The comparison of antibody response to different hepatitis b vaccines with and without pre-S2 antigen in children with cancer.

Abstract

Children with cancer are at an increased risk of hepatitis B infection and chronic liver disease. Since hepatitis B vaccines containing pre-S2 antigen has been recently reported as being more efficient in providing immunization in healthy individuals, the authors compared antibody response to pre-S2-containing vaccine with no-pre-S2-containing hepatitis B vaccine, when given in double doses to 100 children receiving chemotherapy. Patients, aged 1 to 16 years with negative HBV serology, were vaccinated with 2 different types of HBV vaccines between 1997 and 1999. Group 1 received Gen Hevac B containing pre-S2 (n = 41) in a dose of 20 microg for patients younger than 10 years old and 40 microg for older patients. Group 2 was vaccinated at the same dose with hepatitis B vaccines not containing pre-S2 antigen. All vaccinations were repeated at 0, 1, and 6 months. Serum samples were drawn for determination of anti-HBs titers at 1, 3, 6, and 8 months. After the third dose of vaccine, the seroconversion rate was 72% in group 1 and 62% in group 2. The anti-HBs levels were higher in the group receiving pre-S2-containing hepatitis B vaccine. However, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p > .05). The administration of pre-S2-containing hepatitis B vaccines may give a better seroconversion and higher antibody response to vaccination in children with cancer. But a further large-scale study is needed to confirm this finding.

• Authors: Suna Emir, Münevver Büyükpamuk, Canan Akyüz, Tezer Kutluk, Elif Güler, Kudret Cağlar
• Journal: Pediatric hematology and oncology (Pediatr Hematol Oncol) Vol. 19 Issue 4 Pg. 227-33 (Jun 2002) ISSN: 0888-0018 [Print] England
• PMID: 12051588 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Engerix-B
• Gen-H-B-Vax
• Hepatitis B Antibodies
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis B Vaccines
• Protein Precursors
• Vaccines, Synthetic
• presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Hepatitis B (immunology, prevention & control)
• Hepatitis B Antibodies (blood)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (immunology)
• Hepatitis B Vaccines (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis B virus (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunization
• Infant
• Lymphoma (drug therapy)
• Male
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Protein Precursors (immunology)
• Serologic Tests
• Vaccination
• Vaccines, Synthetic (immunology, therapeutic use)