Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Achieved Long-Term Recurrence-Free Survival After Curative Therapy: Impact of the ALBI Grade

Contrast enhanced ultrasound combined with serology predicts hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence: a retrospective observation cohort study

Objectives

To construct a novel model based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and serological biomarkers to predict the early recurrence (ER) of primary hepatocellular carcinoma within 2 years after hepatectomy.

Methods

A total of 466 patients who underwent CEUS and curative resection between 2016.1.1 and 2019.1.1 were retrospectively recruited from one institution. The training and testing cohorts comprised 326 and 140 patients, respectively. Data on general characteristics, CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) parameters, and serological were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to evaluate the independent prognostic factors for tumor recurrence, and the Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Serological (CEUSS) model was constructed. Different models were compared using prediction error and time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The CEUSS model's performances in ER prediction were assessed.

Results

The baseline data of the training and testing cohorts were equal. LI-RADS category, α-fetoprotein level, tumor maximum diameter, total bilirubin level, starting time, iso-time, and enhancement pattern were independent hazards, and their hazards ratios were 1.417, 1.309, 1.133, 1.036, 0.883, 0.985, and 0.70, respectively. The AUCs of CEUSS, BCLC,TNM, and CNLC were 0.706, 0.641, 0.647, and 0.636, respectively, in the training cohort and 0.680, 0.583, 0.607, and 0.597, respectively, in the testing cohort. The prediction errors of CEUSS, BCLC, TNM, and CNLC were 0.202, 0.205, 0.205, and 0.200, respectively, in the training cohort and 0.204, 0.221, 0.219, and 0.211, respectively, in the testing cohort.

Conclusions

The CEUSS model can accurately and individually predict ER before surgery and may represent a new tool for individualized treatment.

Clinical Features of Recurrence After Hepatic Resection for Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Long-Term Survival Outcomes of Patients with Recurrence: A Multi-institutional Analysis

BACKGROUND

A potentially curative hepatic resection is the optimal treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but most HCCs, even at an early stage, eventually recur after resection. This study investigates clinical features of initial recurrence and long-term prognosis of patients with recurrence after curative resection for early-stage HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a multicenter database, patients who underwent curative hepatic resection for early-stage HCC [Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A] were extracted. Time to initial recurrence, patterns of initial recurrence, and treatment modalities for recurrent tumors were investigated. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify independent risks associated with postoperative recurrence, as well as post-recurrence survival (PRS) for patients with recurrence.

RESULTS

Among 1424 patients, 679 (47.7%) developed recurrence at a median follow-up of 54.8 months, including 408 (60.1%) early recurrence (≤ 2 years after surgery) and 271 (39.9%) late recurrence (> 2 years). Independent risks of postoperative recurrence included cirrhosis, preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level > 400 ug/L, tumor size > 5 cm, multiple tumors, satellites, microvascular invasion, and intraoperative blood transfusion. Multivariate analysis revealed that receiving irregular recurrence surveillance, initial tumor beyond Milan criteria, early recurrence, BCLC stage B/C of the recurrent tumor, and noncurative treatments were independently associated with poorer PRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of patients with early-stage HCC experienced recurrence after resection. Understanding recurrence risks may help identify patients at high risk of recurrence who may benefit from future adjuvant therapies. Meaningful survival even after recurrence can still be achieved by postoperative regular surveillance and curative treatment.

Effect of ramucirumab on ALBI grade in patients with advanced HCC: Results from REACH and REACH-2

Background & Aims

The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) grade/score is derived from a validated nomogram to objectively assess prognosis and liver function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this post hoc analysis, we assessed prognosis in terms of survival by baseline ALBI grade and monitored liver function during treatment with ramucirumab or placebo using the ALBI score in patients with advanced HCC.

Methods

Patients with advanced HCC, Child-Pugh class A with prior sorafenib treatment were randomised in REACH trials to receive ramucirumab 8 mg/kg or placebo every 2 weeks. Data were analysed by trial and as a meta-analysis of individual patient-level data (pooled population) from REACH (alpha-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/ml) and REACH-2. Patients from REACH with Child-Pugh class B were analysed as a separate cohort. The ALBI grades and scores were calculated at baseline and before each treatment cycle.

