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Elmaagacli S, Thiele C, Meister F, Menne P, Truhn D, Olde Damink SWM, Bickenbach J, Neumann U, Lang SA, Vondran F, Amygdalos I. Preoperative three-dimensional lung volumetry predicts respiratory complications in patients undergoing major liver resection for colorectal metastases. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10594. [PMID: 38719953 PMCID: PMC11079043 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) are the predominant factor limiting survival in patients with colorectal cancer and liver resection with complete tumor removal is the best treatment option for these patients. This study examines the predictive ability of three-dimensional lung volumetry (3DLV) based on preoperative computerized tomography (CT), to predict postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing major liver resection for CRLM. Patients undergoing major curative liver resection for CRLM between 2010 and 2021 with a preoperative CT scan of the thorax within 6 weeks of surgery, were included. Total lung volume (TLV) was calculated using volumetry software 3D-Slicer version 4.11.20210226 including Chest Imaging Platform extension ( http://www.slicer.org ). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to define a cut-off value of TLV, for predicting the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications. Differences between patients with TLV below and above the cut-off were examined with Chi-square or Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for the development of respiratory complications. A total of 123 patients were included, of which 35 (29%) developed respiratory complications. A predictive ability of TLV regarding respiratory complications was shown (AUC 0.62, p = 0.036) and a cut-off value of 4500 cm3 was defined. Patients with TLV < 4500 cm3 were shown to suffer from significantly higher rates of respiratory complications (44% vs. 21%, p = 0.007) compared to the rest. Logistic regression analysis identified TLV < 4500 cm3 as an independent predictor for the occurrence of respiratory complications (odds ratio 3.777, 95% confidence intervals 1.488-9.588, p = 0.005). Preoperative 3DLV is a viable technique for prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing major liver resection for CRLM. More studies in larger cohorts are necessary to further evaluate this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan Elmaagacli
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christoph Thiele
- Department of Operative Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Franziska Meister
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Menne
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Truhn
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Steven W M Olde Damink
- Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Bickenbach
- Department of Operative Intensive Care and Intermediate Care, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Neumann
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Florian Vondran
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Iakovos Amygdalos
- Department of General, Visceral, Pediatric, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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Hu J, Wang X, Prince M, Wang F, Sun J, Yang X, Wang W, Ye J, Chen L, Luo X. Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI based radiomics combined with clinical variables in stratifying hepatic functional reserve in HBV infected patients. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2024; 49:1051-1062. [PMID: 38294541 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-023-04176-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSES To evaluate radiomics from Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MR combined with clinical variables for stratifying hepatic functional reserve in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients. METHODS Our study included 279 chronic HBV patients divided 8:2 for training and test cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) MR images. Radiomics features were selected to construct a Rad-score which was combined with clinical parameters in two models differentiating hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh A vs. B/C. Performances of these stratifying models were compared using area under curve (AUC). RESULTS Rad-score alone discriminated hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A with AUC = 0.890, 0.914 and Child-Pugh A vs. B/C with AUC = 0.862, 0.865 for the training and test cohorts, respectively. Model 1 [Rad-score + clinical parameters for hepatitis vs. Child-Pugh A] showed AUC = 0.978 for the test cohort, which was higher than ALBI [albumin-bilirubin] and MELD [model for end-stage liver disease], with AUCs of 0.716, 0.799, respectively (p < 0.001, < 0.001). Model 2 [Rad-score + clinical parameters for Child-Pugh A vs. B/C] showed AUC of 0.890 in the test cohort, which was similar to ALBI (AUC = 0.908, p = 0.760), and higher than MELD (AUC = 0.709, p = 0.018). CONCLUSION Rad-score combined with clinical variables stratifies hepatic functional reserve in HBV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghui Hu
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Martin Prince
- Department of Radiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 407 E61st Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence Co., Ltd., Yunjin Road 701, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Jun Sun
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Wenjian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence Co., Ltd., Yunjin Road 701, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Xianfu Luo
- Department of Radiology, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou, 225001, China.
