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Anatomic resection for primary HCC reduces risk for recurrence

In a prospective cohort study, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent anatomic resection had decreased risk for recurrence compared with patients who did not, according to data published in the Journal of Hepatology.

Researchers compared overall survival and disease-free survival rates of patients with Child-Pugh class A and primary HCC who underwent anatomic resection (AR) with those who underwent limited resection (non-AR). A total of 209 patients were included in the analyses.

Overall, patients who underwent AR showed better disease-free survival compared with patients in the non-AR group (HR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.99). However, there was no significant difference seen in overall survival between the two groups (HR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.46-1.48).

A competing-risks regression model showed AR is associated with decreased local recurrence (HR = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05-0.3) and improvement in disease-specific survival (HR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.28–0.9). Other causes of mortality were related to patient age greater than 65 years (HR = 7.51; 95% CI, 2.16-26.04); this was not associated with AR.

The researchers concluded: “Complete removal of tumor-bearing portal territory decreases the risk of local recurrence and death from HCC.”

Disclosure: Healio.com/Hepatology was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.