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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2026; 32(45): 121641
Published online Dec 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121641
Published online Dec 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.121641
Pegylated interferon α-2b add-on to nucleos(t)ide analogues reduces hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in advanced fibrotic chronic hepatitis B
Xiang-Yong Li, Jing-Tao Huang, Ting Liu, Ying-Yi Li, Long Zhe, Hong Cao, Bing-Liang Lin, Department of Infectious Disease, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
Co-first authors: Xiang-Yong Li and Jing-Tao Huang.
Co-corresponding authors: Hong Cao and Bing-Liang Lin.
Author contributions: Li XY and Huang JT contributed to analysis, writing-original draft, and methodology as co-first authors; Li XY, Huang JT, and Lin BL contributed to writing-review and editing; Li XY, Liu T, Li YY, Zhe L, and Cao H contributed to data curation; Li XY, Cao H, and Lin BL contributed to conceptualisation; Huang JT and Liu T contributed to investigation; Cao H and Lin BL contributed to supervision as co-corresponding authors; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: We used DeepSeek in helping translating reviewing letter from Chinese into English during the drafting of the point-by-point response to reviewers. The scientific content, arguments, and detailed responses were all written by the authors. The AI tool did not participate in any part of the study design or data interpretation. None of the images in the manuscript were generated by AI.
Supported by National Science and Technology Major Project for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Major Infectious Diseases, No. 2025ZD01906901; Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong, No. 2022A1515012597; and Special Funding for Clinical Research of Wu Jieping Medical Foundation, No. 320.6750.2022-06-31.
Institutional review board statement: Ethical approval for this study was provided by Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Medical Ethics Committee (approval No. II-2026-098-01).
Informed consent statement: Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Medical Ethics Committee waived the informed consent form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement – checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement – checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: Raw data were generated at Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.
Corresponding author: Hong Cao, MD, PhD, Professor, Chief Physician, Department of Infectious Disease, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China. caohong@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Received: March 30, 2026
Revised: April 28, 2026
Accepted: June 9, 2026
Published online: December 7, 2026
Processing time: 200 Days and 11 Hours
Revised: April 28, 2026
Accepted: June 9, 2026
Published online: December 7, 2026
Processing time: 200 Days and 11 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This large-scale, propensity score-matched cohort study provides evidence that a pegylated interferon α-2b add-on strategy reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis among patients with hepatitis B virus-related advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis. The benefits of combination therapy were particularly pronounced in patients classified as having an intermediate-to-high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A persistently elevated transaminase level for > 12 months also identified a patient population that derived significant benefit from this approach These results indicate that a prognosis-oriented approach with pegylated interferon α-2b add-on therapy should be considered.