Interferon for preventing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma associated with the hepatitis B and C viruses

The possibility that interferon-alpha might be effective for the prevention or treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is suggested by its efficacy against the associated hepatitis B and C viruses, by its efficacy in the treatment of some other human tumours, and by evidence that interferon-alpha may inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and their production of hepatitis B surface antigen. Few studies support the use of interferon-alpha for preventing hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast, benefit from the use of interferon-alpha to prevent hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma is suggested in a large number of studies, but most of these studies have weaknesses of study design that preclude definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, most of these studies suggest that the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is lower in hepatitis C virus-infected patients receiving interferon-alpha, particularly in patients with a sustained response to interferon-alpha, compared to nonresponders. As a treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, interferon-alpha was only evaluated in a small number of patients with advanced disease; 'partial responses' and prolongation of survival times in a few of these studies suggest that additional studies should be done in patients with less advanced disease.