Results

Baseline characteristics by ALBI grade were balanced between treatment arms among patients in the pooled population (ALBI-1, n = 231; ALBI-2, n = 296; ALBI-3, n = 7). Baseline ALBI grade was prognostic for overall survival (OS; ALBI grade 2 vs. 1; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.38 [1.13–1.69]), after adjusting for other significant prognostic factors. Mean ALBI scores remained stable in both treatment arms compared with baseline and were unaffected by baseline ALBI grade, macrovascular invasion, tumour response, geographical region, or prior locoregional therapy. Baseline ALBI grades 2 and 3 were associated with increased incidence of liver-specific adverse events and discontinuation rates in both treatments. Ramucirumab improved OS in patients with baseline ALBI grade 1 (HR 0.605 [0.445–0.824]) and ALBI grade 2 (HR 0.814 [0.630–1.051]).

Conclusions

Compared with placebo, ramucirumab did not negatively impact liver function and improved survival irrespective of baseline ALBI grade.

Lay summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Prognosis is affected by many clinical factors including liver function both before and during anticancer treatment. Here we have used a validated approach to assess liver function using 2 laboratory parameters, serum albumin and bilirubin (ALBI), both before and during treatment with ramucirumab in 2 phase III placebo-controlled studies. We confirm the practicality of using this more simplistic approach in assessing liver function prior to and during anticancer therapy, and demonstrate ramucirumab did not impair liver function when compared with placebo.

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In patients with HCC, the severity of coexisting liver dysfunction is usually categorised using the Child-Pugh system.

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We demonstrate that the simpler albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) nomogram can be used for pre-treatment prognostication and on-treatment assessment.

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Ramucirumab did not negatively impact on liver function compared to placebo in patients with advanced HCC and elevated AFP.

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Liver-specific adverse events were reported more frequently in patients with more severe liver disfunction at baseline.

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Ramucirumab provided a survival benefit irrespective of baseline liver function in patients with advanced HCC and elevated AFP.

Clinicopathologic Features of Patients With Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surviving Without Recurrence More Than 10 Years After Primary Hepatic Resection

Objective: 

The aim of this study was to clarify the predictive factors of recurrence-free time more than 10 years after primary hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Summary of background data: 

Surgical resection is a curative treatment for HCC patients with hepatic functional reserve; however, the high recurrence rate must be addressed.

Methods: 

The study included 595 patients who had undergone curative resection for HCC. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with recurrence-free survival at more than 10 years.

Results: 

Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size ≤2 cm (P = 0.004), albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1 (P = 0.03), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index ≤3.3 (P = 0.002), and histologic inflammation grade ≤1 (P = 0.03) were independent predictive factors for recurrence-free survival for more than 10 years. Predictive points were scored as follows: 2 points, tumor size ≤2 cm or FIB-4 index ≤3.3; and 1 point, ALBI grade 1 or histologic inflammation grade ≤1. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their total points: group 1, 0 to 2 points (n = 317); group 2, 3 to 4 points (n = 239); and group 3, 5 to 6 points (n = 39). Recurrence-free survival rates among the 3 groups were significantly different (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: 

Tumor size, ALBI, FIB-4 index, and histologic inflammation grade were independent predictive factors for recurrence-free survival longer than 10 years after curative hepatic resection for HCC.

The ALBI Grade is a Good Predictive Model for Very Late Recurrence in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Primary Resection

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients still have risk for very late recurrence after curative resection. This study assesses prognostic factors in HCC patients with recurrence-free survival (RFS) for 5 years after primary resection.

