% and 14% vs 24% and 34% at 1 year and 2 years, respectively; <italic>P</italic> < .05). In addition, the 1‐year and 2‐year cumulative survival rates were higher in the Peg‐IFN group compared with the control group (100% vs 93% and 100% vs 87%, respectively; <italic>P</italic> < .05). In multivariate analysis, the receipt of adjuvant Peg‐IFN therapy, in addition to having a lower Cancer of the Liver Italian Program score and being a woman, was an independent, favorable factor for a lower risk of postoperative recurrence.</p> </sec> <sec id="cncr28082-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> <p>The current data indicate that adjuvant Peg‐IFN therapy may reduce the recurrence of HCC in patients who have MTA1‐positive HCC after curative surgical resection. Cancer 2013;119:2239–2246. © 2013 American Cancer Society.</p> </sec> </abstract>