Clinical characteristics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in relation to the type of hepatitis virus

Han, Kwang Hyub; Moon, Hee Yong; Kim, Bum Soo; Paik, Yong Han; Chon, Chae Yoon; Moon, Young Myoung; Kang, Jin Kyung; Park, In Suh

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the important causes of cancer-related mortality and morbidity in East Asia, including Korea. Most of the hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea are associated with hepatitis B and C virus infection. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with HCC were evaluated in relation to the type of hepatitis virus.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the clinical data and survival rate was done in 603 patients(M:F=4.9:1, mean age; 54.2 years) who were admitted to Yonsei medical center from April, 1991 through April, 1994.
RESULTS
Among 603 patients, tests for HBsAg and anti-HCV was done simultaneously in 455 patients. Out of the 455 HCC patients, 303 patients (66.6%) were classified as Group B(HBsAg+ve, anti-HCV-ve), 102 patients (22.4%) were classified as Group C (HBsAg-ve, anti-HCV+ve), 45 patients (9.9%) were classified as Group non-BC (HBsAg-ve, anti-HCV-ve), and 5 patients (1.1%) were classified as Group BC (HBsAg+ve, anti-HCV+ve). The mean age of the patients in Group C was older than that of Group B (64.9 vs. 51.3 yr) (p<0.05). Liver cirrhosis was frequently noticed in Group C than Group B (84.3 vs. 68.0%) (p<0.05). The number of the patients whose serum FP level was elevated (>400 ng/mL) was significantly higher in Group B than in Group C (70.0 vs. 52.0%)(p<0.05). According to the gross type, nodular type was more common in Group C than in Group B(72.0 vs. 38.1%) (p<0.01). The incidence of portal vein thrombosis was significantly lower in Group C compared with that in Group B (16.7 vs. 31.4%)(p<0.05). The number of the patients whose tumor size of less than 5 cm was significantly higher in Group C than in Group B (35.3 vs. 17.8%) (p<0.05). Using multivariant analysis, independent prognostic factors were found to be Child grading, FP level, size of the tumor, gross type, and the type of hepatitis virus. The cumulative survival rate of 1, 2, and 3 year in each Group was 31.5%, 17.5%, and 10.8%, respectively in Group B, and 55.7%, 30.2%, and 21.6%, respectively in Group C. The median duration of survival of Group B was significantly shorter than that of Group C(5.0 vs. 13 months)(p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
About 90 % of HCC was associated with hepatitis B or C viral infection in Korea. Hepatitis B virus associated HCC had poorer prognosis compared with hepatitis C virus associated HCC in Korea.