Publication Name	World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID	121641
DOI	10.3748/wjg.121641
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Retrospective Cohort Study
Article Title	Pegylated interferon α-2b add-on to nucleos(t)ide analogues reduces hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in advanced fibrotic chronic hepatitis B
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Xiang-Yong Li, Jing-Tao Huang, Ting Liu, Ying-Yi Li, Long Zhe, Hong Cao and Bing-Liang Lin
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number National Science and Technology Major Project for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Major Infectious Diseases No. 2025ZD01906901 Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong No. 2022A1515012597 Special Funding for Clinical Research of Wu Jieping Medical Foundation No. 320.6750.2022-06-31
Corresponding Author	Hong Cao, Chief Physician, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Infectious Disease, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China. caohong@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Key Words	Chronic hepatitis B; Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis; Pegylated interferon α-2b add-on therapy; Risk stratification; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Decompensated cirrhosis; Therapeutic strategy
Core Tip	This large-scale, propensity score-matched cohort study provides evidence that a pegylated interferon α-2b add-on strategy reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis among patients with hepatitis B virus-related advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis. The benefits of combination therapy were particularly pronounced in patients classified as having an intermediate-to-high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A persistently elevated transaminase level for > 12 months also identified a patient population that derived significant benefit from this approach These results indicate that a prognosis-oriented approach with pegylated interferon α-2b add-on therapy should be considered.
Citation	Li XY, Huang JT, Liu T, Li YY, Zhe L, Cao H, Lin BL. Pegylated interferon α-2b add-on to nucleos(t)ide analogues reduces hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in advanced fibrotic chronic hepatitis B. World J Gastroenterol 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.121641
PDF	121641-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-03-30 03:22
Peer-Review Started	2026-03-31 06:56
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-16 07:49
Return for Revision	2026-04-16 07:49
Revised	2026-04-28 18:34
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-04-30 06:07
Second Decision by Editor	2026-06-09 02:35
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-06-09 08:09
Articles in Press	2026-06-09 08:09
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
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