Gut Liver.  2011 Mar;5(1):82-87.

Clinical and Virological Responses to Clevudine Therapy of Hepatocelluar Carcinoma Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

Affiliations
  • 1Center for Liver Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. jwpark@ncc.re.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The clinical effects of clevudine have been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infections (CHIs). In this investigation, we assessed whether clevudine induced biochemical and virological improvements in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with CHI.
METHODS
Fifty-four patients who received 30 mg clevudine for more than 24 weeks between 2007 and 2009 at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Korea, were enrolled. Among these cases, 39 had HCC (CHI/HCC group) and 15 did not (CHI group).
RESULTS
In relation to the CHI group, the CHI/HCC group was older (55.5 years.) and had a higher liver cirrhosis rate (79.5%) (p<0.05). Median changes in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels from baseline at weeks 12, 24, and 36 of treatment in the CHI/HCC group were not significantly different from those of the CHI group (-2.3, -2.7, -2.6 vs -1.7, -1.8, -2.4, respectively). HBV DNA <2,000 copies/mL was achieved in 76.5% of the CHI/HCC group at 24 weeks. Rates of ALT normalization in the CHI/HCC and CHI groups were 62.5% and 66.7%, respectively (p>0.05). Liver function was preserved with clevudine treatment in patients displaying response or stable disease under anti-cancer therapy. Four patients (7.4%) developed viral resistance during clevudine therapy. Among these, one was naive, and three had previously received antiviral therapy. One CHI/HCC patient (1.9%) discontinued clevudine treatment due to symptomatic myopathy.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings clearly indicate that clevudine has comparable antiviral and biochemical effects in patients with CHI and with CHI/HCC and preserves the underlying liver function in HBV-related HCC patients.

Keyword

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Clevudine

MeSH Terms

Arabinofuranosyluracil
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
DNA
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Korea
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis
Viruses
Arabinofuranosyluracil
DNA
Full Text Links
  • GNL
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr