title: Prognostic factors for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence.
abstract: The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, the sixth most common neoplasm and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, represents an important clinical problem, since it may occur after both surgical and medical treatment. The recurrence rate involves 2 phases: an early phase and a late phase. The early phase usually occurs within 2 years after resection; it is mainly related to local invasion and intrahepatic metastases and, therefore, to the intrinsic biology of the tumor. On the other hand, the late phase occurs more than 2 years after surgery and is mainly related to de novo tumor formation as a consequence of the carcinogenic cirrhotic environment. Since recent studies have reported that early and late recurrences may have different risk factors, it is clinically important to recognize these factors in the individual patient as soon as possible. The aim of this review was, therefore, to identify predicting factors for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, by means of invasive and non-invasive methods, according to the different therapeutic strategies available. In particular the role of emerging techniques (e.g., transient elastography) and biological features of hepatocellular carcinoma in predicting recurrence have been discussed. In particular, invasive methods were differentiated from non-invasive ones for research purposes, taking into consideration the emerging role of the genetic signature of hepatocellular carcinoma in order to better allocate treatment strategies and surveillance follow-up in patients with this type of tumor.
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colecchia
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiumerini
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cucchetti
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cescon
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taddia
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marasco
authors.affiliation: Antonio Colecchia, Ramona Schiumerini, Martina Taddia, Giovanni Marasco, Davide Festi, Department of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Festi
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Hepatic resection; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver biopsy; Liver stiffness measurement; Orthotopic liver transplant; Percutaneous ethanol injection; Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation; Transarterial chemoembolization