The comparison of different antiviral therapies on the prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatments: A network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different nucleos(t)ide analogues in the prognosis of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after curative treatment by network meta-analysis.

METHODS

Literature retrieval was conducted in globally recognized databases, namely, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, and Science Citation Index Expanded, to address relative studies investigating nucleot(s)ide analogues for HBV-related HCC patients after curative resection. Relative parametric data, including 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate and 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rate were quantitatively pooled and estimated. The inconsistency factor, the cumulative ranking curve, and the publication bias were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fourteen observational studies of 2481 adults performed between 2000 and 2019 were eligible. In terms of overall survival, ADV (Adefovir dipivoxil) (Odds ratio (OR): 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-4.73), Lamivudine (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.78-5.58), and Entecavir (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.59-2.88) were found to be more beneficial than control group while ADV has the highest probability of having the most efficacious treatment (SCURA values 66.3) for 5-year overall survival. In late recurrence-free survival, ADV (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.77-4.60), Entecavir (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.36-2.55), and Lamivudine (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.06-2.82) all had better significant prognosis than patients without antiviral therapy postoperatively and patients with ADV as postoperative antiviral therapy has significantly recurrence-free survival benefit at 5-year follow-up compared to those undertaking Entecavir (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.52-7.38) and Lamivudine (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-3.01). Moreover, the application of ADV possessed the highest possibility of having the best clinical effects on 1- (surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities (SUCRA), 64.7), 3- (SUCRA, 64.7), and 5-year (SUCRA, 70.4) recurrence survival rate for HBV-related HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with postoperative nucleos(t)ide analogues antiviral therapy had better survival benefit than those without antiviral therapy for HBV-related HCC patients after curative treatment. Additionally, nucleotide analogues like ADV and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate has better impact on early and late recurrence-free survival of patients after curative treatment than those undertaking nucleoside analogues.