Alpha-Fetoprotein Combined with Radiographic Tumor Burden Score to Predict Overall Survival after Liver Resection in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

We evaluated whether combining the radiographic tumor burden score (TBS) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level could be used to stratify overall survival (OS) among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after liver resection (LR). Patients who underwent LR for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0, A, or B HCC between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled. TBS scores were calculated using the following equation: TBS2 = (largest tumor size (in cm))2 + (tumor number)2. Among 743 patients, 193 (26.0%) patients had a low TBS (7.9). Those with a TBS ≤ 7.9 and AFP 7.9 and an AFP p = 0.003) or ≥ 400 ng/mL (p 7.9 and an AFP p = 0.012) or ≥ 400 ng/mL (HR: 6.570; 95% CI: 3.684–11.719; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of OS. In conclusion, combining radiographic TBSs and AFP levels could stratify OS among HCC patients undergoing LR.

Keywords

• tumor burden score
• hepatocellular carcinoma
• alpha-fetoprotein
• liver resection