Efficacy of switching from adefovir to tenofovir in chronic hepatitis B patients who exhibit suboptimal responses to adefovir-based combination rescue therapy due to resistance to nucleoside analogues (SATIS study).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It remains to be determined whether switching from adefovir (ADV) to tenofovir (TDF) provides better virological outcomes in patients exhibiting suboptimal responses to ADV plus nucleoside analogue (ADV+NA) therapy for NA-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
METHODS: In this prospective trial, patients who showed partial responses (defined as serum hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA >60 IU/mL) to ADV+NA therapy for NA resistance were randomly allocated to receive TDF plus NA (TDF+NA group, n=16) or to continue their current therapy (ADV+NA group, n=16). The primary end point was the proportion of patients with complete virological response (CVR, defined as serum HBV DNA <60 IU/mL) at 48 weeks.
RESULTS: The median age was 52 years (16 men), and 28 were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). The baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups. The proportion with CVR was significantly higher in the TDF+NA group than in the ADV+NA group at 24 weeks (81.3% vs. 25.0%, P=0.001) and 48 weeks (87.5% vs. 37.5%, P=0.002). Furthermore, a decrease in the serum HBV DNA level of >2log10 IU/mL was more likely in the TDF+NA group at both 24 and 48 weeks (68.8% vs. 56.3%, P=0.014 vs. 81.3% vs. 56.3%, P=0.001, respectively). During the follow-up, the rate of HBeAg seroconversion was higher in the TDF+NA group than the ADV+NA group (12.5% vs. 6.25%, P=0.640), as was that for the hepatitis B surface antigen (6.25% vs. 0%, P=0.080). No serious adverse events due to antiviral agents occurred.
CONCLUSION: In patients exhibiting suboptimal responses to ADV+NA therapy for NA-resistant CHB, switching from ADV to TDF might provide better virological outcomes.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a leading cause of development of liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1]. Since the high serum HBV DNA level indicating active virus replication has been identified as an independent risk factor for development of cirrhosis and HCC in two large-scale studies [2,3], the treatment of goal in the current era of antiviral therapy is sustained suppression of viral replication through antiviral therapy [4]. For this goal, recent antiviral agents with good potency and safety, tolerability, and convenience to increase adherence was continuously developed.

Since lamivudine (LAM), a first-generation oral nucleoside analogue (NA) were available in 1998, the paradigm of CHB treatment has been changed substantially. Actually, the use of LAM had significantly reduced the incidence of hepatic events in patients with advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis [5]. However, such a clinical benefit may be substantially offset by a high rate of resistance of up to 80% [6,7]. The incidence rates of telbivudine resistance were 4.4% at year 1 and 21.6% at year 2 in HBeAg positive CHB patients, and 2.7% at 1 year and 8.6% at year 2 in HBeAg negative CHB patients [8,9]. Virological breakthrough with rtM204V/I mutations occurred in 4% at year 1 and 20% at year 2 in CHB patients with clevudine [10]. For those who developed resistance to NAs including LAM, telbivudine or clevudine, the adverse effects of HBV drug resistance mutations may be overcome by the addition of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) [11]. However, according to the study conducted in Korea, complete virological response (CVR) was achieved only in 32.4% during ADV and LAM combination (referred as ADV+NA) therapy in LAM-resistant patients [12]. In another study, cumulative rates of CVR were 29.9% at 1 year and 86.9% at 5 years by ADV+NA therapy [13]. Therefore, for patients who did not achieve CVR during ADV+NA therapy for NA-resistant strains, appropriate alternative regimens to achieve the better CVR rates should be required based upon the current paradigm of CHB treatment.

On the other hand, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), a very potent antiviral agent with a high genetic barrier, showed the excellent virologic responses in treatment-naïve patients and even in patients with genotypic resistance [14-16]. However, for patients with suboptimal response despite ADV-based rescue therapy, there have been only few retrospective reports regarding the antiviral efficacy of TDF-based therapy, so far. Recently, Cho et al. [17] showed the overall virological responses of about 85 % through TDF-based rescue therapy monotherapy in CHB patients with suboptimal responses to rescue therapy for prior LAM resistance Furthermore, Yang et al. [18] compared the antiviral efficacy between switching to TDF monotherapy and continuous add-on therapy, showing the superior outcomes of TDF monotherapy.

