title: Post-radiation survival time in hepatocellular carcinoma based on predictors for CT-determined, transarterial embolization and various other parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this retrospective study of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we have investigated the efficacy of CT-derived parameters, laboratory measurements, clinical assessment and associated transarterial embolization (TAE) as predictors of post-radiotherapy survival time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients diagnosed with unresectable HCC that had undergone radiotherapy at two medical university hospitals in Taipei were enrolled in the study. Using multivariant analysis, pre-treatment parameters including tumor number and CT confirmation of PVT and ascites were compared. Multivariant analysis was also used for comparison of the mean pretreatment values for laboratory measurements, including alpha-fetoprotein, direct/total bilirubin and GOT/GPT levels, and clinical history of chronic hepatitis across the three survival-time categories. The chi2 was used to test the significance of the relationship between survival time and TAE procedure. The P values for the above tests were deemed statistically significant where P<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Portal vein thrombosis (P = 0.032) and ascites (P<0.05) were negative predictors of post-radiation survival time. Low-grade liver cirrhosis (A or B), lower tumor volume and low levels of AFT, GOT/GPT, and total bilirubin were predictors of longer post-radiation survival time (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CT and clinical and laboratory assessment provide a reference for, and enable estimation of, probable survival times in HCC patients after radiotherapy. Tumor volume, severity of liver cirrhosis, status with respect to portal vein thrombosis and ascites and AFT, GOT/GPT and total bilirubin values were significant predictors of survival in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Kai
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Li-Kuo
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Hsi-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Jeng-Fong
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chiou
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites / Q000401:mortality; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000401:mortality