Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019204 (hepatocellular carcinoma)
 71,386 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a serious problem because of its worldwide distribution and possible adverse chronic sequelae, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis B infection is a dynamic state of interactions between the virus, hepatocyte and host immune response. Interferon-alpha and direct antiviral agents, such as lamivudine (Epivir, GlaxoSmithKline), are effective in the therapy of chronic HBV infection but the efficacy is far from satisfactory. Thymalfasin (thymosin alpha1; Talpha1, Zadaxintrade mark, SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is a 28-amino acid polypeptide produced synthetically but originally isolated from thymosin fraction 5, a bovine thymus extract containing a number of immunologically active peptides. In vitro studies have shown that Talpha1 can influence T-cell production and maturation, stimulate production of Th1 cytokines such as interferon-gamma and interleukin-2, and activate natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Seven randomized controlled studies on Talpha1 monotherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B showed that 6 months treatment with Talpha1 (1.6 mg twice-weekly) resulted in a significantly higher sustained response rate than untreated controls. The benefits of Talpha1 therapy is usually not immediately apparent during therapy. There is a trend for complete virological response to increase or accumulate gradually after the end of thymosin therapy. The results of Talpha1 and interferon combination therapy in two open-label trials were also promising. In terms of the mechanisms of action, a combination of Talpha1 and nucleoside or nucleotide analogs is a logical approach in the control of chronic HBV infection and a randomized control study is ongoing.
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PMID:Thymalfasin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. 1548 67

Patients who are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus are at an increased risk of developing cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therapeutic intervention offers the only means of interrupting this progression. Currently there are three licensed agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. These are interferon-alpha, an immunomodulator, and two synthetic nucleos(t)ide analogs, namely lamivudine (Epivir, GlaxoSmithKline) and adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera, Gilead Sciences). This review aims to summarize current experience with these drugs in the treatment and management of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, their efficacy, and current problems of drug resistance. An outline of future treatment perspectives is also included.
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PMID:Current therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. 1548 37