肝细胞癌切除术后早期肝内复发的危险因素及对预后的影响

目的 探讨肝细胞癌(hepatoeellular carcinoma,HCC)切除术后早期肝内复发的预测因素及复发对预后的影响.方法 收集184例HCC患者切除术后肝内复发病例的临床病理资料,回顾性分析可能与早期肝内复发有关的13项临床病理学因素以及复发时间对HCC患者复发后生存期的影响.结果 单因素分析表明术前血清AFP>100 ng/ml(P=0.009)、肿瘤直径>5 cm(P<0.001)、血管浸润(P=0.001)以及术中输血(P=0.025)与HCC切除术后早期肝内复发有关;白蛋白<35S/L(P=0.083)可能与术后早期肝内复发有关.多因素分析表明 AFP>100 ng/ml(P=0.015)、肿瘤>5 cm(P=0.001)、微血管浸润(P=0.004)是与HCC切除术后早期肝内复发的独立的预测因素.早期肝内复发组复发后中位生存期(12个月)明显低于晚期复发组(18个月)(P=0.012).结论 术前AFP、肿瘤大小和血管浸润是HCC术后早期肝内复发的预测因素.HCC术后早期肝内复发病例预后不良.     

肝细胞癌切除术后早期肝内复发的危险因素及对预后的影响

目的 探讨肝细胞癌(hepatoeellular carcinoma,HCC)切除术后早期肝内复发的预测因素及复发对预后的影响.方法 收集184例HCC患者切除术后肝内复发病例的临床病理资料,回顾性分析可能与早期肝内复发有关的13项临床病理学因素以及复发时间对HCC患者复发后生存期的影响.结果 单因素分析表明术前血清AFP>100 ng/ml(P=0.009)、肿瘤直径>5 cm(P<0.001)、血管浸润(P=0.001)以及术中输血(P=0.025)与HCC切除术后早期肝内复发有关;白蛋白<35S/L(P=0.083)可能与术后早期肝内复发有关.多因素分析表明 AFP>100 ng/ml(P=0.015)、肿瘤>5 cm(P=0.001)、微血管浸润(P=0.004)是与HCC切除术后早期肝内复发的独立的预测因素.早期肝内复发组复发后中位生存期(12个月)明显低于晚期复发组(18个月)(P=0.012).结论 术前AFP、肿瘤大小和血管浸润是HCC术后早期肝内复发的预测因素.HCC术后早期肝内复发病例预后不良.     

原发性肝细胞癌根治性切除术后肝外复发的危险因素分析

目的 探讨影响原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocelluar carcinoma,HCC)根治性切除术后肝外复发的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析行根治性切除的238例HCC患者的临床资料,确定影响术后肝外复发的危险因素.结果 本组患者随访7-78个月,随访中位时间为34个月,32例(13.4%)出现肝外复发.依据单因素分析结果,术前血清甲胎蛋白(α fetoprotein,AFP)>1000 ng/ml、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶>50 IU/L、肝静脉侵犯、周围脏器侵犯、子灶、肿瘤包膜缺失是HCC根治性切除术后肝外复发的危险因素.多因素分析显示血清AFP>1000 ng/ml、肝静脉侵犯、周围脏器侵犯是肝外复发的独立危险因素.结论 HCC根治性切除术后肝外复发与术前血清AFP>1000 ng/ml、肝静脉侵犯、周围脏器侵犯有关.对具有这些危险因素的患者术后应加强随访.     

528例原发性肝细胞癌患者肝切除术后1年生存分析

目的 探讨原发性肝细胞癌患者( hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)肝切除术后1年生存状况及影响因素.方法 回顾性分析1997年1月至2008年12月因HCC行肝切除的528例患者术后1年生存结果和影响因素.结果 本组患者随访期间死亡302例,患者1年累积生存率为84％.1年内死亡原因主要为HCC复发转移(78.1％,75/96)及与原发的肝病相关合并症(19.8％,19/96).大肝癌(P =0.047)、血管癌栓(P=1.118)、组织学中低分化(P =0.001)和病理切缘肿瘤残留(P=0.004)者是HCC患者1年内HCC复发转移死亡的独立危险因素;伴有门静脉高压症(P =0.001)是预示术后肝病相关死亡的独立因素.非RO切除的患者是1年内死亡(占59.3％)最重要的因素.结论 影响HCC切除术后1年生存的主要因素是HCC复发转移与原发的肝病相关因素,非R0切除是导致原发性HCC患者术后早期复发死亡的最主要的因素,术前伴有门静脉高压症是影响HCC患者术后肝病相关死亡的独立危险因素.     

