Table 4

Studies of treatment with interferon-α for prevention of HCC in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

Author [reference]
Country
Type of study
Interferon regimen (duration in weeks)
Follow-up (range) in months
Sample size
Rate of HCC (n/n)
Significance

Oon, 1992 [183]
Singapore
NRCT, P
10 MU daily, 10 days/month (12)
12 (12–60)
T 600
C 180
T: 0/600 (0%)
C: 10/180 (5.6%)
Significant
Mazzella, 1996 [184]
Italy
NRCT, P
10 MU tiw (26)
49 (12–119)
T 34
C 28
T: 2/34 (5.9%)
C: 4/28 (14.3%)
Not significant
Fattovich, 1997 [185]
Europe
NRCT, P
≥ 300 MU (12–52)
84 (80–92)
T 40
C 50
T: 3/40 (7.5%)
C: 4/50 (8.0%)
Not significant
Ikeda, 1998 [186]
Japan
NRCT, P
12 MU/wk (26)
84 (6–168)
T 94
C 219
T: 10/94 (10.6%)
C: 51/219 (23.3%)
Significant
IHCSG, 1998 [187]
Argentina, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia
NRCT, P
9–30 MU/wk for 3–30 months
(36–250)
T 49
C 97
T: 8/49 (16.3%) C: 18/97 (18.6%)
Not significant
Benvegnù, 1998 [188]
Italy
NRCT, P
6–10 MU (20–26)
72
T 10
C 18
T: 0/10 (0%)
C: 4/18 (22.2%)
Not significant
Di Marco, 1999 [189]
Italy
NRCT, P
655 MU
93 (6–180)
T 26
C 60
T: 2/26 (7.7%)
C: 6/60 (10%)
NR

NRCT: non-randomized controlled trial

P: prospective

T: treated

C: controls

MU: million units

NR: not reported

Michielsen et al. World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2005 3:27   doi:10.1186/1477-7819-3-27