Prediction of tumor recurrence by α-fetoprotein model after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hong-Fan Ding, Xu-Feng Zhang, Fabio Bagante, Francesca Ratti, Hugo P. Marques, Olivier Soubrane, Vincent Lam, George A. Poultsides, Irinel Popescu, Sorin Alexandrescu, Guillaume Martel, Aklile Workneh, Alfredo Guglielmi, Tom Hugh, Luca Aldrighetti, Yi Lv, Timothy M. Pawlik*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Preoperative α-fetoprotein (AFP) level levels may help select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for surgery. The objective of the current study was to assess an AFP model to predict tumor recurrence and patient survival after curative resection for HCC. Methods: Patients undergoing curative-intent resection for HCC between 2000 and 2017 were identified from a multi-institutional database. AFP score was calculated based on the last evaluation before surgery. Probabilities of tumor recurrence and overall survival (OS) were compared according to an AFP model. Results: A total of 825 patients were included. An optimal cut-off AFP score of 2 was identified with an AFP score ≥3 versus ≤2 independently predicting tumor recurrence and OS. Net reclassification improvements indicated the AFP model was superior to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system to predict recurrence (p < 0.001). Among patients with BCLC B–C, AFP score ≤2 identified a subgroup of patients with AFP levels of ≤100 ng/mL with a low 5-year recurrence risk (≤2 45.2% vs. ≥3 61.8%, p = 0.046) and favorable 5-year OS (≤2 54.5% vs. ≥3 39.4%, p = 0.035). In contrast, among patients within BCLC 0-A, AFP score ≥3 identified a subgroup of patients with AFP values > 1000 ng/mL with a high 5-year recurrence (≥3 47.9% vs. ≤2% 38.4%, p = 0.046) and worse 5-year OS (≥3 47.8% vs. ≤2 65.9%, p < 0.001). In addition, the AFP score independently correlated with vascular invasion, tumor differentiation and capsule invasion. Conclusions: The AFP model was more accurate than the BCLC system to identify which HCC patients may benefit the most from surgical resection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)660-666
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume47
Issue number3 Pt B
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alpha-fetoprotein
  • Barcelona clinic liver cancer
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prediction of tumor recurrence by α-fetoprotein model after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this