Comparison between hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic scores: A 10-year single-center experience and brief review of the current literature

Table 2 Demographic and biochemical factors, liver function, features of hepatocellular carcinoma nodules, treatments and prognosis of our study cohort

Feature of interest	Study population, n = 140	Intergroup statistical significance
Gender
Male	109 (77.9%)
Female	31 (22.1%)
Age at diagnosis, yr	71.6 (65.6; 75.6)
Liver disease etiology
Viral	36 (25.7%)
Alcoholic	30 (21.4%)
Metabolic	19 (13.6%)
Mixed	55 (39.3%)
Laboratory parameters at diagnosis
Albumin, g/dL	1.12 (0.94-2.23)
INR	1.12 (0.94-2.23)
Total bilirubin, mg/dL	1.06 (0.37-14.47)
AST, UI/L	41 (11-511)
ALT, UI/L	32 (7-336)
ALP, UI/L	99 (40-529)
GGT, UI/L	69 (11-473)
Total serum proteins, g/dL	7.3 (5.1-8.9)
AFP, ng/mL	9.3 (5-110)
Creatinine, mg/dL	0.89 (0.5-2.99)
White blood cells, × 103 cells/µL	5.04 (1.51-12.18)
Red blood cells, × 106 cells/µL	4.34 (2.85-6.78)
Hemoglobin, g/dL	13.5 (8.7-17.8)
Platelets, × 103platelets/µL	113 (29-346)
Sodium, mmol/L	139 (128-145)
Potassium, mmol/L	4.24 (3.40-6.15)
Clinical characteristics at diagnosis
Ascites	11 (7.9%)
Portal hypertension	64 (45.7%)
Hepatic encephalopathy	10 (7.1%)
Portal vein thrombosis	10 (7.1%)
Metastasis	2 (2.4%)
Child-Turcotte-Pugh
Class A	116 (82.9%)
Class B	22 (15.7%)
Class C	2 (1.4%)
MELD score	9 (6-25)
Karnofsky score
100	136 (97.1%)
90	3 (2.1%)
80	0 (0%)
70	1 (0.7%)
< 70	0 (0%)
ECOG PS
0	137 (97.9%)
1	3 (2.1%)
> 1	0 (0%)
Number of nodules at diagnosis
1	91 (65%)
2	31 (22.1%)
3	7 (5%)
4	5 (3.6%)
5	6 (4.3%)
Nodule dimensions
Nodule diameter, mm	30 (20; 40)
Total tumor volume, cm3	14.13 (5.45-36.43)
Milan criteria
Within	99 (71.2%)
Beyond	40 (28.8%)
Up-to-7 criteria
Within	113 (81.3%)
Beyond	26 (18.7%)
Treatment
Type
Surgical resection	28 (20%)
Local ablation	49 (35%)
TACE	54 (38.6%)
Sorafenib	2 (1.4%)
Support	7 (5%)
Number
< 2	63 (45%)
≥ 2	77 (55%)
Response at 1 mo after treatment
Complete response	72 (51.4%)
Of whom treated with curative treatment	56 (77.7%)
Partial response	40 (28.6%)
Of whom treated with curative treatment	17 (42.5%)
Stable disease	14 (10%)
Of whom treated with curative treatment	1 (7.1%)
Disease progression	10 (10%)
Of whom treated with curative treatment	1 (10%)
Ultrasound surveillance every 6 mo
Adhesion to ultrasound surveillance
Under surveillance	81 (57.9%)
Not under surveillance	59 (42.1%)
Nodule diameter, mm		P < 0.001
Under surveillance	25 (20; 35)
Not under surveillance	34 (25; 45)
Number of nodules at diagnosis		P < 0.001
Under surveillance, < 2 nodules	69 (85.2%)
Not under surveillance, < 2 nodules	22 (37.3%)
Choice of curative treatment		P = 0.037
Under surveillance	54 (66.6%)
Not under surveillance	29 (49.2%)
Survival time, mo
Overall survival	35 (17;67)
Survival related to gender		NS
Male	34 (20; 80)
Female	35 (16; 64)
Survival related to etiology		NS
Viral	32 (15; 65)
Non-viral	41 (19; 67)
Survival related to treatment choice		P = 0.013
Curative (surgery/ablation)	48 (18; 68)
Non-curative (TACE/sorafenib/support)	23 (14; 34)
Survival related to ultrasound surveillance		P = 0.002
Under surveillance	48 (20; 75)
Not under surveillance	30 (12; 49)
Survival related to AFP		P < 0.001
AFP ≤ 200 ng/mL	55 (34; 75)
AFP > 200 ng/mL	22 (12; 54)

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ECGO: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; GGT: Gamma glutaryl transferase; INR: International normalized ratio; MELD: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease; TACE: Transarterial chemoembolization.