Virologic control and severity of liver disease determine survival after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis

Background

We aimed to identify the main determinants of long-term overall survival (OS), including virologic control, and recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on cirrhosis.

Methods

Cirrhotic patients treated by RFA for HCC within Milan criteria were included. Associations between patient features and events were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method with the log rank test and using uni/multivariate Cox models.

Results

389 cirrhotic patients (Child–Pugh A 86.6%, 473 tumors) were included. OS was 79.8%, 42.4% and 16%, and overall tumor recurrence 45%, 78% and 88% at 2, 5 and 10 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age, Child–Pugh, GGT, HCC near major vessels, esophageal varices, alkaline phosphatase and HBV predicted OS. Gender, ALT, AFP and alcohol intake were associated with tumor recurrence. Multinodular HCC (19.5%) was associated with risk of tumor recurrence outside Milan criteria. HBV patients had longer OS than other patients (P?=?0.0059); negative HBV PCR at RFA was associated with decreased tumor recurrence (P?=?0.0157). Using time-dependent analysis in HCV patients, a sustained virologic response was associated with increased OS (124.5 months) compared to other patients (49.2 months, P?<?0.001).

Conclusion

Virologic response and severity of underlying liver disease were the main determinants of long-term OS after RFA for HCC developing on cirrhosis.