原发性肝癌患者手术切除术后早期复发影响因素分析

目的:探讨原发性肝癌(HCC)患者手术切除后早期复发的影响因素。方法:回顾性分析郑州大学第一附属医院2014年1月—2016年1月期间450例经手术切除的HCC患者的临床与随访资料,通过统计学方法分析HCC术后早期复发的影响因素。结果:450例患者中,2年内复发182例(40.4%)。单因素分析结果显示,HCC术后复发与门脉癌栓、术前血清AFP水平、肿瘤数目、最大直径、肿瘤分化程度有关(均P0.05);Cox比例风险回归分析显示,肿瘤数目(RR=2.148,95%CI=1.175～3.924,P=0.013),肿瘤最大直径(RR=1.591,95%CI=1.006～2.518,P=0.047),门脉有无癌栓(RR=1.835,95%CI=1.242～2.709,P=0.001),血清AFP水平(RR=1.722,95%CI=1.141～2.601,P=0.010),肿瘤分化程度(RR=1.463,95%CI=1.071～1.998,P=0.017)均是HCC术后复发的独立因素。通过以上因素建立函数模型对预测HCC术后早期复发的风险程度有一定价值(似然比检验:χ~2=45.727,P0.001)。结论:HCC患者手术切除术后早期复发的影响因素较多,其中门脉癌栓、肿瘤数目、最大直径、肿瘤分化程度、血清AFP水平可能是造成复发的独立危险因素,术前综合评估这些因素对预防术后复发有一定的指导意义。     

中晚期原发性肝癌患者TACE术后早期复发危险因素

目的观察中晚期原发性肝癌(HCC)患者TACE术后早期复发危险因素。方法对42例中晚期原发性HCC患者行TACE治疗,术后随访6个月,对比分析早期复发与未复发患者之间的差异。结果术后6个月中,23例HCC早期复发(复发组),19例未复发(无复发组)。复发组白蛋白35 g/L者占比低于未复发组(P0.05),甲胎蛋白(AFP)400 ng/ml者占比及谷氨酰基转移酶(ALT)水平均高于未复发组(P均0.05)。未复发组肿瘤病理分化程度较高(P0.05),复发组瘤灶相对较多、肿瘤最大径较大,ADC值和包膜完整比例低于未复发组(P均0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,AFP400 ng/ml者占比(OR=3.313,P=0.041)、肿瘤分化程度(OR=1.463,P=0.038)、瘤灶数量(OR=2.216,P=0.028)及肿瘤ADC值(OR=0.025,P=0.003)是TACE术后HCC早期复发的独立危险因素。结论 TACE术后中晚期HCC早期复发与AFP、肿瘤分化程度、瘤灶数量及ADC值独立相关。     

原发性肝细胞癌行根治性肝切除术后复发的预后因素分析

目的 探讨原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)行根治性肝切除术后影响复发的预后因素.方法 回顾性分析2002年1月至2009年1月间行根治性肝切除术治疗的101例HCC患者的临床资料.应用Cox比例风险模型行单因素和多因素分析.Kaplan-Meier法计算术后复发时间,做Log-rank检验.应用受试者工作特征曲线评估预后因素预测能力,并做风险等级划分.结果 至随访截止,75例出现术后复发.早期复发(≤2年)63例(84.0%),晚期复发(＞2年)12例(16.0%).总体1、2、3、5年累积复发率分别为48.5%(49/101)、62.4%(63/101)、70.3%(71/101)、74.3%(75/101).多因素分析显示切缘肿瘤细胞阳性、巴塞罗那肝癌中心(BCLC)分级和肝硬化程度是HCC术后早期复发的影响因素,不同风险等级术后早期复发率的差异有统计学意义(χ2=29.198,P:0.000).年龄≥60岁和肿瘤包膜形成是HCC术后晚期复发的影响因素,不同风险等级术后晚期复发率的差异有统计学意义(χ2=8.479,P=0.004).结论 HCC行根治性肝切除术后早期复发和晚期复发的影响因素不同.切缘肿瘤细胞阳性、BCLC分级和肝硬化程度影响术后早期复发,而年龄≥60岁和肿瘤包膜形成是术后晚期复发的影响因素.预后因素等级划分有助于预测HCC患者术后复发.     

