Antiviral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 for hepatocellular carcinoma coexisting with chronic hepatitis B infection

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To observe the recurrence and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexisting with chronic hepatitis B infection with active virus replication after receiving antivirus therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively. METHODOLOGY: From Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, 33 patients with HCC coexisting chronic hepatitis B infection with active virus replication were prospectively divided into two groups: control group (n= 17) received hepatectomy only, treatment group (n= 16) received hepatectomy and lamivudine plus thymosin alpha1 therapy postoperatively. The suppression of HBV-DNA, HBeAg seroconverted rate, recurrent tumor rate and the median survival for the two groups were observed and calculated. RESULTS: For the treatment group and control group, the one-year HBV-DNA suppression rate was 100% vs. 6% (p=0.0016); HBeAg seroconverted rate was 62.5% vs. 5.9% (p=0.0157); The median recurrent time was 7.0 vs. 5.0 months (p=0.0052); The median survival period was 10.0 vs. 7.0 months (p=0.10053), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antivirus therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively may suppress the HBV reaction, delay the recurrent time and prolong the survival for HCC patients coexisting with chronic HBV infection with active virus replication.