Hepatitis B genotypes correlate with tumor recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared with genotype B. This study aims to investigate whether HBV genotypes influence the clinicopathologic features and long-term prognosis of patients after curative resection of HCC.


METHODS
Stored serum samples from 62 patients with HBV-related HCC were tested for HBV genotype using a molecular method.


RESULTS
Sixty of 62 patients (96.8%) undergoing curative resection of HCC were infected with genotype B or C. Concomitant cirrhosis was encountered more frequently in patients with genotype C. During a mean follow-up period of 26.3 +/- 9.8 months, patients with genotype B had a lower overall tumor recurrence rate than those with genotype C (22% vs. 46%; P = 0.04). Stepwise multiple Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that multiplicity of tumor (hazard ratio, 6.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-32.2; P = 0.02) was associated with tumor recurrence, whereas genotype C and age were associated with borderline significance (P = 0.06). Stratified analysis showed that genotype C was still associated with tumor recurrence in cirrhotic patients with borderline significance by univariate analysis (hazard ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 0.84-17.6; P = 0.07). However, cumulative 2-year survival rates were similar between patients with genotype B and C (92% vs. 85%; P = 0.23).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that patients with HCC with genotype C have a greater tumor recurrence rate after curative resection of HCC compared with those with genotype B. Prolonged follow-up is needed to clarify the impact of HBV genotype on postoperative outcome.
Chen
Jin-De
JD
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liu
Chun-Jen
CJ
Lee
Po-Huang
PH
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome