Clinical outcomes of surgical resection versus radiofrequency ablation in very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The detection rate of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing because of advances in surveillance and improved imaging technologies for high-risk populations. Surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are both first-line treatments for very-early-stage HCC, but the differences in clinical outcomes between patients treated with SR and RFA remain unclear. This study investigated the prognosis of SR and RFA for very-early-stage HCC patients with long-term follow-up.

METHODS:

This study was retrospectively collected data on the clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of 188 very-early-stage HCC patients (≤ 2 cm single HCC). OS and DFS were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed.

RESULTS:

Of the 188 HCC patients, 103 received SR and 85 received RFA. The median follow-up time was 56 months. The SR group had significantly higher OS than the RFA group (10-year cumulative OS: 55.2% and 31.3% in the SR and RFA groups, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed in DFS between the SR and RFA groups (10-year cumulative DFS: 45.9% and 32.6% in the SR and RFA groups, respectively). After PSM, the OS in the SR group remained significantly higher than that in the RFA group (10-year cumulative OS: 54.7% and 42.2% in the SR and RFA groups, respectively). No significant difference was observed in DFS between the SR and RFA groups (10-year cumulative DFS: 43.0% and 35.4% in the SR and RFA groups, respectively). Furthermore, in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, treatment type (hazard ratio (HR): 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31-0.95; P = 0.032) and total bilirubin (HR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.09-3.41; P = 0.025) were highly associated with OS. In addition, age (HR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.36-3.36; P = 0.001) and cirrhosis (HR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.11-2.89; P = 0.018) were strongly associated with DFS.

CONCLUSION:

For patients with very-early-stage HCC, SR was associated with significantly higher OS rates than RFA. However, no significant difference was observed in DFS between the SR and RFA groups.

• Authors: Yuan-Chen Li, Ping-Hung Chen, Jen-Hao Yeh, Pojen Hsiao, Gin-Ho Lo, TaoQian Tan, Pin-Nan Cheng, Hung-Yu Lin, Yaw-Sen Chen, Kun-Chou Hsieh, Pei-Min Hsieh, Chih-Wen Lin
• Journal: BMC gastroenterology (BMC Gastroenterol) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 418 (Nov 08 2021) ISSN: 1471-230X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34749663 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s).

Topics

• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (surgery)
• Catheter Ablation
• Hepatectomy (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (surgery)
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (epidemiology, surgery)
• Propensity Score
• Radiofrequency Ablation (adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome