Huaier granule improves liver inflammation and fibrosis and prevents recurrence in hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: There is basic research suggesting that Huaier granule can inhibit liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but this conclusion has not been clinically verified. We analyzed the distant cancer tissue of two groups of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related HCC with/without Huaier granule, to clarify the effect of Huaier granule on liver inflammation, liver fibrosis, and postoperative recurrence. Methods: We collected clinicopathological data of HCC patients who received two surgery procedures at Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University in China from January 2014 to December 2020. Patients according to taking/not taking Huaier granule after the first hepatectomy were divided into two groups, 51 patients with Huaier granule for more than 6 months after operation (Group A); 56 patients without Huaier granule (Group B). The effects on liver inflammation, fibrosis grade, and postoperative recurrence were compared between two groups. Results: The results showed that liver inflammation improved significantly in the Group A [19 (37.3%) cases improved, 31 (60.8%) cases remained unchanged, and 1 (2.0%) case deteriorated] was significantly more than that in the Group B [7 (12.5%) cases improved, 32 (57.1%) cases remained unchanged, and 17 (30.4%) cases deteriorated] (P<0.001). The liver fibrosis in the Group A [17 (33.3%) cases improved, 32 (62.7%) cases remained unchanged, and 2 (3.9%) cases deteriorated] was significantly improved in the Group B [5 (8.9%) cases improved, 45 (80.4%) cases remained unchanged, and 6 (10.7%) cases deteriorated] (P=0.005). The recurrence interval (27.0 +/- 21.2 months) in the Group A was significantly longer than that in the Group B (19.0 +/- 14.2 months) (P=0.026). Conclusions: Huaier granule can improve liver inflammation, fibrosis, and liver function and prolong the time to recurrence in HBV-related HCC. Given the high rate of postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis of HBV-related HCC, our findings may have useful clinical significance in the prevention of tumor recurrence in these patients.