METHODS

We enrolled 383 HCC patients who received primary tumor resection and achieved more than 5 years without recurrence after resection between January 2001 and April 2013. Predictive factors, including albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, for RFS and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 103 months, 57 patients (14.9%) had recurrent HCC, and 14 (3.7%) died. Independent predictors for HCC recurrence were male sex (p = 0.035), pre-operative liver cirrhosis (LC) (p = 0.025), serum creatinine  > 1.5 mg/dL (p = 0.045), post-operative 5th-year alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 15 ng/ml (p < 0.001), LC (p = 0.004), and ALBI grades 2 and 3 (p < 0.001). I ndependent risk factors for poor survival were age >70 years (p = 0.002), post-operative 5th-year AFP > 15 ng/ml (p = 0.003), and ALBI grades 2 and 3 (p = 0.002). Patients whose deteriorated ALBI grades 5 years after resection had adverse RFS outcomes compared to those with constant (p = 0.056) and improved ALBI grades (p = 0.008). In subgroup analysis, patients with post-operative 5th-year ALBI grades 2 and 3 had significantly poorer RFS and OS (both p < 0.001) than those with grade 1 among patients with low post-operative 5th-year AFP (<15 ng/mL).

CONCLUSION

In HCC patients without recurrence for 5 years after curative resection, post-operative 5th-year ALBI grade is useful for predicting outcomes, even with low AFP during follow-up.

Prognostic role of preoperative albumin-bilirubin grade on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent studies have reported albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade affected the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To more precisely evaluate the relationship among the ALBI grade and the prognosis of patients with HCC after liver resection. We systematically retrieved articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI. The prognostic value of ALBI grade on overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with HCC after liver resection was evaluated by pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).Through multiple databases search, we enrolled 20 high-quality studies with 11365 patients, regarding the association between the ALBI grade and the prognosis of patients with HCC after liver resection. Our results showed that higher ALBI grade is associated with poored OS (HR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.51-1.78; P < 0.001; I = 24.9%) and RFS (HR, 1.42; 95% CI: 1.26-1.59; P < 0.001; I = 0). Moreover, subgroup analysis showed the significant correlation between ALBI grade and poor long-term survival was not altered in different geographical areas, sample sizes, follow-up duration, and quality scores. The ALBI grade may be as effective predictive biomarkers for prognosis in patients with HCC after liver resection.

Long-term prognostic factors of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who survive over 10 years after hepatectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate long-term prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who survived over 10 years after hepatectomy and compare prognostic factors between patients with recurrence who died and survived 10 years after initial hepatectomy.

METHODS

We analyzed the HCC patients without recurrence over 10 years after hepatectomy (n = 35), those with recurrence who survived over 10 years (n = 48), and those who died within 10 years (n = 132).

RESULTS

The rate of recurrence was 16.3%, 10-year overall survival rate was 38.6%, and the 10-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 16.7%. Nonviral, solitary tumor, well differentiation, and without severe fibrosis were independent favorable factors for long-term RFS. High cholinesterase levels, small tumors and without portal vein invasion were independent favorable factors for long-term survival among patients with recurrence. Long-term survivors with recurrence showed significantly low early recurrence, extrahepatic recurrence, multiple intrahepatic recurrences.

CONCLUSION

Important factors for long-term prognoses in HCC patients were a solitary tumor, small tumors, and no advanced fibrosis. A treatment for nonviral hepatitis is needed to achieve long-term RFS. Even patients who relapse might survive long term if they have a late or solitary intrahepatic recurrence, nonsevere cirrhosis, and curative treatment at recurrence.

Actual 10-Year Survival After Surgical Microwave Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience in Japan

BACKGROUND

Little evidence exists regarding long-term survival after microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study is to determine actual 10-year survival and clarify the clinicopathological features of patients surviving ≥ 10 years after surgical microwave ablation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study identified 459 patients who underwent surgical microwave ablation for HCC with curative intent between 2001 and 2008. We compared 100 patients who survived ≥ 10 years with 321 patients who died within 10 years.

