Identification of Clinical Phenotypes and Related Survival in Patients with Large HCCs

Simple Summary Factors influencing the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients include portal vein thrombosis (PVT), tumor numbers (multifocality), blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and the degree of liver damage (levels of blood bilirubin and albumin). However, the role of tumor size can be ambiguous. We therefore examined multiple clinical characteristics for their relationship with patient death and combined the three parameters with the greatest impact to create a tool to examine the characteristics and survival of patients with normal and abnormal levels of this three-parameter tool. In patients with large tumors, we found that normal levels of these three parameters-no PVT or multifocality plus normal blood albumin levels-were associated with longer survival than any group containing patients with PVT. This good-survival group could also be divided into two subgroups, differing in survival, based on blood AFP levels. This three-parameter tool might be prognostically useful in stratifying patients and management decisions. Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) factors, especially maximum tumor diameter (MTD), tumor multifocality, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), influence survival. Aim. To examine patterns of tumor factors in large HCC patients. Methods. A database of large HCC patients was examined. Results. A multiple Cox proportional hazard model on death identified low serum albumin levels and the presence of PVT and multifocality, with each having a hazard ratio >= 2.0. All combinations of these three parameters were examined in relation to survival. Using univariate Cox analysis, the combination of albumin >3.5 g/dL and the absence of both PVT and multifocality had the best survival rate, while all combinations that included the presence of PVT had poor survival and hazard ratios. We identified four clinical phenotypes, each with a distinct median survival: patients with or without PVT or multifocality plus serum albumin >= 3.5 (g/dL), with each subgroup displaying high (>= 100 IU/mL) or low (<100 IU/mL) blood AFP levels. Across a range of MTDs, we identified only two significant trends, blood AFP and platelets. Conclusions. Patients with large HCCs have distinct phenotypes and survival, as identified by the combination of PVT, multifocality, and blood albumin levels.

Automated summary

The study revealed that survival of patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma is influenced by factors including portal vein thrombosis, tumor multifocality, and serum albumin levels. The combination of these factors can help stratify patients into different survival groups.