OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic factors for primary liver cancer (PLC) after hepatectomy. METHODS: 182 patients who underwent hepatectomy for PLC from 1988 to 1996 were included for univariate and Cox multivariate analysis. 20 factors contributed to the long-term survival rate (SR) and the disease-free SR were analysed. RESULTS: The cumulative SR (n = 182) in 5 years was 43.3%. The 5-year SR and disease-free SR in the curative resection (CR) group (n = 156) were 48.0%, 24.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that classification of CR and differentiation grade were significant factors for the long-term SR, and classification of CR and Child-Pugh's classification were significant factors for the disease-free SR. The 5-year SR and disease-free SR for pathological CR, clinical CR and non-CR (palliative resection) groups were 61.1%, 20.4%, 0 and 28.8%, 15.5%, 0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The classification of CR is the determining prognostic factor. Pathological CR is the first option for patients with requirements. To control liver disease and improve adjuvant therapy are essential to decreasing the recurrence and metastasis rates.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic factors for primary liver cancer (PLC) after hepatectomy. METHODS: 182 patients who underwent hepatectomy for PLC from 1988 to 1996 were included for univariate and Cox multivariate analysis. 20 factors contributed to the long-term survival rate (SR) and the disease-free SR were analysed. RESULTS: The cumulative SR (n = 182) in 5 years was 43.3%. The 5-year SR and disease-free SR in the curative resection (CR) group (n = 156) were 48.0%, 24.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that classification of CR and differentiation grade were significant factors for the long-term SR, and classification of CR and Child-Pugh's classification were significant factors for the disease-free SR. The 5-year SR and disease-free SR for pathological CR, clinical CR and non-CR (palliative resection) groups were 61.1%, 20.4%, 0 and 28.8%, 15.5%, 0, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The classification of CR is the determining prognostic factor. Pathological CR is the first option for patients with requirements. To control liver disease and improve adjuvant therapy are essential to decreasing the recurrence and metastasis rates.