Prognostic factors after early recurrence in patients who underwent curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The prognosis of the patients with early recurrence after curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually dismal.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-four patients underwent curative resection for HCC at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2006. An early recurrence was defined as a recurrence within 2 years after a curative resection. The risk factors associated with an early recurrence were analyzed as well as other risk factors correlated with survival after early recurrence.


RESULTS
Early disease recurrence developed in 56 patients (45.2%). The risk factors associated with an early recurrence were a tumor size larger than 5 cm (P = 0.001) and the presence of tumor micrometastasis (P < 0.001). The 1 year/2 year overall survival, after early recurrence, was 57.0%/41.0% and the preoperative α-fetoprotein, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor size, macroscopic vascular invasion, and number of tumors were associated with survival on the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for survival, after early disease recurrence, were a preoperative CRP >1.0 mg/dl and macroscopic vascular invasion. (P = 0.004, P < 0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The preoperative CRP and macroscopic vascular invasion were associated with the aggressiveness of early recurrent HCC.
Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jae Min
JM
Chun
Hyung Jun
HJ
Kwon
Junho
J
Sohn
Sang Geol
SG
Kim
Ji-Young
JY
Park
Han Ik
HI
Bae
Young Kook
YK
Yun
Yoon Jin
YJ
Hwang
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein