Tenofovir Is Superior to Entecavir on Tertiary Prevention for BCLC Stage 0/A Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> It is unclear whether entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have different effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and death in patients receiving curative hepatectomy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. <b><i>Aims:</i></b> The aim of this study was to compare the long-term efficacy of ETV and TDF in HCC recurrence and overall survival (OS) of patients after curative hepatectomy. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> From January 2010 to December 2019, 20,572 patients with HCC who received hepatectomy were screened for study eligibility. Finally, a total of 219 consecutive patients treated with ETV (<i>n</i> = 146) or TDF (<i>n</i> = 73) after curative hepatectomy for HBV-related HCC of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0 or A were analyzed by propensity score matching (PSM) (2:1) analysis and competing risk analysis. HCC recurrence and OS of patients were compared between ETV and TDF groups. <b><i>Result:</i></b> After a median follow-up of 52.2 months, 81 patients (37.0%) had HCC recurrence, 33 (15.1%) died, and 5 (2.3%) received liver transplantation. TDF therapy was an independent protective factor for HCC recurrence compared with ETV therapy (HR, 1.687; 95% CI, 1.027–2.770, <i>p</i> = 0.039); however, no difference in the risk of death or liver transplantation. Results were similar in competing risk analysis. We further found that TDF therapy was significantly associated with a lower risk of late recurrence (HR, 4.705; 95% CI, 1.763–12.558, <i>p</i> = 0.002), but not in early recurrence. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> TDF therapy is associated with a significantly lower risk of HCC recurrence, especially of late recurrence, than ETV therapy among patients who undergo curative hepatectomy for HBV-related early-stage HCC.