肝细胞癌患者肝移植术后甲胎蛋白的变化与肿瘤复发

目的探讨肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)患者肝移植术后的血清甲胎蛋白 (α-fetoprotein,AFP)变化与肝癌复发的关系。方法回顾性分析我院67例HCC患者肝移植手术前后的AFP动态变化与肝癌复发的关系。根据肝移植术前血清AFP水平,将患者分成3组,分别为A 组(术前血清AFP≤20 ng／ml)、B组(20 ng／ml<术前血清AFP≤400 ng/ml)和C组(术前血清AFP> 400 ng／ml),根据术后AFP的下降程度,将B组和C组患者分成3个亚组,即血清AFP在术后2周内降至≤20 ng/ml(BCl组)、术后2周后至2个月内降至≤20 ng／ml(BC2组)和2个月内未降至≤20 ng/ml(BC3组)。结果 67例肝癌受体移植后平均随访时间为13．2个月,总体复发率为35．8％ (24／67),平均复发时间为(7．2±0．7)个月,常见的复发转移部位依次为肺、肝、骨骼和淋巴结等;C 组患者移植术后复发率为52．8％,显著高于A、B两组(C组比A组,x2=6．759,P=0．009;C组比B 组,x2=4．550,P=0．033),A组和B组复发率无明显差异(x2=0．435,P=0．510);BC1组和BC2组术前AFP水平无明显差异,BC3组术前AFP明显高于BC1组和BC2组,BC3组患者术后复发率高达 67．9％,明显高于BC1组的33．3％和BC2组的22．2%,BC1组和Bc2组复发率未见明显差异。结论术前AFP水平>400 ng／ml的HCC肝移植患者术后复发率明显上升;术后AFP水平未能在 2个月内降至正常水平者复发率显著升高;移植后AFP的动态变化对预测HCC复发有重要价值。     

肝癌患者术前HBV DNA定量水平与肝移植术后肝癌复发关系的探讨

目的 探讨肝癌肝移植患者术前乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)DNA定量与肝移植术后原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)复发的关系.方法 回顾性分析2004年1月到2008年12月因同时合并HCC和HBV行肝移植手术并长期随访的148例患者,使用Kaplan-Meier生存分析统计患者生存率和无瘤生存率,根掘术后HCC是否复发将患者分成HCC复发组(43例)及未复发组(105例),使用COX多因素回归进行危险因素分析.结果 148例HCC肝移植患者1、3、5年生存率分别为86%,72%,72%,无瘤生存率分别为79%,71%,54%.肝移植术后HCC复发43例,复发率为29.1%(43/148),术后HCC平均复发时间为(13.16±14.17)个月(1～54个月).COX多因素回归分析表明超过米兰标准(HR=9.89;95%CI2.30～42.52;P=0.002)以及术前HBV DNA＞5log10 copies/ml(HR=2.26;95%CI1.01～5.04;P=0.047)是肝移植术后HCC复发的独立危险因素.结论 肝移植术前HBV DNA＞5log10 copies/ml和超过米兰标准是原发性肝癌患者肝移植术后HCC复发的高危因素.     

