Comparable Efficacy Between Ongoing Versus Initiation of Antiviral Therapy at Treatment for HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Suppression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication with antiviral therapy (AVT) using nucleos(t)ide analogs reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and prolongs survival after curative treatment.1-5 Studies of the association between timing of AVT initiation and prognosis of patients with HCC receiving curative treatment are scarce. In the present study, we compared the therapeutic benefit of AVT, commenced before vs after curative treatment of HBV-related HCC, on long-term prognosis.