Hepatitis B virus vaccine reduced incidence of liver cancer in Taiwanese cohort

Vaccination against the hepatitis B virus may also prevent hepatocellular carcinoma, according to the findings of a population-based study.

“These data suggest that the effectiveness of the universal [hepatitis B virus] immunization program to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma has extended beyond childhood and into young adulthood over the past two decades,” researchers said.

They examined data from 1,958 patients aged 6 to 29 years when diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan between 1983 and 2004. They compared the records of 64 patients and 5,524,435 hepatitis B virus vaccinees.

The age-specific incidence rate was lower for those vaccinated (64 cancers in 37,709,304 person-years) vs. those not vaccinated (444 cancers in 78,496,406 person-years). The adjusted RR rate for incidence was 0.31 (95% CI, 0.24-0.41) for those vaccinated.

Among those vaccinated, the risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma was linked with incomplete vaccination (OR=4.32; 95% CI, 2.34-7.91), prenatal maternal hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity (OR=29.50; 95% CI, 13.98-62.60), prenatal maternal hepatitis B e antigen seropositivity with administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth (OR=5.13; 95% CI, 2.24-11.71) or without immunoglobulin administration at birth (OR=9.43; 95% CI, 3.54-25.11).

“This study provides evidence of effective long-term cancer prevention by vaccination and supports the conclusion that the [hepatitis B virus] vaccine is a good cancer-preventive vaccine,” researchers said.

Chang MH. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101:1-8.