Prognostic factors affecting long-term survival after partial hepatectomy for human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Various prognostic factors have been studied during the past few years to predict early tumor recurrence and survival in patients undergoing hepatectomy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the relationship between these factors and long-term survival has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors linked to long-term prognosis in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy. METHODS: Records of 370 patients undergoing curative hepatectomy during a period from July 1981 to July 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. Only 110 patients with disease-free survival > or = 36 months were eligible for long-term survival analysis. Their further outcomes, including disease-free survival and overall survival, were analyzed in correlation with various prognostic factors by Kaplan-Meier's method, log rank test; and Cox's regression model. Analysis of prognostic factors linked to early tumor recurrence after curative hepatectomy was also performed in 324 patients who were followed up > or = 12 months. RESULTS: Tumor behaviors were found to be the principal prognostic factors determining the early tumor recurrence and patients' survival (p < 0.05). However, when long-term survival was analyzed, the pathological status of the liver remnant such as the presence or absence of hepatitis B virus infection, chronic active hepatitis, hepatocyte dysplasia and age (< or = 60 y/o vs. > 60 y/o), as well as preoperative liver function (total serum bilirubin < or = 1.5 mg/dl vs. > 1.5 mg/dl), were found to make significant disease-free survival differences (p < 0.05), whereas the factors linked to tumor behaviors and surgical factors showed no influence on long-term prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological status and host factors (age and liver function) have effect upon long-term prognosis after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.