The different prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with previous tenofovir vs entecavir treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus: analysis based on 15 propensity score–matched studies

Background: This meta-analysis of high-quality PSM studies was designed to provide robust estimates for comparative HCC prognosis between groups receiving tenofovir or entecavir.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 10, 2022 for relevant studies that comparing the different prognosis of HCC between TDF and ETV. 
Results: A total of 15 PSM studies were identified, with 24035 sample sizes in tenofovir group and 61410 sample sizes in entecavir group respectively. Pooled data indicated that, compared with entecavir, patients receiving tenofovir experienced significantly lower overall death or liver transplantation, with a pooled OR of 0.55 (95% CI 0.45 ‒ 0.68). Subgroup analysis by population also found similar results with pooled ORs of 0.52 (95% CI 0.38 ‒ 0.70) in entire cohort and 0.62 (95% CI 0.50 ‒ 0.77) in PSM cohort.
Conclusions: Our analysis indicated that there was clinically meaningful difference in prognosis of HCC between patients who received entecavir and patients who received tenofovir. Tenofovir treatment may be one of independent favorable factors of prognosis for HCC patients with CHBV.