Early and late recurrence after hepatectomy in patients with low-level HBV-DNA hepatocellular carcinoma under antiviral therapy

Abstract

Abstract Background Antiviral therapy has been shown to benefit long-term survival after curative hepatectomy in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with high levels of HBV-DNA, but the impact of antiviral therapy on patient recurrence in patients with low levels of HBV-DNA remains less clear. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study analyzing 296 patients with HBV-associated HCC with HBV-DNA levels 5 cm, tumor multiplicity was associated with early recurrence, and antiviral treatment was an independent protective factor for early recurrence of HCC (HR, 0.431; 95% CI 0.274–0.679; p 40 IU/ml, ALP levels > 130 IU/L, and the presence of satellite nodules, and subgroup analysis showed that compared to HBeAg-positive patients, antiviral therapy could significantly prolonged the recurrence-free survival of HBeAg-negative patients. Conclusion Antiviral therapy reduces early tumor recurrence after hepatectomy in patients with low levels of HBV-DNA.

Keywords

• Antiviral therapy
• Recurrence
• Hepatitis B virus
• Low-level viremia
• Hepatocellular carcinoma