High pre-operative serum aminotransferase levels predict local recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Summary

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide because of the dissemination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection. Surgical resection is the most important therapeutic option with a curative intent. Early tumor detection through screening and improvements in surgical techniques have significantly improved the outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, local recurrence after curative hepatic resection is common and is the most frequent cause of death in these patients.

Patients and Methods

In an attempt to identify the risk factors that predict tumor recurrence, we conducted this retrospective study in a single institution for a 6-year period. Of the 100 consecutive patients who underwent curative tumor resection, we analyzed age, sex, viral etiology (hepatitis B virus vs. hepatitis C virus), preoperative levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, the α-fetoprotein level, underlying liver disease status (chronic hepatitis vs. cirrhosis), number and size of tumors, type of resection, and presence of microvascular invasion.

Results

In the median follow-up period of 36 months (range, 12–85 months), the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90%, 84%, and 73%, respectively; tumor recurrence occurred in 38 (38%) patients and was the leading cause of death among the patients who died (15 of 17 patients; 88%). On univariate analysis, the only factor significantly associated with a higher incidence of tumor recurrence was preoperative levels of aspartate aminotransferase greater than twice the upper normal value (p  < 0.01) and this factor remained significant with multivariate analysis. Subgroup analysis of the risk factor of early tumor recurrence (≤2 years) and late tumor recurrence (>2 years) was conducted and a preoperative aspartate aminotransferase level greater than twice the upper normal value was still significant in both groups (p  = 0.02 and p  = 0.044, respectively).

Conclusion

Although this is a small-scale study, our findings could be easily applied clinically and used as readily available indicators to help the follow-up algorithm. We also suggest antiviral management as soon as possible for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing curative resection, especially those with a high preoperative aspartate aminotransferase level.

Keywords

Alanine aminotransferase ; Aspartate aminotransferase ; Curative resection ; Hepatocellular carcinoma ; Recurrence

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in Asia and Africa and its incidence is increasing worldwide because of the dissemination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [1] . It is prevalent in Taiwan with around 10,000 new cases each year and has been the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for approximately 8000 deaths annually [2] . Recent advances in screening, such as ultrasonography, dynamic computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, have made early diagnosis possible and thus improved survival [3]  ;  [4] . Surgery is the most important therapeutic option for patients with HCC [5]  ;  [6] . With the progress in early diagnosis and operative techniques, the outcome of patients with HCC after tumor resection have significantly improved, with median survival rates of 80% (range, 63–97%) at 1 year and 50% (range, 17–69%) at 5 years, with a surgical mortality rate of less than 2% [5] ; [7] ; [8]  ;  [9] . The wide ranges of survival rates are attributed mainly to differences in the HCC stage among various studies, with an obvious survival advantage in early-stage tumors [10] . However, a significant proportion of patients cannot achieve a cure or a sustained tumor-free survival and the long-term outcome after initial treatment remains unsatisfactory because of a high recurrence rate, ranging from 43% to 100% at 5 years [6] ; [7] ; [11] ; [12] ; [13] ; [14]  ;  [15] .

HCC recurrence has been classified as early (within 2–3 years) or late. Early recurrence is usually due to metastasis from the primary tumor (dissemination from the primary tumor), whereas late recurrence is often due to de novo second primary tumors occurring in a cirrhotic or HBV-infected liver [16] . Many factors have been identified to be associated with tumor recurrence after surgical resection, including: the accompanying chronic viral hepatitis status (Ishak activity score); serum levels of albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), α-fetoprotein, and HBV DNA; the extent of hepatectomy; and various tumor factors [12] ; [13] ; [16] ; [17] ; [18] ; [19] ; [20]  ;  [21] . Among these, the most powerful predictors of recurrence are the presence of microvascular invasion or additional tumor sites besides the primary lesions, or both [12] . In this retrospective study we aimed to identify the risk factors for recurrence in patients undergoing curative surgical resection in a single institution.

Methods

We retrospectively searched the database of the Chi-Mei Medical Center in southern Taiwan for patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent curative liver resection from March 2002 to March 2008. The institutional review board approved this study. We used either ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the anatomical location of HCC; the operative procedures were defined according to Couinauds classification of hepatic segments [22] . Curative resection referred to a complete resection of all macroscopic tumors with tumor clearance along the parenchymal transection line.

