ABSTRACT
ObjectiveOnly few studies have been published of the effect of microvascular invasion (MVI) on long-term prognosis of liver resection (LR) for multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (mHCCs). Therefore, we investigate the efficacy of MVI on long-term prognosis of the patients undergoing LR formHCCs.MethodsThe clinical data of 505 patients undergoing LR for mHCCs in the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital of the Second Military Medical University between March 2009 and March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the MVI(+) group （n=279）and MVI (-) group (n=226), and146 patients in MVI (+) group and 124 patients in MVI (-) group received adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The Kaplan-Meier approach was used for survival analysis and the Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used forthe risk factors of long-term survival rate.ResultsThe early recurrence rate of MVI (+) group was significantly higher than that of MVI (-) group (60.4% vs 40.5%, P<0.01), and the 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival rate of MVI (+) group was significantly lower than those in MVI (-) group (70.5%, 47.4%, 33.4% vs 86.6%, 66.8%, 50.1%, P<0.05). Among MVI (+) patients, the early recurrence rate and 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival rate in the adjuvant TACE group were better than those in the control group (early recurrence rate 41.3% vs 39.3%, P<0.05; 1, 3, 5 year overall survival rate 92.8%, 72.5%, 53.1% vs 78.6%, 59.5%, 47.3%, P<0.05). Multivariate Cox model indicated that the Alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) level, maximum tumor diameter/minimum tumor diameter, MVI and adjuvant TACE were independent risk factors for early recurrence (HR=1.48, 1.51, 1.34, 0.76, P<0.05); maximum tumor diameter, intraoperative blood transfusion, MVI and adjuvant TACE were independent risk factors for postoperative overall survival (HR=1.75, 1.75, 1.36, 0.68, P<0.05).ConclusionMVI is a risk factor for early recurrence and poor long-term prognosis after LR for mHCCs. For mHCCs with MVI, adjuvant TACE after LR could reduce the early recurrence rate and improve the long-term survival rate.