Outcomes after curative hepatectomy in patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B virus hepatocellular carcinoma from non-cirrhotic liver.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding liver function of non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC) patients, the biological behavior of their tumors, and the outcome after surgical treatment. The aims of the present study were to compare clinicopathologic data and long-term clinical outcomes between NBNC-HCC patients and hepatitis B virus HCC (HBV-HCC) patients from non-cirrhotic liver after curative hepatectomy.

METHODS: Data for HBV-HCC patients (n = 360) and NBNC-HCC patients (n = 103) were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS: The median age of patients in the NBNC group was significantly higher than that of the HBV group (63 years vs. 53 years, P < 0.001). Tumor size in the NBNC group was greater than that in the HBV group (5.1 cm vs. 3.8 cm, P < 0.001). Regarding liver histology, the grade of lobular activity, periportal activity, and fibrosis in the HBV group was higher than in the NBNC group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in disease-free survival and overall survival between the two groups (P = 0.257 and P = 0.579, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that increased tumor size, microvascular invasion, and intrahepatic metastasis were associated with tumor recurrence after curative liver resection.

CONCLUSION: For patients with non-cirrhotic liver, clinical outcomes for NBNC-HCC were comparable to those for HBV-HCC after curative hepatectomy.