For Lymphoma Patients Receiving R-CHOP, Entecavir More Effective for HBV-Related Hepatitis Prophylaxis
the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:
According to a new study published in JAMA, researchers at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou, China, have found that the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatitis and HBV reactivation is lower with entecavir and lamivudine in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving the R-CHOP chemotherapy regimen.
For the study, researchers randomly assigned 121 patients with untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who tested seropositive for the hepatitis B surface antigen to receive either entecavir or lamivudine during treatment with R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Patients received the antivirals starting 1 week before beginning R-CHOP until 6 months following the completion of R-CHOP.
Results showed that patients in the entecavir group had an 8.2% rate of hepatitis compared with 23.3% in the lamivudine group.
In addition, the entecavir group had no cases of HBV-related hepatitis versus 13.3% in the lamivudine group, and 6.6% of those who received entecavir experienced HBV reactivation versus 30% of those who received lamivudine. Treatment-related adverse events were also about 5% lower in the entecavir group than the lamivudine group.
Despite the fact that these findings support the use of entecavir in this patient population to prevent HBV-related hepatitis and HBV reactivation, entecavir is more expensive. Therefore, researchers suggest further studies to determine which patients would benefit most from entecavir prophylaxis.

Risk of HBV related hepatitis and HBV reactivation is lower with entecavir and lamivudine in lymphoma.
Related Resources
Sign Up for Free e-newsletters
Regimen and Drug Listings
GET FULL LISTINGS OF TREATMENT Regimens and Drug INFORMATION
Bone Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Brain Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Breast Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Endocrine Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Gastrointestinal Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Gynecologic Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Head and Neck Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Hematologic Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Lung Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Other Cancers | Regimens | |
Prostate Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Rare Cancers | Regimens | |
Renal Cell Carcinoma | Regimens | Drugs |
Skin Cancer | Regimens | Drugs |
Urologic Cancers | Regimens | Drugs |
Cancer Therapy Advisor Articles
- Metastatic Prostate Cancer Responds to Novel Radiation Therapy
- Clinical Applications of Liquid Biopsies in Cancer
- Two-Drug Combination Superior to Sunitinib in Patients With Untreated Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Radical Prostatectomy Compared With Watchful Waiting in Localized Prostate Cancer
- Immunotherapy in Glioblastoma: Peaks and Pits
- Treatment Guidelines in Cancer: Assessing Industry Influence on Recommendations
- American Society of Breast Surgeons Recommends Genetic Testing for All Patients With Breast Cancer
- No Benefit Seen From HSCT in Hypodiploid B-ALL
- Patients With CP-CML Deemed Less Likely to Continue Taking Generic Imatinib
- Opinion: Understanding the FDA's Take on Cannabidiol