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Jaotombo F, Adorni L, Ghattas B, Boyer L. Finding the best trade-off between performance and interpretability in predicting hospital length of stay using structured and unstructured data. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289795. [PMID: 38032876 PMCID: PMC10688642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to develop high-performing Machine Learning and Deep Learning models in predicting hospital length of stay (LOS) while enhancing interpretability. We compare performance and interpretability of models trained only on structured tabular data with models trained only on unstructured clinical text data, and on mixed data. METHODS The structured data was used to train fourteen classical Machine Learning models including advanced ensemble trees, neural networks and k-nearest neighbors. The unstructured data was used to fine-tune a pre-trained Bio Clinical BERT Transformer Deep Learning model. The structured and unstructured data were then merged into a tabular dataset after vectorization of the clinical text and a dimensional reduction through Latent Dirichlet Allocation. The study used the free and publicly available Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III database, on the open AutoML Library AutoGluon. Performance is evaluated with respect to two types of random classifiers, used as baselines. RESULTS The best model from structured data demonstrates high performance (ROC AUC = 0.944, PRC AUC = 0.655) with limited interpretability, where the most important predictors of prolonged LOS are the level of blood urea nitrogen and of platelets. The Transformer model displays a good but lower performance (ROC AUC = 0.842, PRC AUC = 0.375) with a richer array of interpretability by providing more specific in-hospital factors including procedures, conditions, and medical history. The best model trained on mixed data satisfies both a high level of performance (ROC AUC = 0.963, PRC AUC = 0.746) and a much larger scope in interpretability including pathologies of the intestine, the colon, and the blood; infectious diseases, respiratory problems, procedures involving sedation and intubation, and vascular surgery. CONCLUSIONS Our results outperform most of the state-of-the-art models in LOS prediction both in terms of performance and of interpretability. Data fusion between structured and unstructured text data may significantly improve performance and interpretability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Jaotombo
- EMLYON Business School, Ecully, France
- Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Luca Adorni
- Becker Friedman Institute, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Badih Ghattas
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France
| | - Laurent Boyer
- Research Centre on Health Services and Quality of Life, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Department of Public Health, Assistance Publique–Hopitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
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Joechle K, Amygdalos I, Schmidt F, Bednarsch J, Chrysos A, Meister FA, Czigany Z, Heise D, Berres ML, Bruners P, Ulmer TF, Neumann UP, Lang SA. Value of prognostic scoring systems in the era of multimodal therapy for recurrent colorectal liver metastases. HPB (Oxford) 2023; 25:1354-1363. [PMID: 37438185 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2023.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various predictive scoring systems have been developed to estimate outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). However, data regarding their effectiveness in recurrent CRLM (recCRLM) are very limited. METHODS Patients who underwent repeat hepatectomy for recCRLM at the University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany from 2010 to 2021 were included. Nine predictive scoring systems (Fong's, Nordlinger, Nagashima, RAS mutation, Tumor Burden, GAME, CERR, and Glasgow Prognostic score, Basingstoke Index) were evaluated by likelihood ratio (LR) χ2, linear trend (LT) χ2 and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) for their predictive value regarding overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS). RESULTS Among 150 patients, median RFS was 9 (2-124) months with a 5-year RFS rate of 10%. Median OS was 39 (4-131) months with a 5-year OS rate of 32%. For RFS and OS, the Nagashima score showed the best prognostic ability (LT χ2 3.00, LR χ2 9.39, AIC 266.66 and LT χ2 2.91, LR χ2 20.91, 290.36). DISCUSSION The Nagashima score showed the best prognostic stratification to predict recurrence as well as survival, and therefore might be considered when evaluating patients with recCRLM for repeat hepatectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Joechle
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Iakovos Amygdalos
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Felix Schmidt
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexandros Chrysos
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Franziska A Meister
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Heise
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Berres
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Department of Diagnostic und Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom F Ulmer
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf P Neumann
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven A Lang
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen, Boon, Cologne and Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Site, Aachen, Germany.
