The outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class B.

BACKGROUND: The Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score is widely used for assessing the liver's functional reserve in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to explore the outcomes of patients with HCC and CTP class B and to investigate the prognostic accuracy of prediction models for ACLD in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 1143 patients with HCC and CTP class B between 2007 and 2022. We divided the patients into three subgroups based on their CTP scores: CTP-B7, CTP-B8, and CTP-B9. We compared the corrected Akaike information criterion among each mortality prediction model, including the CTP score, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, modified ALBI score, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), and MELD 3.0. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 576 (50.3%) were in the CTP-B7 group, 363 (31.8%) were in the CTP-B8 group, and 204 (17.9%) were in the CTP-B9 group. After a median follow-up of 4.6 months (interquartile range IQR 1.8-17.2 months), 963 patients died, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 11.4%. The 5-year OS rates were 11.6%, 13.6%, and 8.3% in the CTP-B7, CTP-B8, and CTP-B9 groups, respectively. Patients in the CTP-B7 group and CTP-B8 group had comparable OS ( p = 0.089), both of which were better than those in the CTP-B9 group ( p < 0.001). Furthermore, the MELD 3.0 score had the lowest corrected akaike information criteria value and provided a more accurate mortality prediction than the MELD score, ALBI grade, modified ALBI grade, and CTP score. CONCLUSION: Patients in the CTP-B7 and CTP-B8 groups had comparable OS, both of which were better than those in the CTP-B9 group. Moreover, MELD 3.0 provided the most accurate mortality prediction in patients with HCC and CTP class B.

The outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and normal serum alpha fetoprotein levels.

BACKGROUND: Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is the most widely used tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the prognostic factors of HCC patients with normal serum AFP levels. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 2198 patients with HCC and normal serum AFP levels (<20 ng/mL) from 2007 to 2020. Overall survival (OS) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and analyses of the prognostic factors were performed using a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 1385 (63%) patients were in the low-normal AFP group (serum AFP levels ≤7 ng/mL), and 813 (37%) patients were in the high-normal AFP group (serum AFP levels between 7 and 20 ng/mL). The high-normal AFP group had poorer liver functional reserve, more multiple tumors, and smaller tumor size compared to those in the low-normal AFP group. After a median follow-up of 32.4 months, 942 patients died, and the 5-year OS rate was 54.4%. The 5-year OS rates were 57.4% and 49.8% in the low-normal AFP group and high-normal AFP group, respectively (p = 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed the independent prognostic factors of poor OS were no anti-viral therapy, advanced albumin-bilirubin grades, the presence of vascular invasion, tumor size ≥5 cm, and non-curative treatment modalities. Serum AFP levels were not associated with OS according to the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Liver functional reserve, anti-viral therapy, tumor size, vascular invasion, and treatment modalities, determined the outcomes of HCC patients with normal serum AFP levels, but serum AFP levels did not.

Comparison of prognoses between cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal varices undergoing surgical resection.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal varices (EV) is common and is a poor prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the outcomes between cirrhotic and noncirrhotic HCC patients with EV is not well studied. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations and prognoses of HCC patients after surgical resection stratified by the cirrhosis status. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with HCC and EV, who underwent surgical resection, were retrospectively enrolled between July 2003 and July 2019. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was established using the Ishak fibrosis score F5 or F6 in the nontumor part of liver specimens. Prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: There were 85 (76.6%) and 26 (23.4%) patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively. Compared with those without cirrhosis, there were more females, less seropositive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), more seropositive rate of antibody against to hepatitis C virus (HCV), less albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1, lower platelet count, and more had tumor burden within the Milan criteria in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients had a higher risk of posthepatectomy decompensation compared to noncirrhotic patients (hazard ratio 9.577, p = 0.017). No difference was observed in overall survival and recurrence-free survival between patients with or without cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Compared with patients without cirrhosis, cirrhotic patients with HCC and EV are vulnerable to posthepatectomy decompensation. However, cirrhosis is not a poor prognostic factor of overall survival and recurrence for HCC patients after surgical resection.

Surgical resection could provide better outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor rupture.

We investigated the outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identified the optimal treatment modality for such patients. We retrospectively enrolled 91 patients with treatment-naive HCC and tumor rupture at diagnosis, including 38 patients who underwent surgical resection (SR) alone, 28 patients who were treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) only, 20 patients who had a sequential combination therapy of TACE and SR, and 5 patients who received best supportive care. After a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 54 patients died. The cumulative 5 years overall survival (OS) rates were 55.1% and 0% in the SR group and non-SR group, respectively (p < 0.001). Non-SR therapy was associated with poorer OS according to a multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 6.649 (95% confidence interval 3.581-12.344, p < 0.001). Moreover, whether patients received TACE or not did not impact the OS in both the SR group and the non-SR group. In conclusion, for patients with HCC and tumor rupture at the time of diagnosis, SR could lead to better prognoses than non-surgery treatment modalities. Moreover, a sequential combination of TACE and SR had similar clinical outcomes when compared to SR alone.