改良BCLC分期预测原发性肝细胞癌行根治性肝切除术后早期肝内复发

目的 探讨改良BCLC分期对原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)根治性肝切除术后早期肝内复发的预测能力.方法 对我院2008年1月至2011年1月采用根治性肝切除术治疗的197例HCC临床资料进行回顾性分析.COX比例风险模型行术后早期复发的单因素和多因素分析.ROC曲线确定连续变量截点值和评估改良BCLC分期预测能力.结果 至随访截止,出现HCC术后早期肝内复发111例.术后6个月、9个月、12个月、18个月和24个月年累积复发率分别为26.9％(53/197)、37.6％(74/197)、45.2％(89/197)、53.8％(106/197)和56.3％ (111/197).多因素分析显示肝硬化程度、AFP≥185.6μg/L和BCLC分期是术后早期复发的影响因素.改良BCLC分期(modified BCLC staging system,M-BCLC)与BCLC分期预测术后6个月内复发的能力差异无统计学意义(P=0.652),但预测术后9、12、18和24个月内复发的能力优于BCLC分期(P值分别为0.030、0.001、0.015、0.008).ROC曲线截点值为M-BCLC≥2.913时,预测术后6个月内复发灵敏度83.0％,特异度51.9％;M-BCLC值≥3.098时,预测术后9个月内复发灵敏度71.6％,特异度67.0％;M-BCLC评分值≥2.727时,预测术后12个月内复发灵敏度84.3％,特异度64.4％;M-BCLC值≥2.727时,预测术后18个月内复发灵敏度80.2％,特异度58.4％;M-BCLC值≥2.555时,预测术后24个月内复发灵敏度82.7％,特异度75.6％.不同风险等级术后6-、9-、12-、18-和24个月内复发率分别为:低风险:12.3％(9/73)、15.1％(11/73)、17.8％(13/73)、24.7％(18/73)和26.0％(19/73);中等风险:18.2％(6/33)、30.3％ (10/33)、48.5％ (16/33)、60.0％(20/33)和63.6％(21/33);高风险:41.8％ (38/91)、58.2％ (53/91)、65.9％ (60/91)、74.7％ (68/91)和78.0％ (71/91)(Pearson x2检验P值均为＜0.001).不同风险等级术后中位早期复发时间差异明显(17.9个月、9.9个月比5.7个月,x2=25.770,P＜0.001,log秩检验).结论 与BCLC分期比较,M-BCLC提高了预测HCC根治性肝切除术后早期肝内复发的能力.     

Prognostic significance of anatomical resection and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Portal venous tumour extension and intrahepatic metastasis result in a poor prognosis following hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Anatomical resection is, in theory, preferable for eradicating these types of invasion. Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) has been reported to be associated with adverse pathological variables. This study investigated the significance of anatomical resection and DCP as predictive factors for postoperative recurrence of HCC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in 138 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC smaller than 5 cm using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Eight factors were univariately related to poor prognosis (in decreasing order of hazard ratio): intrahepatic metastasis, multiple tumours, alpha-fetoprotein 32 ng/ml or more; DCP greater than 0.1 arbitrary units (AU), tumour-exposed surgical margin, vascular invasion, non-anatomical resection and tumour 2.5 cm or more. Three variables (DCP, vascular invasion and tumour-exposed surgical margin) were excluded by a stepwise procedure in multivariate analysis. Although DCP was not an independent prognostic factor, a model replacing intrahepatic metastasis with DCP showed similar predictive accuracy in a receiver-operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSION: Anatomical resection appeared to have a beneficial effect on recurrence-free survival after hepatectomy for HCC. DCP measurement was effective in predicting HCC recurrence and had the advantage that it can be assessed before operation.     

肝细胞癌根治性切除术后肝内复发的危险因素分析

目的探讨肝细胞癌根治性切除术后肝内复发的独立危险因素,为肝细胞癌的临床综合治疗提供依据。方法回顾性分析实施肝癌根治性切除的194例肝细胞癌患者的临床资料,将全部病例以术后复发时间2年为界,划分为2年内复发组和2年内未复发组,比较两组之间21项可能影响肝细胞癌术后肝内复发的临床指标的差异。结果单因素分析结果示：2年内复发组的术前血清AFP浓度〉20ng／ml、术前血清AST浓度〉40U／L、术前血清ALP浓度〉135U／L、术前血清GGT浓度〉50U／L、血清HBsAg测定为阳性、肿瘤最大直径〉5cm、肿瘤病灶数目为2个、手术持续时间≥180min、手术中总失血量≥1000ml、手术中有输血的病例数的构成比高于2年内未复发组,且差异有统计学意义。多因素分析结果显示术前血清ALP浓度、肿瘤最大直径、肿瘤病灶数目、手术中总失血量是影响肝细胞癌术后肝内复发的有统计学意义的因素。结论肝细胞癌术后肝内复发是多种因素的共同作用的结果,术前血清ALP浓度、肿瘤最大直径、肿瘤病灶数目、手术中总失血量是影响肝细胞癌术后肝内复发的独立的危险因素。     