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Calcification of the visceral aorta and celiac trunk is associated with renal and allograft outcomes after deceased donor liver transplantation. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2023; 48:608-620. [PMID: 36441198 PMCID: PMC9902327 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03629-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Atherosclerosis affects clinical outcomes in the setting of major surgery. Here we aimed to investigate the prognostic role of visceral aortic (VAC), extended visceral aortic (VAC+), and celiac artery calcification (CAC) in the assessment of short- and long-term outcomes following deceased donor orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in a western European cohort. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the data of 281 consecutive recipients who underwent OLT at a German university medical center (05/2010-03/2020). The parameters VAC, VAC+, or CAC were evaluated by preoperative computed tomography-based calcium quantification according to the Agatston score. RESULTS Significant VAC or CAC were associated with impaired postoperative renal function (p = 0.0016; p = 0.0211). Patients with VAC suffered more frequently from early allograft dysfunction (EAD) (38 vs 26%, p = 0.031), while CAC was associated with higher estimated procedural costs (p = 0.049). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, VAC was identified as an independent predictor of EAD (2.387 OR, 1.290-4.418 CI, p = 0.006). Concerning long-term graft and patient survival, no significant difference was found, even though patients with calcification showed a tendency towards lower 5-year survival compared to those without (VAC: 65 vs 73%, p = 0.217; CAC: 52 vs 72%, p = 0.105). VAC+ failed to provide an additional prognostic value compared to VAC. CONCLUSION This is the first clinical report to show the prognostic role of VAC/CAC in the setting of deceased donor OLT with a particular value in the perioperative phase. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings. CT computed tomography, OLT orthotopic liver transplantation.
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Osteopenia is associated with inferior survival in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18316. [PMID: 36316524 PMCID: PMC9622743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteopenia is known to be associated with clinical frailty which is linked to inferior outcomes in various clinical scenarios. However, the exact prognostic value of osteopenia in patients undergoing curative intent-surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not completely understood. This retrospective study was conducted in a cohort of 151 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for HCC in curative intent at a German university medical center (05/2008-12/2019). Preoperative computed tomography-based segmentation was used to assess osteopenia, and the prognostic impact of pathological changes in bone mineral density (BMD) on perioperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term oncological outcome was analyzed. Five-year overall survival of osteopenic patients was significantly worse compared to those with normal BMD (29% vs. 65%, p = 0.014). In line with this, the probability of disease-free survival at 5 years was significantly worse for patients with osteopenia (21% vs. 64%, p = 0.005). In our multivariable model, osteopenia was confirmed as an independent risk-factor for inferior overall survival (Hazard-ratio 7.743, p = 0.002). Concerning perioperative complications, osteopenic patients performed slightly worse, even though no statistical difference was detected (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b; 21% vs. 9%, p = 0.139). The present study confirms osteopenia as an independent risk-factor for inferior survival in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for HCC in a European cohort. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
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Tal N, Waisbourd-Zinman O, Kaplan E, Kadmon G, Gendler Y, Gurevich M, Nahum E, Weissbach A. Early post-liver transplant thrombocytopenia in children: Clinical characteristics and significance. Pediatr Transplant 2022; 26:e14326. [PMID: 35599548 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-liver transplant thrombocytopenia is common and associated with worse outcome in adults. In children, however, the prevalence, course, and significance of post-liver transplantation thrombocytopenia are not described. Therefore, we aimed to assess this phenomenon in children. METHODS A retrospective chart review of children who underwent liver transplantation at a single tertiary center between 2004 and 2021. RESULTS Overall, 130 pediatric liver transplantations were reviewed. During the first 28 POD, thrombocytopenia was evident in 116 (89%, 95% CI 83%-94%). The median nadir platelet count was 54 K/μl (IQR: 37-99). Nadir platelet count was reached in half the patients by the third POD (IQR: 1-6). In multivariate analysis, preoperative platelet count (p = .024), volume of intraoperative packed cell transfusion (p = .045), and hypersplenism (p = .007) were associated with lower postoperative platelet counts. Patients with platelet count lower than the 50th centile on the first POD suffered from a more complicated course leading to a longer PICU admission (p = .039). CONCLUSIONS Early post-liver transplant thrombocytopenia appears to be common in children and associated with preoperative thrombocytopenia, hypersplenism, and higher intraoperative blood transfusion volumes. A low first POD platelet count (<86 K/μl) was found to be independently associated with a more complicated postoperative course, suggesting the need for heightened surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Tal
- Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orith Waisbourd-Zinman
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver Diseases, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Eytan Kaplan
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Gili Kadmon
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Yulia Gendler
- The Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Michael Gurevich
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pediatric Liver Kidney Transplant Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Elhanan Nahum
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Avichai Weissbach
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
