Alpha-fetoprotein before and after pegylated interferon therapy for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma development

Figure 1 Changes in alpha-fetoprotein values during interferon therapy. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values before, at end, and 1 year after interferon therapy were classified by ≥ 10 ng/mL, 5-10 ng/mL, and < 5 ng/mL. The patient ratios with different AFP values were shown for sustained virological response (SVR) and non-SVR patients.

Figure 2 Cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma incidence after interferon therapy. Cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma incidence after interferon therapy was compared in groups of patients classified by the outcome of interferon therapy using the Kaplan-Meier method. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; SVR: Sustained virological response; NVR: Partial or null virological response.

Figure 3 Cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma incidence after interferon therapy in the patient groups classified by the outcome of interferon therapy and alpha-fetoprotein values before and 1 year after interferon therapy. Cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence after interferon therapy was compared in groups of patients classified by the outcome of interferon therapy and alpha-fetoprotein values before and 1 year after interferon therapy using the Kaplan-Meier method. SVR: Sustained virological response; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.

Figure 4 Comparison of cumulative hepatocellular carcinoma incidence after interferon therapy between the groups of sustained virological response patients with different alpha-fetoprotein values with propensity score matching. Age, sex, platelet count, and alanine aminotransferase were matched for sustained virological response patients showing AFP values ≥ 5 ng/mL or < 5 ng/mL before interferon therapy by propensity score. Cumulative HCC incidence after interferon therapy was compared in groups of patients with different AFP values using the Kaplan-Meier method. AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.