Control of hepatocellular carcinoma through Hepatitis B vaccination in areas of high endemicity: Perspectives for global liver cancer prevention

[Guest guest]

http://www.cancerletters.info/article/PIIS0304383509005515/abstract?rss=yes

CANCER LETTERS

Articles in Press

Control of hepatocellular carcinoma through Hepatitis B vaccination in areas of

high endemicity: Perspectives for global liver cancer prevention

Amelie Plymotha, Simonetta Vivianiab, Pierre Hainauta

published online 16 October 2009.

Corrected Proof

Abstract

There are approximately 360 millions chronic carriers of Hepatitis B virus

worldwide. Patterns of HB carriage are variable from one region to the other.

Regions with rates of carriage over 8% are commonly considered as “high

endemicity” regions. HB carriers have a very significant lifetime risk of

developing chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and/or liver cancer

(hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). An efficient HB vaccine is available since the

early eighties and has been used since for universal infant vaccination in

regions of high endemicity. Observations from Taiwan, where universal infant

vaccination was introduced from 1984, show a remarkable, long-lasting protection

against carriage and reduction of HCC rates in adolescent and young adults born

after the initiation of the programme. Two population-based trials have been set

up in the mid-eighties to evaluate lifelong protective effects of infant HB

vaccine against liver cancer, in The Gambia (West Africa) and in the area of

Qidong, China. In other high-endemicity regions of Asia and Africa, universal

infants vaccination has consistently showed a long-lasting high protection

against chronic carriage and this is expected to lead to a dramatic decrease of

chronic liver disease and liver cancer within the next decades. Here we briefly

review the lessons of vaccination programmes and trials in high-endemicity

regions, based on data gathered during 15–20years of implementation.

a International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert , 69372

Lyon Cedex 08, France

b Meningitis Vaccine Project, PATH Europe, Ferney-Voltaire, France

Corresponding author. Fax: +33 4 72 73 83 22.

PII: S0304-3835(09)00551-5

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2009.08.024

© 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.