We reviewed the medical records of the patients for the underlying causes of hepatitis and coexisting liver diseases. Those patients with cirrhosis were classified according to the Child–Pugh scheme [23] . The clinicopathological variables evaluated included age at surgery, sex, etiology of hepatitis, α-fetoprotein level, microvascular invasion, number and size of tumors, type of resection, underlying liver disease status (chronic hepatitis vs. cirrhosis), and preoperative levels of AST and ALT. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification was used for clinical staging. All patients were followed up regularly every 2–3 months after surgery. Tumor recurrence was suspected in the presence of progressive elevation of serum α-fetoprotein levels and detection of a new hepatic lesion by ultrasonography. Tumor recurrence was diagnosed by dynamic CT scan or MRI showing contrast enhancement during the arterial phase and washout in the venous phase, or hepatic angiography disclosing a high vascularity tumor. Once tumor recurrence was suspected, patients were admitted to hospital for the confirmation of diagnosis and appropriate management, including resection, local ablation treatment, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or supportive treatment.

Continuous data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and compared with the unpaired t test. Dichotomous variables were evaluated with χ² analysis or Fishers exact test to define various patient groups contributing significantly to the factors affecting disease-free survival and recurrence. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan–Meier method and the difference in the curves was tested with the log-rank test. To determine prognostic factors for disease-free survival during the follow-up period, the Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of the following potential variables: age, sex, viral etiology (HBV or HCV), α-fetoprotein level, number and size of tumors, type of resection, underlying liver disease status (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis), and preoperative levels of AST and ALT. After univariate analysis, only those variables that reached p  < 0.05 were used in the multivariate analysis. The multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was built by stepwise variable with entry and removal exit criteria set at p  = 0.05 and p  = 0.1, respectively. Statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05. SPSS version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all statistical analyses.

Results

We identified a total of 113 patients receiving curative resection for HCC during this study period; 13 patients had data missing, but the remaining 100 patients were analyzed in this study. Table 1 summarizes the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. There were 69 men and 31 women with a median age of 59.5 years (range, 52–66 years). Sixteen patients were 70 years or older. Twenty-one patients had chronic hepatitis; 79 had liver cirrhosis according to pathological findings, all Child–Pugh class A. The underlying causes of disease were HBV and HCV in 52% and 32% of patients, respectively, whereas coinfection of HBV and HCV occurred in 6%. The remaining cases included 7% of patients with alcoholic liver disease and 3% with other unidentified causes. The hepatic tumors were single in 91 (91%) patients and multiple in the remaining 9 (9%) patients. The median diameter of the largest tumor in each patient was 4.7 cm (range, 1–11 cm). Twenty-six patients were BCLC stage 0, 58 patients were stage A, and the remaining 16 patients were stage B. Seventy-six patients underwent segmentectomy and the remaining 24 underwent major hepatectomy. Microvascular invasion was identified by pathological findings in only two (2%) patients. The median follow-up time was 36 months (range, 12–85 months). The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90%, 84%, and 73%, respectively.

Table 1. Clinicopathological features of patients in this study.

Variable	n (%)
Sex
Male	69 (69)
Female	31 (31)
Etiology of liver disease
Hepatitis B	52 (52)
Hepatitis C	32 (32)
Hepatitis B + C	6 (6)
Alcohol	7 (7)
Other	3 (3)
Non-neoplastic liver disease
Liver cirrhosis	79 (79)
Chronic hepatitis	21 (21)
Diameter of main nodule (cm)
<3	51 (51)
≥3	26 (26)
≥5	23 (23)
Number of nodules
Single	91 (91)
Multiple	9 (9)
BCLC stage
Stage 0	25 (25)
Stage A	59 (59)
Stage B	16 (16)
Microvascular invasion
Positive	2 (2)
Negative	98 (98)

BCLC = Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification.

Tumor recurrence occurred in 38 (38%) patients. Seventeen patients died during the follow-up period and the causes of death included tumor recurrence (15 patients, 88%) and one patient (6%) each with intracranial hemorrhage and operative complications. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 77.5%, 61.1%, and 48.6%, respectively. The survival rate between the disease-free and tumor recurrence groups was significant (p  < 0.001; Fig. 1 ).

Figure 1. Survival curves for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent curative surgical resection with and without recurrence.

On univariate analysis, the only factor significantly associated with a higher incidence of tumor recurrence was preoperative levels of AST greater than twice the upper normal value (2N; p  < 0.01). Tumor recurrence was not related to age at surgery, sex, or HBV or HCV infection, α-fetoprotein level, tumor size (<3 cm, 3–5 cm, or >5 cm), tumor multifocality (single vs. multiple), type of resection, underlying chronic hepatitis versus cirrhosis, or preoperative levels of ALT greater than twice the normal value ( Table 2 ). Preoperative AST level greater than twice the normal value remained significantly (p  < 0.05) related to a higher incidence of tumor recurrence with multivariate analysis. Meanwhile, patients with preoperative levels of AST and ALT greater than twice the upper normal value had a higher cumulative proportion of local recurrence with statistical significance (2N; p  = 0.023 and p  = 0.042, respectively; Fig. 2 A and B). In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted to determine the risk factor of early tumor recurrence (≤2 years; 32 patients, 84%) and late tumor recurrence (>2 years; 6 patients, 16% ) in this study. A significant correlation of high AST level and tumor recurrence, in both early and late recurrence, was noted, as shown in Table 3  ;  Table 4 .

Table 2. Univariate analysis of disease-free survival.

Variable	Recurrence of HCC (n  = 38)	Disease-free survival (n  = 62)	HR (95% CI)	p
Age (y)	56.4 ± 10.6	59.3 ± 11.6		0.22
Male sex	30 (78.9)	39 (62.9)	1.76 (0.88–3.52)	0.092
Etiology of liver disease
Hepatitis B	21 (55.3)	31 (50.0)	1.12 (0.73–1.72)	0.609
Hepatitis C	13 (34.2)	19 (30.6)	1.05 (0.79–1.40)	0.711
Hepatitis B + C	2 (5.3)	4 (6.5)	0.98 (0.89–1.10)	0.808
AST > 1N	27 (71.1)	35 (56.5)	1.50 (0.85–2.67)	0.144
ALT > 1N	30 (78.9)	41 (66.1)	1.61 (0.79–3.21)	0.17
AST > 2N	15 (39.5)	10 (16.1)	1.39 (1.05–1.83)	0.009
ALT > 2N	16 (42.1)	16 (25.8)	1.28 (0.94–1.74)	0.09
Liver cirrhosis	33 (86.8)	46 (74.2)	1.97 (0.76–6.89)	0.132
Liver nodules number				0.676
Single	34 (89.5)	57 (91.9)
Multiple	4 (10.5)	5 (8.1)
Diameter of nodule (cm)				0.541
<3	18 (47.4)	33 (53.2)
≥3	9 (23.7)	17 (27.4)
≥5	11 (28.9)	12 (19.4)
BCLC stage				0.248
Stage 0	8 (21.1)	17 (27.4)
Stage A	21 (55.3)	38 (61.3)
Stage B	9 (23.7)	7 (11.3)
AFP > 20	18 (47.4)	27 (43.5)	0.92 (0.59–1.43)	0.709

Data are presented as n (%) or mean ± SD.

1N = greater than the upper normal value; 2N = greater than twice the upper normal value; AFP = α-fetoprotein; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; BCLC = Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification; CI = confidence interval; HCC = hepatocellular carcinoma; HR = hazard ratio.

Figure 2. (A) Impact of preoperative aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels greater than twice normal values on the risk of local recurrence. (B) Impact of preoperative alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels greater than twice normal on the risk of local recurrence. 2N = greater than twice the upper normal value.

Table 3. Risk factor analysis of no recurrence and early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Variable	No recurrence (n  = 62)	Recurrence ≤2 y (n  = 32)	RR (95% CI)	p
Male sex	39 (62.9)	28 (87.5)	1.98 (0.89–4.36)	0.068
Etiology of liver disease
Hepatitis B	31 (50.0)	20 (62.5)	0.80 (0.56–1.15)	0.249
Hepatitis C	19 (30.6)	8 (25.0)	1.23 (0.60–2.49)	0.567
Hepatitis B + C	4 (6.5)	2 (6.3)	1.03 (0.20–5.34)	0.97
AST > 1N	35 (56.5)	22 (68.8)	0.82 (0.59–1.13)	0.247
ALT > 1N	41 (66.1)	25 (78.1)	0.85 (0.66–1.10)	0.228
AST > 2N	10 (16.1)	12 (37.5)	0.43 (0.21–0.89)	0.02
ALT > 2N	16 (25.8)	14 (43.8)	0.60 (0.33–1.10)	0.077
Liver cirrhosis	46 (74.2)	27 (84.5)	0.88 (0.71–1.08)	0.261
AFP > 20	27 (43.5)	15 (46.9)	0.93 (0.58–1.48)	0.759

1N = greater than the upper normal value; 2N = greater than twice the upper normal value; AFP = α-fetoprotein; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; CI = confidence interval; RR = relative risk.

