The Different Effects of Nucleotide and Nucleoside Analogues on the Prognosis of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After Curative Resection：a Randomized Controlled Trial

The study was designed to compare the efficacy of ETV and TDF for patients with HBV-related HCC patients undergoing curative liver resection. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio via computer-generated allocation to either the ETV group or TDF group. A block size and strata were used in the randomization. In 2015, the American Association for the Study of Liver (AASLD) adopted ETV and TDF as first-line antiviral treatments for chronic hepatitis B. Patients in the ETV group received ETV tablets (RunZhong, CHIATAI TIANQING, China) 0.5 mg/d orally starting from 2-4 weeks before surgery; those in the TDF group receive TDF tablets(Viread, Aspen Port Elizabeth, China) 300 mg/d orally starting from 2-4 weeks before surgery. Antiviral treatment was continued unless there was unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent.

Preoperatively, all patients underwent chest radiography and at least 2 dynamic imaging examinations (contrast-enhanced ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)). HBsAg and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV-DNA load, anti-HCV, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9), liver function and HBV genotypes were serologically examined within 1 week before surgery. Additional serum samples were collected to test single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) of the interleukin 28B(IL-28B) gene and serum levels of interferon(IFN)-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α), IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. All serum and DNA samples were stored at -80°C until use.

After general anesthesia, surgery was performed as the standard protocol. Intraoperative ultrasonography was performed to assess the relationship of the tumor to vascular structures and to eliminate the extrahepatic metastasis. Pringle's maneuver was applied to occlude the blood inflow of the liver with cycles of 15 minutes clamp time and 5 minutes unclamped time. Liver resection was carried out by the Cusa Excel Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator System(CUSA).

In the study, the primary outcome measures included both recurrence and overall survival rates from the date of the operation. Secondary outcome measures included patient tolerance of antiviral treatment, virologic response, liver function and additional cytokines such as IFN-λ1 IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. All the patients received follow-up monitoring 1 month after the operation, every 3 months thereafter during the first 3 years, and then every 6 months in subsequent years. Physical examination, blood cell and differential counts, renal and liver function tests, AFP levels, HBV serology and HBV-DNA levels, serum IFN-λ level and imaging examinations were included in the follow-up examinations when necessary. Follow-up was continued until August 2020 when all surviving patients had a minimum follow-up of 24 months.

Tumor recurrence was diagnosed based on the identification of a new lesion on at least 2 radiological examinations and increased AFP levels (>100 ng/mL). Patients with tumor recurrence were actively treated with salvage liver transplantation, repeat hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE), sorafenib, and/or chemotherapy, depending on the extent of the disease, the liver function, and general condition of the patient.