Comparison of clinical characteristics of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and other primary liver cancers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) is a rare liver malignancy. In this study, we compared patient characteristics and outcomes for primary CHC, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS:

Medical records of patients with tissue-proven CHC (65 cases) treated at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 1991 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. These records were compared to records of patients diagnosed with tissue-proven HCC (1985 cases) and ICC (127 cases) during the same period.

RESULTS:

Hepatitis B and C are major causes of CHC. CHC patients exhibited greater similarity to HCC than to ICC patients with respect to cirrhotic changes, age, and positive serology for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody. Survival was related to tumor characteristics and intervention therapies, but not to etiologies.

CONCLUSIONS:

The clinical characteristics of CHC are similar to those of HCC, but overall survival is more similar to that of ICC; survival may be related to tumor biology rather than the cause. Multimodal treatment with an initial aggressive therapeutic approach can improve survival.

• Authors: Chern-Horng Lee, Sen-Yung Hsieh, Chee-Jen Chang, Yu-Jr Lin
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 28 Issue 1 Pg. 122-7 (Jan 2013) ISSN: 1440-1746 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 23034166 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
• Hepatitis C Antibodies

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Bile Duct Neoplasms (pathology, therapy, virology)
• Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (pathology, therapy, virology)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (pathology, therapy, virology)
• Female
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (immunology)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (complications)
• Hepatitis C Antibodies (blood)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications)
• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, pathology)
• Liver Neoplasms (pathology, therapy, virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Rate