Sivesh K Kamarajah1. 1. College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: SXK206@student.bham.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Surgical extirpation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with background fibrosis remains a challenge. This study evaluated impact of fibrosis score on long term outcomes of patients undergoing surgical resection for HCC. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2013), complete data on 1433 patients undergoing surgical resection for non-metastatic HCC were identified. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards model were used to produce adjusted hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: In this study, 54% (650/1433) patients had F5-6 fibrosis at the time for surgical resection of HCC. In adjusted models, F5/6 fibrosis significantly reduces overall survival (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.34-1.94; p < 0.001). Median survival was significantly longer for patients with F0-4 fibrosis for T1a, T1b and T2 tumours as compared to F5-6 fibrosis, not for T3 and T4 tumours, even when stratified by extent of hepatectomy. There were no significant differences in 90-day post-operative mortality between fibrosis groups when stratified by T-classifications. CONCLUSION: Liver resection in patients with advanced fibrosis has significantly lower survival as compared to patients with F0-4 fibrosis in early stage (T1 and T2), not advanced tumours (T3 and T4). Improvement in patient selection and perioperative care for liver resection may offer consistent and clinically meaningful long-term survival in HCC.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Surgical extirpation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with background fibrosis remains a challenge. This study evaluated impact of fibrosis score on long term outcomes of patients undergoing surgical resection for HCC. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2013), complete data on 1433 patients undergoing surgical resection for non-metastatic HCC were identified. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards model were used to produce adjusted hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: In this study, 54% (650/1433) patients had F5-6fibrosis at the time for surgical resection of HCC. In adjusted models, F5/6 fibrosis significantly reduces overall survival (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.34-1.94; p < 0.001). Median survival was significantly longer for patients with F0-4 fibrosis for T1a, T1b and T2 tumours as compared to F5-6fibrosis, not for T3 and T4 tumours, even when stratified by extent of hepatectomy. There were no significant differences in 90-day post-operative mortality between fibrosis groups when stratified by T-classifications. CONCLUSION: Liver resection in patients with advanced fibrosis has significantly lower survival as compared to patients with F0-4 fibrosis in early stage (T1 and T2), not advanced tumours (T3 and T4). Improvement in patient selection and perioperative care for liver resection may offer consistent and clinically meaningful long-term survival in HCC.