Table 4. Risk factor analysis for no recurrence and late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Variable	No recurrence (n  = 62)	Recurrence >2 y (n  = 6)	RR (95% CI)	p
Male	39 (62.9)	2 (33.3)	1.89 (0.60–5.95)	0.158
Etiology of liver disease
Hepatitis B	31 (50.0)	1 (16.7)	3.00 (0.49–18.27)	0.118
Hepatitis C	19 (30.6)	5 (83.3)	1.84 (0.58–5.80)	0.184
Hepatitis B + C	4 (6.5)	0 (0.0)	1.06 (0.99–1.14)	0.521
AST > 1N	35 (56.5)	5 (83.3)	0.68 (0.45–1.03)	0.201
ALT > 1N	41 (66.1)	5 (83.3)	0.79 (0.53–1.18)	0.39
AST > 2N	10 (16.1)	3 (50.0)	0.32 (0.12–0.86)	0.044
ALT > 2N	16 (25.8)	2 (33.3)	0.77 (0.23–2.60)	0.69
Liver cirrhosis	46 (74.2)	6 (100.0)	0.74 (0.64–0.86)	0.155
AFP > 20	27 (43.5)	3 (50.0)	0.87 (0.37–2.03)	0.761

1N = greater than the upper normal value; 2N = greater than twice the upper normal value; AFP = α-fetoprotein; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; CI = confidence interval; RR = relative risk.

Discussion

The overall survival after liver resection for patients with HCC has been prolonged because of improvements in the early detection of tumors and advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care [3] ; [4]  ;  [6] . However, the long-term results are not satisfactory as a result of tumor recurrence, which is the main cause of mortality [11] ; [16] ; [24]  ;  [25] . Previous studies have identified that various factors, such as tumor factors and α-fetoprotein levels, are related to a high incidence of tumor recurrence [11] ; [13] ; [17] ; [18] ; [24]  ;  [26] . In our study, tumor recurrence occurred in 38% of patients and it was the leading cause of death. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that preoperative levels of AST greater than twice the normal value was the only factor significantly associated with a higher rate of tumor recurrence after curative surgery.

Several Japanese groups have pointed out that chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis were the most significant risk factors for intrahepatic tumor recurrence, which probably develops through multicentric hepatocarcinogenesis, the so-called “multicentric occurrence” after hepatectomy [17] ; [18]  ;  [27] . This can be explained by the fact that repeated inflammation and cellular necrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis enhance proliferating activity and accelerate the development of new foci of HCC through an increased rate of random mutations and promotion due to gene instability [28]  ;  [29] . Adachi et al [13] considered active inflammation as a basic cause of recurrence. They found that in livers with inflammatory changes, some adhesion molecules that adhered to cancer cells in the remnant liver after resection appeared and caused postoperative recurrence [13] . In patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, the serum aminotransferase levels are usually considered an index of inflammatory activity that reflects the etiopathogenetic mechanism of hepatocytic necrosis [30] . In keeping with these findings, we found that an elevated preoperative AST level over twice upper normal values (>2N) was the only variable closely associated with tumor recurrence. In a cohort of 244 liver resections for HCC in cirrhosis, Ercolani et al [7] identified that single nodules and preoperative AST levels less than twice the upper normal value (<2N) were related to a better 5-year disease-free survival and lower tumor recurrence. In particular, among HCV-positive patients the recurrence rate was strongly affected by the preoperative AST level [7] .

Similar results on the significance of elevated serum aminotransferase levels predicting a higher chance of recurrence, including in patients with small HCC, have also been reported by other workers [9] ; [17]  ;  [31] . These data indicate an important pathogenetic role of hepatic inflammation and the patients with a higher risk of recurrence may benefit from adjuvant treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent tumor recurrence after liver resection. For these reasons, several workers have investigated the efficacy of interferon, an inflammation-modulating drug, for preventing the occurrence of HCC in patients with HBV- or HCV-related liver disease [26] ; [32]  ;  [33] .

Antiviral treatment with interferon has been recommended to prevent tumor recurrence after primary curative treatments in HCV-related HCC [5] . However, there was less evidence for antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues to prevent tumor recurrence in HBV-related HCC [34] . The major reason for this phenomenon is that early recurrence is probably due to previously undiscovered metastasis from the primary tumor. The early recurrence accounts for most of the total number of recurrences [35] . However, a recent retrospective analysis showed a favorable result on the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survival rates in the early antiviral treatment group compared with those without treatment [36] . Su et al [37] also reported that antiviral treatment could decrease recurrence in patients with HBV-induced HCC after resection surgery. Our result of high preoperative ALT levels correlating with both early and late recurrences also supports the view that early antiviral treatment may contribute to the survival of patients with HCC after curative treatment, especially for those with hepatitis activity.

A limitation of our study is the small number of patients, especially when they are subdivided into three groups based on tumor size and the underlying viral etiologies or different age groups. Nonetheless, we identified a significant correlation of high AST level and tumor recurrence in both early and late recurrence. Our findings also suggest that early antiviral treatment may improve the prognosis of HBV-related HCC.

Conflicts of interest

All contributing authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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