Interferon-α may delay development of hepatocellular carcinoma
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12 THERAPY Interferon-a may delay development ofhepatoceDuiar caninoma Treatment with interferon-ex may delay the develop- ment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cirrhosis, suggest Dr S Nishiguchi and colleagues from the Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.! They conducted a study in which such patients, who are considered to be at increased risk of HCC, received 1M interferon-ex ('Sumiferon') 3-6MIU three times per week for 12-24 weeks (n = 45) or sympto- matic treatment only (45). All patients were HCV RNA-positive before treatment. After treatment, 16 interferon-ex recipients were HCV RNA-negative and 7 remained so at the end of follow-up. All patients in the control group remained HCV RNA-positive. Serum ALT levels decreased in both groups and the between-group difference was not significant. The mean follow-up period was 4.4 years for the interferon-ex recipients and 5.5 years for the controls. HCC developed in 2 interferon-ex recipients (both of whom did not respond to interferon-ex therapy in tenns of disappearance of HCV RNA and reductions in ALT levels), compared with 17 patients in the control group. Treatment with interferon-ex was associated with a significant reduction in the cumulative incidence of HCC. If the results of this study can be confinned, the use of interferon-ex to delay the development of HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection 'will have an important role in decreasing morbidity due to Bee', say Drs LK Schluger and H Bodenheimer Jr, from Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, US.2 1. Nishiguchi S, et al. Randomised trial of effects of interferon· alpha on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis. Lancet 346: 1051·1055,21 Oct 1995 2. Schluger LK, et al. Tackling liver cancer with interferon. Lancet 346: 1049·1050,21 Oct 1995 800314752 28 Oct 1995INPHARMA· 0156·270319511010·000121$01.00° Adlslnternatlcnal Limited 1995. All rights reserved
Transcript of Interferon-α may delay development of hepatocellular carcinoma
12 THERAPY
Interferon-a may delay development ofhepatoceDuiar caninoma
Treatment with interferon-ex may delay the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cirrhosis, suggest Dr S Nishiguchi and colleagues from the Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.!
They conducted a study in which such patients, who are considered to be at increased risk of HCC, received 1M interferon-ex ('Sumiferon') 3-6MIU three times per week for 12-24 weeks (n = 45) or symptomatic treatment only (45). All patients were HCV RNA-positive before treatment.
After treatment, 16 interferon-ex recipients were HCV RNA-negative and 7 remained so at the end of follow-up. All patients in the control group remained HCV RNA-positive. Serum ALT levels decreased in both groups and the between-group difference was not significant.
The mean follow-up period was 4.4 years for the interferon-ex recipients and 5.5 years for the controls. HCC developed in 2 interferon-ex recipients (both of whom did not respond to interferon-ex therapy in tenns of disappearance of HCV RNA and reductions in ALT levels), compared with 17 patients in the control group. Treatment with interferon-ex was associated with a significant reduction in the cumulative incidence of HCC.
If the results of this study can be confinned, the use of interferon-ex to delay the development of HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection 'will have an important role in decreasing morbidity due to Bee', say Drs LK Schluger and H Bodenheimer Jr, from Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, US.2 1. Nishiguchi S, et al. Randomised trial of effects of interferon· alpha on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic active hepatitis C with cirrhosis. Lancet
346: 1051·1055,21 Oct 1995 2. Schluger LK, et al. Tackling liver cancer with interferon. Lancet 346: 1049·1050,21 Oct 1995 800314752
28 Oct 1995INPHARMA· 0156·270319511010·000121$01.00° Adlslnternatlcnal Limited 1995. All rights reserved