RESULTS

Median overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were 5.5 and 2.4 years, respectively. The actual 10-year overall survival rate was 23.8%, and the actual 10-year recurrence-free survival rate was 8.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that age > 70 years [odds ratio 1.87, P = 0.029], hepatitis C virus positivity (OR 2.30, P = 0.004), Child-Pugh class B (OR 3.28, P = 0.003), and platelet count < 10 × 10⁴ /µL (OR 1.93, P = 0.033) were independent risk factors for actual 10-year survival. During 10-year follow-up, 66% of the ≥ 10-year survivors developed recurrence, and 91% of these patients underwent further curative treatment, including hepatic resection or local ablation, for HCC recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Ten-year survival after surgical microwave ablation for HCC can be expected in approximately 24% of patients, even though nearly 2/3 of our 10-year survival patients experienced recurrence. Close postoperative follow-up and further curative treatment for recurrence are important for improving long-term survival.

Hepatic resection versus operative microwave ablation for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤5 cm: A propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

Little evidence exists regarding the perioperative and oncologic benefits of microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hepatic resection and operative microwave ablation (microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy) for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤5 cm.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2015, a total of 551 patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤5 cm were treated in our institution (hepatic resection: n = 128; microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy: n = 423). We compared overall survival and recurrence-free survival between hepatic resection and microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy. Propensity score matching analysis identified 94 matched pairs of patients to compare outcomes.

RESULTS

After propensity score matching, baseline variables, including liver function and tumor size, were well-balanced between the 2 groups. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 76% and 47% for hepatic resection and 77% and 48% for microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy, respectively (P = .865). The 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival rates were 55% and 41% for hepatic resection and 47% and 32% for microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy, respectively (P = .377). In the subgroup analysis, the hepatic resection group had better recurrence-free survival than the microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy group in patients with tumor size >3 cm, with 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of 56.5% and 32.4% in the hepatic resection and microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy group, respectively (P = .029).

CONCLUSION

Our propensity score matching study confirmed no statistically significant differences in both overall survival and recurrence-free survival between hepatic resection and microwave coagulo-necrotic therapy for single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤5 cm; however, hepatic resection is recommended for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor size >3 cm when patients have good liver function.

Albumin-bilirubin score indicates liver fibrosis staging and prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM

Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade was investigated to predict prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. It was defined using the ALBI score calculated based on serum total bilirubin and albumin, which represent liver function. The diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis staging in patients with chronic hepatitis using the ALBI score has not been investigated well. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic abilities of the ALBI score for liver fibrosis staging in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in Japanese patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

Japanese patients with HCV infection who underwent liver biopsy examinations were enrolled in a retrospective study. Fibrosis staging and activity grading were assessed using the modified METAVIR score. The ALBI score was calculated according to the following equation: Log10 total bilirubin (μmol/L) × 0.66 + albumin (g/L) × (-0.085).

RESULTS

A total of 382 patients were enrolled in this study. The ALBI score differentiated fibrosis stage 4 from 3 and stage 3 from 2 (P < 0.05). When an ALBI score of -2.125 was adopted as a cut-off value, the sensitivity and specificity were 73.2% and 87.1%, respectively, with a positive likelihood ratio of 5.67 to differentiate stage 4 from stages 1-3. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that smaller ALBI scores at baseline correlated with better hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free and overall survival (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The ALBI score indicates liver fibrosis staging in Japanese patients with HCV infection. Furthermore, smaller ALBI scores predict better HCC-free survival and overall survival. The ALBI score has the potential to expand its application from cirrhosis to chronic hepatitis.

Pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor predicts poor prognosis in heptaocellular carcinoma

The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor (PPDPF) and its relationship with clinicopathological factors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).A total of 135 patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent curative surgery were enrolled in this study. The expression of PPDPF was examined by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The prognostic value for each sample was explored.Both RT-PCR and western blot revealed PPDPF expression was upregulated in HCC. Higher PPDPF expression was also observed in HCC (54.07%) detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which was significantly associated with tumors size (P = .003), Edmondson-Steiner Grading (P = .021), recurrence (P = .010), and Diolame complete (P = .023). Patients with higher PPDPF expression had increased cancer progression and poorer prognosis than those with lower expression (P = .043). Multivariate analysis indicated PPDPF as an independent prognostic factor (P = .014).Aberrance PPDPF expression might be a useful predictor and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.