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Risk Factors for Brain Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Lei Wang1, Yongze Guo1, Hongwei Zhang1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan 056002, China.
Insights
Brain metastases (BMS) are a serious complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lack of surgical treatment, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy significantly increases the risk of BMS in HCC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent cancer with high mortality rates.
- Brain metastases (BMS) are a significant cause of mortality in HCC patients.
- Limited large-scale population studies exist on risk factors for BMS in HCC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with the development of brain metastases (BMS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.
- To analyze the impact of treatment modalities on BMS incidence in HCC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 36,091 HCC patient records from the SEER database (2004-2016).
- Utilized univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine risk factors for BMS.
- Examined clinical data including pathological differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and treatment interventions.
Main Results:
- The incidence of BMS in HCC patients was 0.33% (108 out of 36,091).
- Median survival was significantly lower for patients with BMS (7 months) compared to those without (12 months).
- Independent risk factors for BMS included lack of surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Lack of surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are independent risk factors for developing brain metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma.
- These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive treatment strategies in managing HCC and preventing distant metastases.
Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with high mortality, especially in HCC patients with brain metastases (BMS). However, few studies have investigated the risk factors for BMS among HCC patients based on large-scale population. The study involved clinical data of 36,091 patients who met the inclusion criteria from the SEER database, from 2004 to 2016. Univariate analysis and multifactor logistics regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors affecting BMS among HCC patients. This study revealed that BMS occurred in 108 of 36,091 patients, with an incidence of 0.33%. Median survival was 7 months for patients with BMS, but 12 months for patients without BMS. Univariate analysis showed that pathological low differentiation and undifferentiation, lymph node metastasis, no surgical treatment, and no chemotherapy and radiotherapy increased risk of BMS (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested that no surgical treatment and no chemotherapy or radiotherapy were independent risk factors for BMS (P < 0.001). Our findings highlighted that the independent risk factors for BMS were no surgical treatment, no chemotherapy, and no radiotherapy.
