Effects of long-term postoperative interferon-alpha therapy on intrahepatic recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. A randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Interferon therapy decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of interferon-alpha on recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: University hospital, medical center, and affiliated hospital in Osaka, Japan. PATIENTS: 30 men were randomly allocated after resection to the interferon-alpha group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). INTERVENTION: Patients in the interferon-alpha group received interferon-alpha, 6 MIU intramuscularly daily for 2 weeks, then three times weekly for 14 weeks, and finally twice weekly for 88 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Recurrence rates after resection. RESULTS: Recurrent tumors were detected in 5 patients in the interferon-alpha group and in 12 control patients. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the interferon-alpha group than in the control group (P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Postoperative interferon-alpha therapy appears to decrease recurrence after resection of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.