Immunomodulatory effects of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and entecavir in treating HBV infection

In a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Hepatology, Choi et al.1 reported that in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Asia, those treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were significantly less likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than those treated with entecavir (ETV). In addition, Bömmel et al.2 found that compared with the discontinuation of ETV, discontinuation of TDF resulted in a more rapid HBV DNA relapse. These results suggest that TDF and ETV are functionally heterogeneous, but the reasons for these differences remain unclear.