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Liang C, Takahashi K, Furuya K, Ohkohchi N, Oda T. Dualistic role of platelets in living donor liver transplantation: Are they harmful? World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:897-908. [PMID: 35317052 PMCID: PMC8908284 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i9.897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelets are anucleate fragments mainly involved in hemostasis and thrombosis, and there is emerging evidence that platelets have other nonhemostatic potentials in inflammation, angiogenesis, regeneration and ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R injury), which are involved in the physiological and pathological processes during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). LDLT is sometimes associated with impaired regeneration and severe I/R injury, leading to postoperative complications and decreased patient survival. Recent studies have suggested that perioperative thrombocytopenia is associated with poor graft regeneration and postoperative morbidity in the short and long term after LDLT. Although it is not fully understood whether thrombocytopenia is the cause or result, increasing platelet counts are frequently suggested to improve posttransplant outcomes in clinical studies. Based on rodent experiments, previous studies have identified that platelets stimulate liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. However, the role of platelets in LDLT is controversial, as platelets are supposed to aggravate I/R injury in the liver. Recently, a rat model of partial liver transplantation (LT) was used to demonstrate that thrombopoietin-induced thrombocytosis prior to surgery accelerated graft regeneration and improved the survival rate after transplantation. It was clarified that platelet-derived liver regeneration outweighed the associated risk of I/R injury after partial LT. Clinical strategies to increase perioperative platelet counts, such as thrombopoietin, thrombopoietin receptor agonist and platelet transfusion, may improve graft regeneration and survival after LDLT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Takahashi
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kinji Furuya
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Ohkohchi
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3058575, Ibaraki, Japan
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The Role of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Short- and Long-Term Outcomes Following Curative-Intent Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a European Cohort. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030720. [PMID: 35158988 PMCID: PMC8833751 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent studies have shown that pathological changes of body composition, in particular reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) and impaired muscle quality (myosteatosis), are linked to poor outcomes in a variety of clinical conditions. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the liver in the Western hemisphere and remains a prominent cause of cancer-associated mortality. The present study investigates the prognostic value of alterations in body composition in predicting perioperative morbidity, mortality and long-term oncological outcome in HCC using preoperative computed-tomography-based segmentation. Our study found supporting evidence for the relevance of muscle quality over quantity in a European population and verifies the predictive role of myosteatosis in patients suffering from HCC, with a particularly significant value in the earlier perioperative phase. Abstract Alterations of body composition, especially decreased muscle mass (sarcopenia) and impaired muscle quality (myosteatosis), are associated with inferior outcomes in various clinical conditions. The data of 100 consecutive patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at a German university medical centre were retrospectively analysed (May 2008–December 2019). Myosteatosis and sarcopenia were evaluated using preoperative computed-tomography-based segmentation. We investigated the predictive role of alterations in body composition on perioperative morbidity, mortality and long-term oncological outcome. Myosteatotic patients were significantly inferior in terms of major postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo ≥ 3b; 25% vs. 5%, p = 0.007), and myosteatosis could be confirmed as an independent risk factor for perioperative morbidity in multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 6.184, confidence interval: 1.184–32.305, p = 0.031). Both sarcopenic and myosteatotic patients received more intraoperative blood transfusions (1.6 ± 22 vs. 0.3 ± 1 units, p = 0.000; 1.4 ± 2.1 vs. 0.3 ± 0.8 units, respectively, p = 0.002). In terms of long-term overall and recurrence-free survival, no statistically significant differences could be found between the groups, although survival was tendentially worse in patients with reduced muscle density (median survival: 41 vs. 60 months, p = 0.223). This study confirms the prognostic role of myosteatosis in patients suffering from HCC with a particularly strong value in the perioperative phase and supports the role of muscle quality over quantity in this setting. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
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The Value of Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020438. [PMID: 35053599 PMCID: PMC8773915 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio has shown prognostic value in several malignancies; however, its role in cholangiocarcinoma remains to be determined. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the currently available literature. Overall, our analysis revealed that a high platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio before treatment is associated with an impaired long-term oncological outcome. Further, our results indicate that this assumption was not influenced by the used treatment modality (surgical vs. non-surgical), PLR cut-off values, study population age, or sample size of the included studies. Thus, an elevated pretreatment platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio has valid prognostic value for cholangiocarcinoma patients. Abstract The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), an inflammatory parameter, has shown prognostic value in several malignancies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of pretreatment PLR on the oncological outcome in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A systematic literature search has been carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for pertinent papers published between January 2000 and August 2021. Within a random-effects model, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to investigate the relationships among the PLR, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also conducted to further evaluate the relationship. A total of 20 articles comprising 5429 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled outcomes revealed that a high PLR before treatment is associated with impaired OS (HR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.06–1.24; p < 0.01) and DFS (HR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.19–2.07; p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed that this association is not influenced by the treatment modality (surgical vs. non-surgical), PLR cut-off values, or sample size of the included studies. An elevated pretreatment PLR is prognostic for the OS and DFS of CCA patients. More high-quality studies are required to investigate the pathophysiological basis of the observation and the prognostic value of the PLR in clinical management as well as for patient selection.
