Prevention of cancer recurrence after treatment for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma by interferon therapy.

The outcome of treatment for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma is still unsatisfactory because of the high rate of recurrence of cancer, including intrahepatic metastasis and multicentric carcinogenesis after treatment. The rate of recurrence, especially that of multicentric carcinogenesis, is affected by persistent active hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis caused by chronic hepatitis C. Interferon therapy improves the outcome after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by decreasing recurrence and preserving or improving liver function when treatment is successful. Radical treatment by anatomic resection and interferon therapy can markedly improve the outcome in patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.