Here, in this prospective study, we aimed to directly compare the antiviral efficacy between switching to TDF and NA combination (referred as TDF+NA) therapy and continuation of current ADV+NA therapy among patients who showed suboptimal response to ADV+NA therapy for NA-resistant CHB.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study subjects

Between March 2012 and February 2014, patients were enrolled from five tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. Patients with CHB (defined as positive serum hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] test for at least 6 months) were considered eligible for enrolment. Inclusion criteria were as follows; 1) confirmed mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase gene that confers resistance to NAs (LAM 100 mg, telbivudine 600 mg, entecavir 0.5 mg or clevudine 30 mg/d orally), 2) suboptimal response (defined as serum HBV DNA level ≥60 IU/mL) after ADV 10 mg/d orally+NA therapy for at least 6 months. Exclusion criteria were as follows; 1) less than 20 years old, 2) previous or current history of HCC, 3) prior treatment with antiviral agent other than NAs and/or ADV, 4) decompensated liver disease, 5) co-infection with other viral hepatitis or other current liver diseases, 6) ADV resistance mutation, 7) concurrent systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents, 8) history of alcohol or substance abuse, 9) prior organ transplantation, and 10) a history of malignancy within 3 years. The analysis in this study is based on intention-to-treat.

This study was approved by independent institutional review boards and conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Helsinki declaration. Written informed consent was obtained from patients or responsible family members.

Study designs

This study was a multi-center, randomized, open-label trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, ID number NCT01595633). Patients were randomly allocated at 1:1 to receive TDF (300 mg q.d)+NA therapy (TDF+NA group) (n=16) or to continue current ADV+NA therapy (ADV+NA group) (n=16). Patients were followed-up for 48 weeks after randomization. Randomized patients were evaluated at baseline and week 24 and 48 (Fig. 1). At each visit, complete blood counts, biochemistry, and prothrombin time were assessed. HBV DNA level was checked at baseline and week 24, and 48, using a polymerase chain reaction assay (Amplicor HBV Monitor Test, 20 IU/mL detection limit; Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). Resistance mutations to NAs and ADV were evaluated using restriction fragment mass polymorphism (RFMP) assays at baseline and in case of necessity. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe were assessed at baseline and at week 48, using commercially available enzyme immunoassays (Abbott Laboratories). The upper limit of normal of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was defined as 40 IU/L. Occurrences of adverse events were assessed at every visit during follow-up period.

Figure 1.

Recruitment algorithm for the study population.

Cirrhosis was defined as follows: 1) platelet count <100,000/μL and ultrasonographic findings suggestive of cirrhosis, including a blunted, nodular liver edge with splenomegaly (>12 cm); 2) ascites, esophageal or gastric varices, or hepatic encephalopathy; or 3) overt complications of cirrhosis.

Definitions of study endpoints

The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with virological response (VR, defined as serum HBV DNA level <60 IU/mL). Secondary endpoints were the proportion of patients with VR at week 24, change in serum HBV DNA level from baseline at week 24 and 48, the proportion of patients with normalized serum ALT levels, HBeAg loss or seroconversion at week 48, and emergence of resistance mutation to drugs during study period.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as the median (interquartile range [IQR]), or n (%) as appropriate. Differences among continuous and categorical variables were examined for statistical significance with Student’s t-test (or Mann-Whitney test, if appropriate) and chi-squared test (or Fisher’s exact test, if appropriate). Paired related data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon paired test. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS ver. 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA)

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics of patients

After eight patients were failed with screening, a total of 32 patients were analyzed for statistical analysis. The baseline characteristics of the study subjects are summarized in Table 1. The median age was 51.5 years (men, n=16). HBeAg positivity was identified in 28 (87.5%) patients and the median serum HBV DNA level was 4.2 (IQR 3.4-5.0) log10 IU/mL. Twelve (37.5%) patients had cirrhosis. The baseline characteristics between two groups were similar.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics

