BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease with both tumor and liver factors being involved. AIMS: To investigate HCC clinical phenotypes and factors related to HCC size. METHODS: Prospectively-collected HCC patients' data from a large Italian database were arranged according to the maximum tumor diameter (MTD) and divided into tumor size terciles, which were then compared in terms of several common clinical parameters and patients' survival. RESULTS: An higer MTD tercile was significantly associated with increased blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), and platelet levels. Patients with higher platelet levels had larger tumors and higher GGTP levels, with lower bilirubin levels. However, patients with the highest AFP levels had larger tumors and higher bilirubin levels, reflecting an aggressive biology. AFP correlation analysis revealed the existence of 2 different groups of patients: those with higher and with lower AFP levels, each with different patient and tumor characteristics. The Cox proportional-hazard model showed that a higher risk of death was correlated with GGTP and bilirubin levels, tumor size and number, and portal vein thrombosis (PVT), but not with AFP or platelet levels. CONCLUSIONS: An increased tumor size was associated with increased blood platelet counts, AFP and GGTP levels. Platelet and AFP levels were important indicators of tumor size, but not of survival.
BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease with both tumor and liver factors being involved. AIMS: To investigate HCC clinical phenotypes and factors related to HCC size. METHODS: Prospectively-collected HCC patients' data from a large Italian database were arranged according to the maximum tumor diameter (MTD) and divided into tumor size terciles, which were then compared in terms of several common clinical parameters and patients' survival. RESULTS: An higer MTD tercile was significantly associated with increased blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), and platelet levels. Patients with higher platelet levels had larger tumors and higher GGTP levels, with lower bilirubin levels. However, patients with the highest AFP levels had larger tumors and higher bilirubin levels, reflecting an aggressive biology. AFP correlation analysis revealed the existence of 2 different groups of patients: those with higher and with lower AFP levels, each with different patient and tumor characteristics. The Cox proportional-hazard model showed that a higher risk of death was correlated with GGTP and bilirubin levels, tumor size and number, and portal vein thrombosis (PVT), but not with AFP or platelet levels. CONCLUSIONS: An increased tumor size was associated with increased blood platelet counts, AFP and GGTP levels. Platelet and AFP levels were important indicators of tumor size, but not of survival.
Authors: Hoang Van Tong; Le Huu Song; Nghiem Xuan Hoan; Bui Khac Cuong; Bui Tien Sy; Ho Anh Son; Do Quyet; Vu Quoc Binh; Peter G Kremsner; Claus Thomas Bock; Thirumalaisamy P Velavan; Nguyen Linh Toan Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2015-01-23 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Brian I Carr; Vito Guerra; Edoardo G Giannini; Fabio Farinati; Francesca Ciccarese; Gian Ludovico Rapaccini; Maria Di Marco; Luisa Benvegnù; Marco Zoli; Franco Borzio; Eugenio Caturelli; Alberto Masotto; Franco Trevisani Journal: J Integr Oncol Date: 2016-09-05
Authors: Giovanni Marasco; Francesco Poggioli; Antonio Colecchia; Giuseppe Cabibbo; Filippo Pelizzaro; Edoardo Giovanni Giannini; Sara Marinelli; Gian Ludovico Rapaccini; Eugenio Caturelli; Mariella Di Marco; Elisabetta Biasini; Fabio Marra; Filomena Morisco; Francesco Giuseppe Foschi; Marco Zoli; Antonio Gasbarrini; Gianluca Svegliati Baroni; Alberto Masotto; Rodolfo Sacco; Giovanni Raimondo; Francesco Azzaroli; Andrea Mega; Gianpaolo Vidili; Maurizia Rossana Brunetto; Gerardo Nardone; Luigina Vanessa Alemanni; Elton Dajti; Federico Ravaioli; Davide Festi; Franco Trevisani; On Behalf Of The Italian Liver Cancer Ita Li Ca Group Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2021-05-29 Impact factor: 6.639