Adjuvant interferon therapy after surgical treatment for hepatitis B/C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Aim This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether interferon (IFN) therapy could improve clinical effects of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery. Methods An electronic search from January 1998 to December 2012 was conducted to identify comparative studies evaluating IFN therapy on recurrence and survival after surgical treatment of HCC. Results The estimated odds ratios (OR) for the 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of HBV-related HCC were 3.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–6.27), 2.36 (95% CI, 1.45–3.83), 1.81 (95% CI, 1.21–2.72) and 1.93 (95% CI, 1.35–2.75), respectively; and the OR for the 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year recurrence rates were 0.63 (95% CI, 0.44–0.91), 0.84 (95% CI, 0.60–1.18), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.63–1.22) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.56–1.07), respectively. The overall survival rates of HCV-related HCC were significantly higher in IFN groups than in control groups at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 0.96–4.55; OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01–2.89; OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.09–2.83; and OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.97–4.65, respectively); and the recurrence rates of IFN groups were lower than control groups at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38–0.92; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41–0.81; OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41–0.80; and OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36–0.75, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, IFN therapy in this meta-analysis shows a significant clinical effect in postoperative patients of HCC, particularly in HCV-related HCC.