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Amygdalos I, Bednarsch J, Meister FA, Erren D, Mantas A, Strnad P, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Boecker J, Liu W, Jiang D, Bruners P, Neumann UP, Czigany Z. Clinical value and limitations of the preoperative C-reactive-protein-to-albumin ratio in predicting post-operative morbidity and mortality after deceased-donor liver transplantation: a retrospective single-centre study. Transpl Int 2021; 34:1468-1480. [PMID: 34157178 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Liver transplantation is still associated with a high risk of severe complications and post-operative mortality. This study examines the predictive value of the preoperative C-reactive-protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) regarding perioperative morbidity and mortality in deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients. In total, 390 DDLT recipients between 05/2010 and 03/2020 were eligible. Predictive abilities of CAR were examined through receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses. Groups were compared using parametric and non-parametric tests as appropriate. Independent risk factors for morbidity and mortality were identified using uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A good predictive ability for CAR was shown regarding perioperative morbidity (comprehensive complication index ≥75, Clavien-Dindo score ≥4a) and 12-month mortality, with an ideal cut-off of CAR = 26%. Patients with CAR>26% had significantly higher median CCI scores (60 vs. 43, P < 0.001), longer intensive care unit (ICU, 5 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital (28 vs. 21 days, P < 0.001) stays and higher 12-month mortality rates (20% vs 6%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analyses identified CAR>26%, pre-OLT inpatient hospitalization (including ICU) and post-operative red blood cell transfusions as independent predictors of severe cumulative morbidity (CCI≥75). Preoperative CAR might be a reliable additional tool to predict perioperative morbidity and mortality in DDLT recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iakovos Amygdalos
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - David Erren
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anna Mantas
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Joerg Boecker
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wenjia Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Decan Jiang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Institute of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Meister FA, Bednarsch J, Amygdalos I, Boecker J, Strnad P, Bruners P, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Heij L, Santana DAM, Liu WJ, Lurje G, Neumann UP, Czigany Z. Various myosteatosis selection criteria and their value in the assessment of short- and long-term outcomes following liver transplantation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13368. [PMID: 34183733 PMCID: PMC8239038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92798-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Body composition and myosteatosis affect clinical outcomes in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Here we aimed to compare the value and limitations of various selection criteria to define pre-transplant myosteatosis in the assessment of short- and long-term outcomes following OLT. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 264 consecutive recipients who underwent deceased donor OLT at a German university medical centre. Myosteatosis was evaluated by preoperative computed-tomography-based segmentation. Patients were stratified using muscle radiation attenuation of the whole muscle area (L3Muslce-RA), psoas RA (L3Psoas-RA) and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) values. L3Muslce-RA, L3Psoas-RA and IMAC performed well without major differences and identified patients at risk for inferior outcomes in the group analysis. Quartile-based analyses, receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analyses showed a superior association of L3Muslce-RA with perioperative outcomes when compared to L3Psoas-RA and L3IMAC. Long-term outcome did not show any major differences between the used selection criteria. This study confirms the prognostic role of myosteatosis in OLT with a particularly strong value in the perioperative phase. Although, based on our data, L3Muscle-RA might be the most suitable and recommended selection criterion to assess CT-based myosteatosis when compared to L3Psoas-RA and L3IMAC, further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Alexandra Meister
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Iakovos Amygdalos
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Joerg Boecker
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Institute of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lara Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute for Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Antonio Morales Santana
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wen-Jia Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Lurje
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte
- Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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Czigany Z, Kramp W, Lurje I, Miller H, Bednarsch J, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Bruners P, Strnad P, Trautwein C, von Websky MW, Tacke F, Neumann UP, Lurje G. The role of recipient myosteatosis in graft and patient survival after deceased donor liver transplantation. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2021; 12:358-367. [PMID: 33525056 PMCID: PMC8061365 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myosteatosis is associated with perioperative outcomes in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Here, we investigated the effects of body composition and myosteatosis on long-term graft and patient survival following OLT. METHODS Clinical data from 225 consecutive OLT recipients from a prospective database were retrospectively analysed (May 2010 to December 2017). Computed tomography-based lumbar skeletal muscle index (SMI) (muscle mass) and mean skeletal muscle radiation attenuation (SM-RA) (myosteatosis) were calculated using a segmentation tool (3D Slicer). Patients with low skeletal muscle mass (low SMI) and myosteatosis (low SM-RA) were identified using predefined and validated cut-off values. RESULTS The mean donor and recipient age was 55 ± 16 and 54 ± 12 years, respectively. Some 67% of the recipients were male. The probability of graft and patient survival was significantly lower in patients with myosteatosis compared with patients with higher SM-RA values (P = 0.011 and P = 0.001, respectively). Low skeletal muscle mass alone was not associated with graft and patient survival (P = 0.273 and P = 0.278, respectively). Dividing the cohort into quartiles, based on the values of SMI and SM-RA, resulted in significant differences in patient but not in graft survival (P = 0.011). Even though multivariable analysis identified low SM-RA as an important prognostic marker (hazard ratio: 2.260, 95% confidence interval: 1.177-4.340, P = 0.014), myosteatosis lost its significance when early mortality (90 days) was excluded from the final multivariable model. Patients with myosteatosis showed significantly higher all-cause mortality and in particular higher rates of deaths due to respiratory and septic complication (P = 0.002, P = 0.022, and P = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Preoperative myosteatosis may be an important prognostic marker in patients undergoing deceased donor liver transplantation. The prognostic value of myosteatosis seems to be particularly important in the early post-operative phase. Validation in prospective clinical trials is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Kramp
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Isabella Lurje
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannah Miller
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Bruners
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Pavel Strnad
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Georg Lurje
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Hong YM, Yoon KT, Hwang TH, Cho M. Pretreatment peripheral neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes predict long-term survival in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:937. [PMID: 32993594 PMCID: PMC7526162 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07105-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-related cancer, where nonresolving inflammation contributes to its development and progression. Peripheral inflammatory cells have been shown to be associated with the prognosis of various types of cancer. The present study investigated the utility of pretreatment peripheral inflammatory cells in the prognosis of patients with HCC. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data regarding peripheral inflammatory cell, and patient and tumor characteristics from patients with HCC who were diagnosed between November 2008 and March 2018. Baseline data, including peripheral inflammatory cell counts, were recorded before treatment. The relationships between overall survival (OS) and study variables were assessed. Results A total of 1681 patients who were diagnosed with HCC were included. In univariate and multivariate analyses, individual neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte cell counts were found as independent indicators of poor OS. High neutrophil (≥3100 × 106/L) and, monocyte (≥470 × 106/L) counts and low lymphocyte counts (< 1640 × 106/L) significantly associated with reduced OS (p < 0.05). Neutrophil and, monocyte cell counts rose and lymphocyte counts decreased in association with advancing the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (P < 0.001). Conclusions Pretreatment peripheral neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes are independently associated with outcomes of patients with HCC. These cells provides a noninvasive, low-cost, easy, and reproducible biomarker that can be used in routine clinical practice to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Mi Hong
- Liver center, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 20 Geumo-ro, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Tae Yoon
- Liver center, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 20 Geumo-ro, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Ho Hwang
- Department of Pharmacology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Mong Cho
- Liver center, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 20 Geumo-ro, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, 50612, Republic of Korea.
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