Hyo Jung Cho1, Jai Keun Kim2, Ji Sun Nam3, Hee Jung Wang4, Jei Hee Lee2, Bong Wan Kim4, Soon Sun Kim1, Choong Kyun Noh1, Sung Jae Shin1, Kee Myung Lee1, Sung Won Cho1, Jae Youn Cheong5. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 2. Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 3. Human genome research & Bio-resource center, Ajou University Medical Center, Suwon, South Korea. 4. Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. Electronic address: jaeyoun620@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic potential of plasma microRNA-122 levels in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or RFA (n=57) were included. The pretreatment plasma microRNA-122 level was assessed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between microRNA-122 expression and various clinical parameters was investigated. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that, in all patients, a low platelet count (<100×10(9)/L), low albumin level (≤3.5g/dL.), and advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control stage III/IV) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival, while a low albumin level and advanced tumor stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). In a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent RFA, the patients with high miR-122 expression (>100) had significantly lower OS on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P=0.042). Furthermore, high microRNA-122 expression (hazard ratio [HR]=2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12-6.35; P=0.026) and advanced tumor stage (HR=2.27; 95% CI=1.23-4.18; P=0.009) were independent risk factors for poor OS in patients treated with RFA. The combination of microRNA-122 and tumor stage resulted in an area under the curve of 0.818 for predicting 1-year OS in patients who underwent RFA. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma microRNA-122 expression was associated with poor OS in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent RFA.
OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic potential of plasma microRNA-122 levels in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection (n=63) or RFA (n=57) were included. The pretreatment plasma microRNA-122 level was assessed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between microRNA-122 expression and various clinical parameters was investigated. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that, in all patients, a low platelet count (<100×10(9)/L), low albumin level (≤3.5g/dL.), and advanced tumor stage (modified Union for International Cancer Control stage III/IV) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival, while a low albumin level and advanced tumor stage were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). In a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent RFA, the patients with high miR-122 expression (>100) had significantly lower OS on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P=0.042). Furthermore, high microRNA-122 expression (hazard ratio [HR]=2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12-6.35; P=0.026) and advanced tumor stage (HR=2.27; 95% CI=1.23-4.18; P=0.009) were independent risk factors for poor OS in patients treated with RFA. The combination of microRNA-122 and tumor stage resulted in an area under the curve of 0.818 for predicting 1-year OS in patients who underwent RFA. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma microRNA-122 expression was associated with poor OS in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent RFA.