Discontinuing Hepatitis Activity Reduced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Primary Curative Therapy

Chern Horng Lee, Chien Heng Shen, Cho Li Yen, Tzung Hai Yen, Sen Yung Hsieh*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tends to recur after curative treatment. This study aimed to identify the clinical factors associated with HCC recurrence after initial curative therapy.

METHODS: We retrospectively included patients with early stage HCC Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0 and A who received curative surgical resection or local ablation at three different Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals in Taiwan (527 patients from Linkou, 150 patients from Keelung, and 127 patients from Chiayi) from 2000 to 2009. Pretreatment clinical data were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic analyses to identify the risk factors for HCC recurrence within five years after the primary curative treatment. Recurrence and survival rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.

RESULTS: Patients with a history of nucleoside analog or peg-interferon treatment for hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection had lower HCC recurrence rates than did those without such treatment. By contrast, alcohol drinking habits ( p = 0.0049, hazard ratio (HR): 1.508, 95%CI: 1.133-2.009), a platelet count of < 14 × 10 4/μL ( p = 0.003, HR: 1.533, 95%CI: 1.155-2.035), and a serum alanine aminotransferase level > 40 U/L ( p = 0.0450, HR: 1.305, 95%CI: 1.006-1.694) were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence. The five-year HCC recurrence rates did not differ between patients who received either local radiofrequency ablation or surgical resection at BCLC stages 0 and A.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors contributing to persistent hepatitis activity and advanced fibrosis precipitate tumor recurrence. Active intervention to discontinue liver injury or hepatitis could reduce HCC recurrence.

Original languageEnglish
Article number397
JournalJournal of Personalized Medicine
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 24 02 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Keywords

  • hepatitis treatments
  • hepatocellular carcinoma
  • risk factors
  • tumor recurrence

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