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High pretreatment static and dynamic alpha‐fetoprotein values predict reduced overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT: Abstract

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Novel prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers are urgently needed to improve patient management. Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is a well‐established and widely used biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, diagnostic accuracy of static AFP values is limited and the clinical potential is a matter of ongoing scientific discussion.

Objective

We here evaluated the prognostic impact of pretreatment static and dynamic AFP variables on overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in a Western cohort.

Methods

Patients with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 809) treated at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz between 1998 and 2014 and two available pretreatment AFP‐values (AFP‐slope) were retrospectively analysed. Clinicopathological baseline parameters, pretreatment static values and AFP‐slope were assessed. Prognostic impact was determined by Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox regression models.

Results

High static and dynamic AFP variables prior to therapy were associated with reduced survival rates of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Several known clinical parameters such as Child–Pugh B (p < 0.01) and C stage (p < 0.001), portal vein thrombosis (p < 0.001) and extrahepatic spread (p < 0.001) were confirmed as independent predictors for overall survival. Addition of static and/or dynamic AFP variable resulted in higher time‐dependent area under the curves. Notably, in patients with more favourable prognosis, AFP‐slope prior to therapy was a slightly stronger predictor for overall survival compared with static AFP values.

Conclusion

Static and dynamic AFP variables prior to therapy are predictive for overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Addition of AFP‐slope to established prognostic parameters might improve prognostic classification for a subgroup of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with preserved liver function and without portal vein tumour thrombosis. Key Summary Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is the most commonly used biomarker for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), but accuracy of static and dynamic AFP values is limited and the prognostic significance is under debate. High static and dynamic AFP variables prior to therapy are associated with reduced survival rates of HCC patients across different tumour stages and treatment modalities. In patients with more favourable prognosis, AFP‐slope prior to therapy was a better predictor for overall survival in comparison with static AFP values. Addition of AFP‐slope to established prognostic parameters might improve prognostic classification for a subgroup of HCC.

SUBMITTER: Czauderna C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8259127 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was routinely employed as a tumor marker for screening, diagnosis, and treatment follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a substantial proportion of HCC patients had normal AFP level even at an advanced disease status. Few studies to date had tried to explore the nature and behavior of this normal AFP HCC (N-HCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcome of N-HCC after operation. In addition, potential tumor markers for N-HCC were also sought in an attempt to augment diagnostic ability. METHODS:between 2005 and 2015, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with hepatectomy in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou branch were divided into two groups according to their preoperative serum AFP level (<15 ng/mL: NHCC; ?15 ng/mL: abnormal AFP HCC (A-HCC)). Patient demographic data and clinicopathological variables were collected. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression multivariate analyses were performed to identify significant risk factors for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for N-HCC. ELISA and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies were employed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of various tumor markers. RESULTS:a total of 1616 patients (78% male) who underwent liver resection for HCC were included in this study. Of them, 761 patients (47.1%) were N-HCC. N-HCC patients were significantly older with more comorbidities and less hepatitis virus infections. Furthermore, N-HCC had fewer early recurrences (49.6% vs. 60.8%, p < 0.001) and better DFS (44.6 months vs. 23.6 months, p < 0.001) and OS (94.5 months vs. 81.7 months, p < 0.001). Both ELISA and IHC studies demonstrated that glypican-3 (GPC3) would be a promising diagnostic tumor marker for N-HCC. CONCLUSION:N-HCC patients were significantly older and had less hepatitis virus infections or cirrhosis. Their tumors tended to be smaller, less vascular invaded, and well-differentiated. The carcinogenesis of N-HCC may thus not be identical to that of typical HCC. GPC3 would be a promising tumor marker for diagnosing N-HCC. Further study is warranted to validate our findings.