ISSN: 1837-9664Journal of Cancer
Global reach, higher impact
J Cancer 2020; 11(12):3559-3566. doi:10.7150/jca.40154 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Optimal timing of antiviral therapy for patients with malignant tumor who presented with hepatitis B reactivation during chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy
1. Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, Meizhou, China
2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, Meizhou, China
3. Department of Hepatopathy, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, Meizhou, China
4. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
5. Department of Biotherapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
*These authors contributed equally to this work
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation may occur with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended for all patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive during chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy. However, the optimal timing of antiviral therapy before chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy is not fully elucidated.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 446 HBsAg-positive patients who underwent chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy. The cumulative rates of HBV reactivation were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test. The risk factors of HBV reactivation were examined via univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: The cumulative HBV reactivation rates of patients who received antiviral therapy before chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy were significantly lower than those of patients who received antiviral therapy after chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy (P = 0.002). The incidence of HBV reactivation was significantly different between patients who received antiviral therapy at least 1 day before chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy and those who did not (P = 0.006). No significant difference was observed in the HBV reactivation rates between patients who received antiviral therapy at least 2 days (P = 0.310), 3 days (P = 0.494), and 1 week (P = 0.655) before chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy and those who did not. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed that women had a lower risk of developing HBV reactivation than men (P = 0.025). The use of the prophylactic antiviral agent entecavir, compared with lamivudine and telbivudine, was associated with the decreased risk of developing HBV reactivation (P = 0.002).
Conclusion: HBsAg-positive patients who received preemptive antiviral therapy after chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy had a high risk of developing HBV reactivation. However, it is not necessary for patients to receive antiviral therapy at least 1 week before chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy.
Keywords: antiviral prophylaxis, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, hepatitis B virus reactivation, risk factors, chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive therapy
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