Entecavir versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate on the reduction of incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B‐related liver cirrhosis

Abstract This study aimed to compare the effect of long‐term continuous entecavir (ETV) compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on the reduction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related liver cirrhosis. This study recruited patients who had CHB‐related liver cirrhosis and received ETV or TDF treatment for more than 6 months. Regular assessments of ultrasonography and alpha‐fetoprotein test were arranged every 3 months for HCC detection. Five‐year cumulative incidence of HCC and risk factors for HCC development were analyzed. A total of 286 consecutive cirrhotic patients were included, 198 in the ETV group and 88 in the TDF group. During a median follow‐up of 57.5 months, 25 (12.6%) patients in the ETV group and 12 (13.6%) patients in the TDF group developed HCC. The 5‐year cumulative incidence of HCC was comparable between the ETV and TDF groups (6.57% vs. 9.09%, log‐rank p = .242). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that male, old age, diabetes, and low platelet count were independent risk factors for HCC development. This study observed that long‐term ETV or TDF provided comparable preventive effects on HCC development in patients with CHB‐related liver cirrhosis.