Hyperglycemia is a significant prognostic factor of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative therapy

AIM:To evaluate whether metabolic factors are related to distant recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and survival after curative treatment.METHODS:This retrospective study included 344 patients whose HCC was treated curatively by radiofrequency ablation(RFA) therapy.The mean age was 67.6 years and the mean observation period was 4.04 years.The etiological background of liver disease was hepatitis B virus infection in 30,hepatitis C virus infection in 278,excessive alcohol drinking in 9,and other in 27 patients.The Child-Pugh classification grade was A(n = 307) or B(n = 37).The number of HCC nodules was one in 260,two in 61,and three in 23 patients.For surveillance of HCC recurrence after curative therapy with RFA,patients were radiologically evaluated every 3 mo.Factors associated with distant recurrence of HCC or survival were studied.RESULTS:Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients was associated with higher incidence of distant recurrence.The 1-,2-,and 3-year recurrence rates were significantly higher in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose compared with the others:50.6% vs 26.8%,83.5% vs 54.4%,and 93.8% vs 73.0%,respectively(P = 0.0001).Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose was an independent predictor of distant recurrence [adjusted relative risk 1.97(95%CI,1.33-2.91),(P = 0.0007)] after adjustment for other risk factors,such as number of HCC nodules [2.03(95%CI,1.51-2.73),P < 0.0001] and initial level of serum alpha fetoprotein(AFP) [1.43(95%CI,1.04-1.97),P = 0.028].Obesity was not an independent predictor of recurrence.The incidence of distant recurrence did not differ between diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose and non-diabetic patients.Among 232 patients who had HCC recurrence,138 had a second recurrence.The 1-,2-,and 3-year rates of second recurrence were significantly higher in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose than in the others:9.0% vs 5.9%,53.1% vs 24.3%,and 69.6% vs 42.3%,respectively(P = 0.0021).Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients [1.99(95%CI,1.23-3.22),P = 0.0049] and presence of multiple HCC nodules [1.53(95%CI,1.06-2.22),P = 0.024] were again significantly associated with second HCC recurrence.Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients was also a significant predictor of poor survival [2.77(95%CI,1.38-5.57),P = 0.0046] independent of excessive alcohol drinking [6.34(95%CI,1.35-29.7),P = 0.019],initial level of serum AFP [3.40(95%CI,1.88-6.18),P < 0.0001] and Child-Pugh classification grade B [2.24(95%CI,1.12-4.46),P = 0.022].Comparing diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose vs the others,the 1-,2-,and 3-year survival rates were significantly lower in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose:92% vs 99%,85% vs 96%,and 70% vs 92%,respectively(P = 0.0003).CONCLUSION:Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients is a significant risk factor for recurrence of HCC and for poor survival after curative RFA therapy.

Distinctive magnetic resonance imaging findings of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication with direct-acting antivirals

Aim:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of the magnetic resonance imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)that developed early after the eradication of hepatitis C virus(HCV)by direct-acting antiviral(DAA)treatment.Methods:This study included 26 patients who achieved sustained viral response with DAA and developed HCC thereafter within one year(DAA-SVR HCC).The radiologic characteristics of these patients were evaluated by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging,including diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and T2-weighted imaging(T2WI).For comparison,80 HCC patients with positive HCV RNA(HCV-positive HCC)were included.Among 42 patients where tumor biopsy was available,histological grade and radiologic findings were compared.Results:The rates of high intensity on DWI and T2WI were significantly higher in DAA-SVR HCC compared to HCV-positive HCC(DWI:100%vs.67.5%,P<0.001T2WI:92.6%vs.67.5%,P=0.01).HCC with high intensity on DWI or T2WI was more likely to have moderately or poorly differentiated HCC compared to well-differentiated HCC(DWI:69.7%vs.30.3%,P=0.02;T2WI:66.7%vs.27.3%,P=0.03).Conclusion:High intensity on DWI and hyperintensity on T2WI were distinctive features of HCC that developed within one year after the end of DAA treatment.