Background: The recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy is a serious event. It has been demonstrated that different ground-glass hepatocyte (GGH) patterns harbor specific hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-S deletion mutants and represent preneoplastic lesions in chronic HBV infection. In the current study, the authors investigated whether a specific GGH pattern in nontumorous liver tissues was associated with the recurrence of HBV-related HCC after surgery.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data from 82 patients with HBV-related HCC were reviewed. GGH patterns were assessed on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Tissue hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Serum profiles of pre-S status, viral load, and HBV genotype were determined and correlated with clinical recurrence and survival after surgery.

Results: The results indicated that the clustered pattern of GGHs or HBsAg expression was associated significantly with decreased local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) during a mean follow-up of 46.4 months (P<.001). This biomarker was comparable to or better than the prognostic value of other parameters, such as multifocal tumors (P = .022), satellite nodules (P = .005), small cell dysplasia (P = .045), or elevated viral load (P = .027), to predict recurrent HCC. Multivariate analysis also revealed that type II GGHs, which expressed marginal HBsAg and consistently clustered in nodules, were independent variables associated with LRFS (P<.001) and overall survival (P = .003).

Conclusions: The current results indicated that the assessment of GGH patterns or HBsAg expression in nontumorous liver tissues provides an easily recognized, new risk marker for the recurrence of HBV-related HCC after hepatic resection.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.25837DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

ground-glass hepatocyte
8
recurrence hepatocellular
8
hepatocellular carcinoma
8
ggh patterns
8
hbv-related hcc
8
hbsag expression
8
clustered ground-glass
4
hepatocyte pattern
4
pattern represents
4
represents prognostic
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!