Variables	All (n=32)	ADV+NA (n=16)	TDF+NA (n=16)	P-values
Demographic variables
Age, years	51.5 (46.5-59.3)	53.5 (42.0-59.3)	51.0 (48.0-59.0)	0.972
Male gender	16 (50.0)	10 (62.5)	6 (37.5)	0.157
Cirrhosis	12 (37.5)	8 (50.0)	4 (25.0)	0.144
Laboratory variables
WBC, /μL	5,130 (4,263-6,008)	4,945 (4,048-6,008)	5,150 (4,400-6,280)	0.718
Hemoglobin, g/dL	14.0 (13.0-16.0)	14.5 (12.3-16.0)	14.0 (13.0-15.8)	0.215
Platelet, /μL	167.0 (133.0-187.0)	173.0 (133.0-193.0)	162.0 (123.0-251.0)	0.739
PT INR	1.0 (1.0-1.0)	1.0 (1.0-1.0)	1.0 (1.0-1.0)	-
Albumin, g/dL	4.0 (3.0-4.0)	4.0 (3.0-4.0)	3.5 (3.0-4.0)	0.085
AST, IU/mL	26.0 (21.0-30.0)	27.0 (19.0-32.0)	25.0 (22.0-30.0)	0.449
ALT, IU/mL	26.0 (22.0-35.0)	26.0 (23.0-39.0)	25.0 (16.0-34.0)	0.595
Total bilirubin, mg/dL	1.0 (1.0-1.0)	1.0 (0.7-1.0)	1.0 (1.0-1.0)	-
ALP, IU/L	71.0 (55.0-151.0)	66.5 (50.3-144.0)	72.0 (59.0-163.0)	0.077
Cholesterol, mg/dL	163.0 (148.0-184.0)	159.0 (146.0-181.0)	168.0 (149.0-202.0)	0.972
Viral laboratory variables
HBV DNA, log10 IU/mL	4.2 (3.4-5.0)	4.6 (3.8-5.1)	3.7 (3.3-4.8)	0.005
HBe Ag positive	28 (87.5)	14 (87.5)	14 (87.5)	0.593
Previous antivirals
Telbivudine	14 (43.8)	5 (31.3)	9 (56.3)
Lamivudine	9 (28.1)	5 (31.3)	4 (25.0)
Entecavir	9 (28.1)	6 (37.5)	3 (18.8)

Values are expressed as median (interquartile range) or n (%).

ADV, adefovir dipivoxil; TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; NA, nucleoside analogue; WBC, white blood cell; PT, prothrombin time; INR, international normalized ratio; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen.

Virological outcomes

The efficacy of treatment in ADV+NA and TDF+NA groups are summarized and compared in Table 2 and Figure 2. During treatment, the proportions of patients with VR (defined as HBV DNA level <60 IU/mL or 300 copies/mL) in TDF+NA group at week 24 and 48 were higher compared to those in ADV+NA group; 81.3 vs. 25.0% at week 24 (P=0.001) and 87.5 vs. 37.5% at week 48 (P=0.002). 57.1% (16/28) of HBeAg positive and 25.0% (1/4) of HBeAg negative CHB patients were achieved VR at week 24. Finally, 75.0% of HBeAg positive and 25.0% of HBeAg negative CHB patients were achieved VR at week 48.

Table 2.

Virological outcomes during the follow-up period

	ADV+NA	TDF+NA	P-values
Serum HBV DNA level at week 24, log10 IU/mL	3.5 (2.3-4.2)	1.3 (1.3-1.3)	0.001
Serum HBV DNA level at week 48, log10 IU/mL	3.2 (1.3-4.5)	1.3 (1.3-1.3)	0.004
VR at week 48	6 (37.5)	14 (87.5)	0.002
VR at week 24	4 (25.0)	13 (81.3)	0.001
Decrease in serum HBV DNA level of > 2log10 from baseline at week 24	9 (56.3)	11 (68.8)	0.014
Decrease in serum HBV DNA level of > 2log10 from baseline at week 48	9 (56.3)	13 (81.3)	0.001
HBeAg loss	1 (6.25)	2 (12.5)	>0.05
HBsAg loss	0 (0)	1 (6.25)	>0.05

Values are expressed as median (interquartile range) or n (%).

ADV, adefovir dipivoxil; NA, nucleoside analogue; TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; HBV, hepatitis B virus; VR, virological response; HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.

Figure 2.

Proportion of patients who achieved VR at week 24 or 48 in the TDF+NA and ADV+NA groups. VR, virological response; NA, nucleoside analogue; ADV, adefovir dipivoxil; TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

At week 24, 9 (56.3%) patients in ADV+NA group and 11 (68.8%) in the TDF+NA group showed the decrease in serum HBV DNA level of more than 2log10 from baseline (P=0.014). At week 48, 9 (56.3%) patients in ADV+NA group and 13 (81.3%) in the TDF+NA group showed the decrease in serum HBV DNA level of more than 2log10 from baseline (P=0.001).

There was no patient with virologic non-response (defined as decrease in serum HBV DNA level of <1log10 at week 24 or 48 from baseline).

Biochemical and serologic response

The proportion of patients with normal ALT levels at week 48 did not differ significantly between two groups. Among patients with elevated ALT at baseline, all patients in ADV+NA and TDF+NA group achieved normalization of ALT at 48 week.

Among patients with positive HBeAg, two (12.5%) patients in ADV+NA group and one (6.25%) in TDF+NA group showed HBeAg loss at week 48. Only one patient in ADV+NA group showed HBsAg loss during treatment.

