A high level of hepatitis B virus replication, as reflected by high HBV DNA levels, is one of the key factors leading to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with a higher HBV DNA level after surgical resection of HCC tend to have a higher risk of HCC recurrence.

The Center for Liver Health at CUHK has conducted literature analysis to ascertain the role of antiviral therapy in preventing HCC recurrence and found that antiviral treatment could reduce the risk of HCC recurrence by over 40%. With this strong evidence, CUHK is representing Hong Kong to draw up the chronic hepatitis B management consensus guideline of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. The guideline recommends chronic hepatitis B patients who have their HCC resected or treated by loco-regional therapy to receive antiviral therapy if they have a high level of HBV DNA (>2000 IU/ml).

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