Interferon therapy after tumor ablation improves prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis C virus

Background: Even after the surgical or medical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, tumors frequently develop at new foci, leading to a poor prognosis. Objective: To assess whether combined tumor ablation and interferon therapy can reduce the occurrence of new foci of hepatocellular carcinoma, thereby improving survival rate. Design: Randomized, controlled study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: 74 patients with compensated cirrhosis, three or fewer nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma, and low hepatitis C virus RNA loads (less than or equal to2 x 10(6) copies/mL). Intervention: After all patients had complete ablation of lesions by percutaneous ethanol injection therapy, 49 patients were assigned to receive 6 million U of interferon three times weekly for 48 weeks and 25 did not receive treatment. Measurements: Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and determination of blood biochemical measures. Results: Of the 49 patients treated with interferon, 21 showed a sustained biochemical response and 14 showed a sustained virologic response. The rate of first recurrence of new foci of hepatocellular carcinoma was similar in patients treated with interferon and untreated patients; however, the rates of second or third recurrence seemed to be lower in the interferon group than in the untreated group. Patients treated with interferon had a survival rate of 68% at 5 years and 53% at 7 years; untreated patients had a survival rate of 48% at 5 years and 23% at 7 years. Conclusion: After tumor ablation by ethanol injection, interferon therapy may enhance patient survival in selected patients with chronic hepatitis C.