Differential prognoses among male and female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is significantly higher in men than women. Nonetheless, the impact of sex disparities on HCC outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical manifestations and prognoses between male and female patients with HCC. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 5337 consecutive patients (3976 men, 1361 women) who were diagnosed with HCC from 2007 to 2020. The prognostic factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Male patients were younger upon HCC diagnosis (median age 64 vs 69 years; p < 0.001) with more favorable hepatic functional reserves (39.0% vs 35.1% albumin-bilirubin grade 1; p = 0.025) but had greater tumor burdens than the female patients. Furthermore, fewer male patients underwent curative therapies for HCC compared with the female patients (49.0% vs 57.0%; p < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 20.1 months (interquartile range, 5.8-47.3 months), 3133 patients died. The cumulative 5-year overall survival rates were 37.1% and 41.9% for male and female patients, respectively (p < 0.001). From the multivariate analysis, male sex was not an independent factor predictive of poor overall survival in all patients and in the subgroup analysis stratified by treatment modalities. When stratified by age, the female sex was an independent factor associated with lower mortality in younger (≤50 years) patients but not in older patients with HCC. CONCLUSION: Sex was not an independent predictor of the outcome of patients with HCC, especially for those aged more than 50 years.

The role of albumin-bilirubin grade in determining the outcomes of patients with very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and with a single tumor <2 cm in size are classified as having Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0 HCC. We aimed to investigate the role of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade in predicting outcomes in patients with BCLC stage 0 HCC. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with BCLC stage 0 HCC in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2007 to 2015. Prognostic factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model and propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. RESULTS: There were 420 patients enrolled, including 207 with ALBI grade 1, and 213 with ALBI grade 2 or 3. After a median follow-up of 60.0 months (interquartile range, 37.2-84.6 months), 179 patients died. The cumulative 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 80.6% in patients with ALBI grade 1 and 53.7% in those with ALBI grade 2 or 3, respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age >65 years, negative hepatitis B surface in serum, creatinine >1.0 mg/dL, platelet count ≤105/mm3, tumor size >1.5 cm, nonsurgical resection (SR) therapy, and higher ALBI grade were independent risk factors related to poor OS. Patients who underwent SR had a better OS and recurrence-free survival than those who received radiofrequency ablation, which was confirmed by a multivariate analysis and PSM analysis. CONCLUSION: The ALBI grade can determine OS for patients with BCLC stage 0 HCC. SR can also provide a better outcome than nonsurgical treatment.

A comparison of prognoses between surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and esophagogastric varices.

There has been insufficient investigation of the differences in long-term outcomes between surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and esophagogastric varices (EGV). We retrospectively enrolled 251 patients with treatment-naïve HCC and EGV who underwent SR or RFA as a first-line treatment. Prognostic factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 68 patients underwent SR, and the remaining 183 patients received RFA. Patients who underwent SR were younger, had better liver functional reserves, and had larger tumors. After a median follow-up duration of 45.1 months, 151 patients died. The cumulative 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was significantly higher among patients who underwent SR than those treated with RFA (66.7% vs. 36.8%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age > 65 years, multiple tumors, RFA, albumin bilirubin grade > 1, and the occurrence of major peri-procedural morbidity were the independent risk factors that are predictive of poor OS. In conclusion, SR could be recommended as a first-line treatment modality for HCC patients with EGV if the patients are carefully selected and liver function is well preserved.

Comparison of prognosis between surgical resection and transarterial chemoembolization for patients with solitary huge hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: For patients with solitary huge (>10 cm in size) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and without major vascular invasion, the treatment efficacy between surgical resection (SR) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is not well studied. We aimed to compare the prognoses between SR and TACE for patients with solitary huge HCC. METHODS: We enrolled 143 patients with treatment-naïve, solitary HCC (>10 cm) who had received either SR or TACE treatment between 2007-2016. Factors of overall survival (OS) were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Propensity scores matching (PSM) method was adopted to adjust baseline demographic differences for further analysis. RESULTS: Ninety patients underwent SR and 53 patients received TACE. After a median follow-up of 17.0 (interquartile range 7.7-45.6) months, 83 patients had died. The cumulative 5-year OS rate was 44.7% and 11.7% for the SR group and the TACE group, respectively (P<0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that TACE [hazard ratio (HR): 3.515, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.202-5.610, P<0.001], and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade >1 (HR: 2.181, 95% CI: 1.343-3.543, P=0.002) were the independent risk factors associated with poorer OS. After PSM, 37 pairs of matched patients were selected from each treatment arm. After matching, patients who underwent SR still evinced a significantly higher OS than did those who underwent TACE (P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: SR provided a better OS than did TACE for patients with solitary huge (≥10 cm) HCC. As such, SR is recommended as the therapeutic priority for these patients.