Risk of HBV reactivation during therapies for HCC: A systematic review

Background and aims: Treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has evolved rapidly, but the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation to new therapies is unclear. The authors systematically reviewed data on HBV reactivation in patients receiving HCC therapy in relation to use of HBV antiviral prophylaxis.
Approach and results: A literature search was performed to identify all published studies including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients with HCC providing data on HBV reactivation. 41 studies with 10,223 patients, all from Asia, were included. The pooled HBV reactivation rate was 5% in patients receiving no specific HCC therapy and was higher in patients undergoing surgical resection (16%), transarterial chemoembolization (19%), or radiotherapy (14%) and intermediate in patients treated with local ablation therapy (7%) or systemic agents (7%). HBV reactivation rates were higher in those without compared to those with HBV prophylaxis (ablation, 9% vs. 0%; resection, 20% vs. 3%; chemoembolization, 23% vs. 1%; external radiotherapy alone, 18% vs. 0%; systemic therapy, 9% vs. 3%). HBV-related biochemical reactivation rates varied between 6–11% and 2% in patients receiving HCC therapies with high and intermediate HBV reactivation risk, respectively. Liver decompensation and death were rarely reported (0–3%) and only in patients receiving HCC treatment with high HBV reactivation risk.

Conclusions: Hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are at high or intermediate risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation depending on the type of HCC therapy. Nucleos(t)ide analogue prophylaxis reduces the risk of HBV reactivation, practically eliminates the risk of hepatitis flare, and should be administered regardless of HCC treatment.

A.S. Lok, M.D., Professor of Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,
E-Mail: aslok@med.umich.edu

or

Prof. Dr. Dr. G.V. Papatheodoridis, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation Unit, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens “Laiko,” Athens, Greece,
E-Mail: gepapath@med.uoa.gr

DOI: DOI: 10.1002/hep.32241

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