The value of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer and alpha-fetoprotein in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: presently, the reference staging system to evaluate the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is "The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer" (BCLC) system. The value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has not been properly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the BCLC classification in our clinical practice and to know what the prognostic value of AFP is. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 136 consecutive HCC patients were prospectively included in this study. The diagnosis of HCC was based on the recommendation of international guidelines. The patients were studied and managed according to usual clinical practice. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and predictors of survival were identified using the Cox model. RESULTS: 110 patients (80.9%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 66.62 + or - 11.68 years. Liver cirrhosis was present in 91.2%. The most frequent cause of liver disease was hepatitis C infection (38.97%). Serum AFP was - or = 20 ng/mL in the 57%, > 20-200 ng/mL in the 20%, and > 200 ng/mL in 23%. According to the BCLC staging system, 79 patients were classified as stage A (58.09%), 29 (21.32%) stage B, 17 (12.50%) stage C and 11 patients (8.09%) as stage D. The overall median survival time was 26.52 months (95% CI 16.7-36.3). The median survival according to BCLC system was: BCLC A 62.27, BCLC B 12.72, BCLC C 4.83, and BCLC D 0.62 months (p < 0.0001); and according to serum AFP was: AFP - or = 20: 62.27 months, > 20-200: 22.08 months, and > 200 ng/mL: 5.39 months (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that AFP, BCLC classification and treatment were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: our results confirm that the BCLC is a good prognostic system. The AFP has prognosis value in HCC patients. The addition of AFP could improve the BCLC system. Future studies are needed to confirm our results and also the best way to combine BCLC and AFP properly.

Valor pronóstico del sistema de estadificación "Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer" y la alfa-fetoproteína en el carcinoma hepatocelular / The value of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer and alpha-fetoprotein in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Introducción y objetivos: actualmente, el sistema de estadificación de referencia para evaluar el pronóstico de los pacientes con carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) es el "Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer" (BCLC). El valor pronóstico de la alfa-fetoproteína (AFP) no ha sido claramente definido. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el valor del sistema BCLC en nuestra práctica clínica y conocer cuál es el valor pronóstico de la AFP. Material y métodos: se incluyeron de forma prospectiva 136 pacientes con CHC. Los pacientes fueron diagnosticados de CHC por los criterios de las guías internacionales. El seguimiento y manejo terapéutico se realizó según la práctica clínica habitual. Las curvas de supervivencia fueron estimadas por el método de Kaplan-Meier y los predictores de supervivencia se identificaron mediante un análisis de regresión de Cox. Resultados: 110 pacientes (80,9%) eran varones. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 66,62 ± 11,68 años. El 91,2% eran cirróticos. La causa más frecuente de enfermedad hepática fue la infección por virus de la hepatitis C (38,97%). La AFP sérica fue ≤ 20 ng/ml en el 57%, > 20-200 ng/ml en el 20%, y > 200 ng/ml en el 23%. De acuerdo con el sistema de estadificación BCLC, 79 pacientes fueron clasificados en el estadio A (58,09%), 29 (21,32%) en el estadio B, 17 (12,50%) en el estadio C y 11 pacientes (8,09%) en el estadio D. La mediana de supervivencia fue de 26,52 meses (IC 95% 16,7-36,3). La mediana de supervivencia según el estadio BCLC fue: BCLC A 62,27; BCLC B 12,72; BCLC C 4,83; y BCLC D 0,62 meses (p < 0,0001); y según la AFP sérica fue: AFP ≤ 20: 62,27 meses, > 20-200: 22,08 meses, y > 200 ng/ml: 5,39 meses (p < 0,0001). El análisis multivariante mostró que la AFP, el sistema BCLC y el tratamiento eran factores pronósticos independientes. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados confirman que la clasificación BCLC es un adecuado sistema pronóstico. La AFP tiene valor pronóstico en pacientes con CHC. Añadir la determinación de la AFP podría mejorar el sistema BCLC. Son necesarios futuros estudios para confirmar nuestros resultados y determinar de qué forma se pueden combinar BCLC y AFP(AU)

Introduction and objectives: presently, the reference staging system to evaluate the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is "The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer" (BCLC) system. The value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has not been properly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the BCLC classification in our clinical practice and to know what the prognostic value of AFP is. Material and methods: 136 consecutive HCC patients were prospectively included in this study. The diagnosis of HCC was based on the recommendation of international guidelines. The patients were studied and managed according to usual clinical practice. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and predictors of survival were identified using the Cox model. Results: 110 patients (80.9%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 66.62 ± 11.68 years. Liver cirrhosis was present in 91.2%. The most frequent cause of liver disease was hepatitis C infection (38.97%). Serum AFP was ≤ 20 ng/mL in the 57%, > 20- 200 ng/mL in the 20%, and > 200 ng/mL in 23%. According to the BCLC staging system, 79 patients were classified as stage A (58.09%), 29 (21.32%) stage B, 17 (12.50%) stage C and 11 patients (8.09%) as stage D. The overall median survival time was 26.52 months (95% CI 16.7-36.3). The median survival according to BCLC system was: BCLC A 62.27, BCLC B 12.72, BCLC C 4.83, and BCLC D 0.62 months (p < 0.0001); and according to serum AFP was: AFP ≤ 20: 62.27 months, > 20-200: 22.08 months, and > 200 ng/mL: 5.39 months (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that AFP, BCLC classification and treatment were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: our results confirm that the BCLC is a good prognostic system. The AFP has prognosis value in HCC patients. The addition of AFP could improve the BCLC system. Future studies are needed to confirm our results and also the best way to combine BCLC and AFP properly(AU)