Abstract | BACKGROUND: The characteristics and prognosis of cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. The albumin- bilirubin (ALBI) grade and its updated version, the easy ALBI (EZ-ALBI) grade, are important prognostic predictors for HCC. We aimed to investigate the long-term survival of patients with cryptogenic HCC and the prognostic role of ALBI and EZ-ALBI grade in these patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 2,937 HCC patients with viral or cryptogenic etiology were retrospectively analyzed. The multivariate Cox model was used to determine prognostic predictors. RESULTS: Cryptogenic HCC patients were often older and diabetic, had lower serum ɑ- fetoprotein (AFP) levels, larger tumor burden, poor performance status, advanced cancer stage, and received non-curative treatments compared with hepatitis B or C-related HCC. The Cox analysis showed that age > 65 years, serum AFP > 400 ng/mL, presence of vascular invasion or distant metastasis, presence of ascites, performance status 2-4, ALBI grade 2 and 3, EZ-ALBI grade 2 and 3, and non-curative treatment, were independent predictors of decreased survival in cryptogenic HCC (p < .001). Significant survival differences were found across ALBI grade and EZ-ALBI grade in cryptogenic HCC and subgroup patients receiving curative or non-curative treatments. The Cancer of Liver Italian Program was the best staging system for patients with cryptogenic HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cryptogenic HCC have a larger tumor burden and advanced cancer stage at disease presentation compared with those with viral HCC. The ALBI and EZ-ALBI score are robust models to evaluate liver functional reserve for these patients independent of treatment modality.
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Authors | Shu-Yein Ho, Mei-Hsia Yuan, Po-Hong Liu, Chia-Yang Hsu, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Jia-I Liao, Chien-Wei Su, Chia-Lin Wang, Ming-Chih Hou, Teh-Ia Huo |
Journal | Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology
(Scand J Gastroenterol)
Vol. 58
Issue 1
Pg. 61-69
(01 2023)
ISSN: 1502-7708 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 35830511
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Bilirubin
- alpha-Fetoproteins
- Serum Albumin
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Topics |
- Humans
- Aged
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
- Prognosis
- Bilirubin
- Liver Neoplasms
- alpha-Fetoproteins
- Retrospective Studies
- Prospective Studies
- Serum Albumin
(analysis)
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