Serum Sorbitol Dehydrogenase as a Novel Prognostic Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Surgical Resection

Abstract

The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative resection experience tumor recurrence. To examine the association between preoperative serum sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), a liver-derived enzyme that reflects liver damage, and recurrence of HCC after curative resection, 92 patients were randomly selected who underwent curative resection for HCC between 2011 and 2012 from a prospective registry. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared based on serum SORD levels. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate prognostic factors for RFS. During a median follow-up duration of 57.1 months, 43 patients experienced HCC recurrence. Patients with serum SORD ≥15 ng/mL (HR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.76–6.81; p p < 0.001). Baseline serum SORD is an effective prognostic factor for HCC after resection. It may help guide patient selection for surgery, especially when combined with serum AFP levels.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• recurrence-free survival
• sorbitol dehydrogenase