J Gastroenterol Hepatol
Tenofovir alafenamide tied to lower liver cancer risk in chronic hepatitis B
Clinical takeaway: When long-term therapy is anticipated, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) may be favored over tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in patients with chronic hepatitis B to help reduce future HCC risk.
In a propensity score–matched analysis of 966 patients with chronic hepatitis B (TAF, n=322; TDF, n=644) followed for 60 months, TAF was associated with a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with TDF. Nine total HCC events occurred—two in the TAF group and seven in the TDF group—corresponding to crude incidence rates of 0.17 vs 0.27 per 100 person-years and 5-year cumulative risks of 0.6% vs. 1.0%, respectively. In multivariable models, TAF remained protective (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13–0.66; p<0.01), with similarly reduced risk in inverse probability–weighted analyses (aHR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14–0.68; p<0.01). Associations were strongest among patients without diabetes, those who were HBeAg-positive, and those with baseline HBV DNA levels of 5–8 log₁₀ IU/mL.
Source: Kang SH, et al. (2026, March 8). J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Tenofovir Alafenamide vs. Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Lowering the Risk of HCC Development in Patients With CHB