Factors affecting long-term outcome after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Experience with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited in the West and factors affecting outcome after resection are not clearly defined.

Between 1970 and 1992, 106 patients (including 74 Caucasians, 31 Orientals, and 1 black) underwent hepatic resection for HCC at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Clinical and histopathologic factors of outcome were analyzed.

Cirrhosis was present in 33% and 95% were Child-Pugh A. Operative mortality was 6%, 14% in cirrhotics versus 1% in non-cirrhotics (P = 0.013). Orientals had a higher prevalence of cirrhosis (68% versus 19%) (P < 0.0001) and smaller tumors (mean 8.7 cm versus 11.0 cm) (P = 0.028) compared to Caucasians. Overall survival was 41% and 32% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. By univariate analysis, survival was greater in association with the following: absence of vascular invasion (69% versus 28%, P = 0.002); absence of symptoms (66% versus 38%, P = 0.014); solitary tumor (53% versus 28%, P = 0.014); negative margins (46% versus 21%, P = 0.022); small tumor (< or = 5 cm) (75% versus 36%, P = 0.027); and presence of tumor capsule (69% versus 35%, P = 0.047). Ethnic origin, cirrhosis, necrosis and grade did not affect survival. By multivariate analysis, only vascular invasion predicted outcome (P = 0.0025, risk ratio 2.9).

One third of patients resected for HCC can be expected to survive long-term. Except for a higher incidence of cirrhosis in Orientals, no major histopathologic or prognostic differences were noted between Orientals and Caucasians undergoing resection. Early cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) did not adversely affect survival. Vascular invasion predicted long-term outcome.