Nomograms predicting extra- and early intrahepatic recurrence after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundExtrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection are indicative of poor prognoses. We aimed to develop nomograms to predict extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence after hepatic resection.MethodsThe participants of this study were 1,206 patients who underwent initial and curative hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Multivariate logistic regression analyses using the Akaike information criterion were used to construct nomograms to predict extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence (within 1 year of surgery) at the first recurrence sites after hepatic resection. Performance of each nomogram was evaluated by calibration plots with bootstrapping.ResultsExtrahepatic recurrence was identified in 95 patients (7.9%) and early intrahepatic recurrence in 296 patients (24.5%). Three predictive factors, α-fetoprotein >200 ng/mL, tumor size (3–5 cm or >5 cm vs ≤3 cm), and image-diagnosed venous invasion by computed tomography, were adopted in the final model of the extrahepatic recurrence nomogram with a concordance index of 0.75. Tumor size and 2 additional predictors (ie, multiple tumors and image-diagnosed portal invasion) were adopted in the final model of the early intrahepatic recurrence nomogram with a concordance index of 0.67. The calibration plots showed good agreement between the nomogram predictions of extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence and the actual observations of extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence, respectively.ConclusionWe have developed reliable nomograms to predict extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection. These are useful for the diagnostic prediction of extrahepatic recurrence and early intrahepatic recurrence and could guide the surgeon’s selection of treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.     

Predictor for Histological Microvascular Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Lesson from 229 Consecutive Cases of Curative Liver Resection

Background

Microscopic vascular invasion is an important risk factor for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even after curative liver resection or orthotopic liver transplantation. To predict microscopic portal venous invasion, the following two questions were examined retrospectively: Is it possible to detect microvascular invasion preoperatively? What are the characteristics of a group of early HCC recurrences even with no microvascular invasion?

Methods

Study 1 included 229 patients with HCC who underwent curative liver resection between 1991 and 2008; 127 had HCC without microscopic portal venous invasion, and 52 had HCC with microscopic portal venous invasion (MPVI). These two distinct groups were analyzed with regard to various clinicopathologic factors. Subsequently, we specifically investigated if HCCs <5 cm with vascular invasion (n = 32) have some characteristics that would allow detection of latent microvascular invasion. Study 2 included 127 HCC patients without MVPI; 42 had a recurrence within 2 years, and 85 patients were recurrence-free for at least 2 years. These two distinct groups were analyzed with regard to various clinicopathologic factors.

Results

HCC diameter of >5 cm, the macroscopic appearance of HCC, and high levels of preoperative des-γ-carboxyprothrombin are significant prognostic factors in identifying microvascular invasion of HCC. The strongest predictor of early recurrence (within 2 years) was the serum α-fetoprotein level in patients without clear microvascular invasion.

Conclusions

Tumor size, macroscopic appearance, and high tumor marker levels are important elements in identifying the group of patients with a low HCC recurrence rate after curative liver resection.     