Safety

Most enrolled patients were well-tolerated during treatments. The serious adverse event due to antiviral agents such as renal failure, lactic acidosis or worsening liver function was not reported. No patients required dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events. No patient experienced ALT flare of more than 10 times of upper normal limit. There was no patient who experienced decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma during treatment period.

DISCUSSION

ADV add-on therapy has been widely used as a rescue therapy for patients with LAM-resistant CHB [19,20], because switching to ADV or entecavir could induce multidrug resistance. In particular, especially when TDF was unavailable, ADV add-on therapy has been regarded as a standard treatment option for those patients. However, because of the weak antiviral activity of ADV and poor susceptibility for drug-resistant viral strains, suboptimal response has been commonly observed in patients who received ADV+NA therapy [21-23]. The VR of ADV+NA therapy in patients with higher baseline HBV DNA was lower than those with a lower baseline HBV DNA at month 12 (7.1% vs. 66.7%) [23]. The persistence of suboptimal response during longterm antiviral treatment is associated with the emergence of multi-drug resistant viral strains [24,25]. Thus, so far, management of a suboptimal response to antiviral therapy has been an important issue. In this clinical context, we prospectively compared the antiviral efficacy of ADV+NA and TDF+NA therapy among patients who have suboptimal response to ADV+NA therapy for NA-resistant CHB.

We found that patients with TDF+NA group are more likely to achieved VR compared to ADV+NA group after week 48 of treatment and that TDF+NA group are more likely to experience the suppression of serum HBV DNA level of 2log10 from baseline. Also, in terms of serological response, the proportions of HBsAg and HBeAg seroconversion were better in TDF+NA group without statistical significance.

Our study has several strengths. First, there was little research to compare between ADV+NA and TDF+NA especially for the suboptimal responder. Although the number of patients was small, the effect of switching ADV to TDF in patients who showed suboptimal response was prospectively investigated. Second, this study focused on Korean patients, most of whom have genotype C [26]. Because TDF use was approved relatively late in Asia, there have been less data regarding TDF use compared to Western countries.

TDF is a potent and selective inhibitor of HBV DNA polymerasereverse transcriptase. TDF has been shown to produce potent viral suppression in large phase 3 clinical trials among treatment-naïve patients, and, to date, no TDF-specific resistance mutations have been identified. Previous study compared antiviral efficacy between ADV and TDF for NA-naïve patients, showing that patients treated with TDF had the higher proportion of suppression of serum HBV DNA level (HBV DNA <400 copies/mL) at 48 weeks (13% vs. 76% for HBeAg-positive patients and 63% vs. 93% for HBeAg-negative patients, respectively) [21]. In patients with LMV resistance, switching to ADV monotherapy results in higher rates of developing resistance to ADV than adding ADV in combination with LMV [27]. Add-on combination therapy with LMV+ADV was shown to be effective in LMV resistant patients but only when initiated during the early stages of resistance development [28]. According to the guideline in Korea [29], there are still several options such as LMV+ADV, LMV+TDF, ADV+NA (except LMV), TDF+NA (except LMV) or switching to TDF for patients with LMV resistance. Recently, switching to TDF monotherapy for the LMV resistance patients show effective virological suppression and does not appear to increase the risk of TDF resistance [18]. TDF monotherapy induced a potent and long-lasting antiviral response in NAexperienced patients with previous treatment failure [15]. So, further studies are required to compare the results of TDF+NA therapy vs. TDF monotherapy for patients with suboptimal response to ADV+NA, in terms of cost-effectiveness.

There are a few limitations of our study. First, even though conduceted in the prospective manner, this study has small sample size. It could lead to potential selection bias and weak statistical power. The original target number of this study was 124. However, during the study period, the reimbursement policy of the National Health Insurance Service in the Republic of Korea had changed, so, it was difficult to enroll patients further. Thus, we finished the study as a pilot study. Second, follow-up duration was not long enough to observe serological outcomes between two regimens. Further studies with sufficient sample size and longer follow-up duration are needed. Third, there is no data regarding switching to TDF monotherapy from ADV+NA therapy. According to the study [30], treatment efficacy of TDF alone or TDF+LAM therapy was not different.

In conclusion, this trial demonstrated that switching from ADV+NA to TDF+NA therapy in NA-resistant CHB patients with suboptimal response resulted in superior VR. TDF+NA therapy could be a therapeutic option for patients who showed suboptimal response with ADV+NA. However, further studies with more patients should be continuously investigated for CHB patients.