Evaluation of a hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan: impact on hepatocellular carcinoma development

Evaluation of: Chang MH, You SL, Chen CJ et al.; Taiwan study group: Decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B vaccinees: a 20 years follow-up study. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 101, 1348-1355 (2009). This population-based study aimed to investigate whether a universal Taiwanese program, launched in 1984, has been able to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond childhood. The Incidence of HCC in Taiwan from 1983 to 2004 was assessed through two national cancer registries where age and sex-specific incidence were compared among a vaccinated and unvaccinated birth cohort with regression models. This study further characterized the 64 vaccinated cases that developed HCC in order to discriminate specific risk factors.