肝癌病人手术期间不同部位血液AFP mRNA定量检测及其意义探讨

目的 研究肝细胞性肝癌(HCC)病人手术期间不同部位血液甲胎蛋白信使核糖核酸(AFP mRNA)的水平变化，分析其与临床病理学特征和复发转移的关系。方法 18例HCC和6例非HCC肝肿瘤病人，于切除肿瘤前后抽取门静脉、肝静脉和外周静脉血各5m1，肝炎、肝硬化病人各10例取外周血5m1。应用TaqMan实时定量逆转录—聚合酶链反应(RT—PCR)检测AFP mRNA水平。结果 术前外周血AFP mRNA相对HCC的灵敏度为72．2％，特异性为76.9％，准确率为75．0％。HCC病人术后各部位血液AFP mRNA水平明显高于术前相应部位水平。血液AFP mRNA水平与肿瘤大小、分化程度、有无肝内播散、包膜完整性以及血清AFP浓度均无关，而有门静脉癌栓的病人术后肝静脉血AFP mRNA水平明显高于无癌栓者。术后2个月内复发者，术后门静脉和外周静脉血AFP mRNA水平明显高于末复发者。结论 TaqMan实时定量RT—PCR法检测HCC病人血液AFP mRNA有较高的敏感性和特异性。手术可能促进部分HCC细胞和肝细胞脱落入血。动态监测外周血AFP mRNA水平对术后早期复发有预测价值。     

癌旁肝星状细胞和γδT淋巴细胞比值与肝细胞癌根治性肝切除术后预后的关系研究

目的分析肝细胞癌患者癌旁组织肝星状细胞与γδT淋巴细胞比值与根治性切除术后预后的关系。方法回顾分析重庆医科大学附属第一医院肝胆外科2011年1月至2013年12月连续接受根治性肝切除的320例肝细胞癌患者资料,其中男性273例,女性47例,年龄17-80岁,中位年龄53岁。癌旁肝组织标本行免疫组化染色,计算肝星状细胞与HT淋巴细胞比值。Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析。肝细胞癌患者预后单因素分析采用log-rank检验,多因素分析采用Cox回归分析。结果多因素分析,肿瘤多发(HR=1.895,95%CZ:1.155~3.108)、微血管侵犯(HR=1.665,95%C/:1.104-2.512)、肿瘤直径>5 cm(HR=2.400,95%CI:1.603-3.594)、肝星状细胞与γδT淋巴细胞比值>18(HR=1.880,95%CI:1.257-2.810)是肝细胞癌患者根治性肝切除术后生存的独立危险因素。术前甲胎蛋白>20 μg/L(HR=1.631,95%CZ:1.151-2.311),微血管侵犯(HR=2.145,95%CI:1.536~2.994)、肿瘤直径>5 cm(HR=1.866,95%CI:l.342~2.592)、肝星状细胞与疋丁淋巴细胞比值>18(HR=1.517,95%CI:1.084-2.122)是肝细胞癌患者无瘤生存的独立危险因素。根据癌旁组织肝星状细胞与78T淋巴细胞比值将患者分为低比值组(比值≤18,n=222)和高比值组(比值〉18=98)。低比值组患者累积生存率和累积无瘤生存率均优于高比值组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论癌旁肝星状细胞与γδT淋巴细胞比值是肝细胞癌患者根治性肝切除术预后的影响因素,低比值患者预后更佳。     

Predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas that had come into contact with the trunk of major hepatic veins

PURPOSE: In this study, we tried to identify the preoperative predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and the prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that had come into contact with the trunk of a major hepatic vein over a distance of 1.0 cm or more. METHODS: Forty patients who had such HCCs resected were entered into this study and predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A combined resection of the HCC and the venous trunk was performed in 29 patients. Hepatic venous trunk invasion was observed in 12 patients, including 2 with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. A stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that tumors larger than or equal to 7 cm in diameter and tumors showing a poorly differentiated histological grade were independent predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion. The survival of patients without venous trunk invasion was significantly better than that for patients with venous trunk invasion (P = 0.048). A univariate analysis revealed that Child-Pugh classification B (P = 0.002), a high des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin concentration (> or =400 mAU/ml, P = 0.023), a large HCC (> or =5.0 cm in diameter, P = 0.002), the presence of portal vein invasion (P < 0.001), the presence of venous trunk invasion (P = 0.048), the presence of intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001), and poorly differentiated HCC (P = 0.006) correlated with a worse overall survival after hepatic resection. In a multivariate analysis, however, only the presence of intrahepatic metastasis (P = 0.037, relative risk 8.25) was an independent predictor of poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Large tumors (> or =7 cm in diameter) and poorly differentiated HCCs were more likely to be associated with hepatic venous trunk invasion and intrahepatic metastasis was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC that had come into contact with the trunk of a major hepatic vein.