Published online Mar 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i11.1697
Revised: August 15, 2004
Accepted: September 30, 2004
Published online: March 21, 2005
AIM: In this retrospective study of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we have investigated the efficacy of CT-derived parameters, laboratory measurements, clinical assessment and associated transarterial embolization (TAE) as predictors of post-radiotherapy survival time.
METHODS: Sixty-six patients diagnosed with unresectable HCC that had undergone radiotherapy at two medical university hospitals in Taipei were enrolled in the study. Using multivariant analysis, pre-treatment parameters including tumor number and CT confirmation of PVT and ascites were compared. Multivariant analysis was also used for comparison of the mean pretreatment values for laboratory measurements, including alpha-fetoprotein, direct/total bilirubin and GOT/GPT levels, and clinical history of chronic hepatitis across the three survival-time categories. The χ2 was used to test the significance of the relationship between survival time and TAE procedure. The P values for the above tests were deemed statistically significant where P<0.05.
RESULTS: Portal vein thrombosis (P = 0.032) and ascites (P<0.05) were negative predictors of post-radiation survival time. Low-grade liver cirrhosis (A or B), lower tumor volume and low levels of AFT, GOT/GPT, and total bilirubin were predictors of longer post-radiation survival time (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The CT and clinical and laboratory assessment provide a reference for, and enable estimation of, probable survival times in HCC patients after radiotherapy. Tumor volume, severity of liver cirrhosis, status with respect to portal vein thrombosis and ascites and AFT, GOT/GPT and total bilirubin values were significant predictors of survival in this study.