Prognostic value of baseline imaging and clinical features in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma


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Oecal O., Ingrisch M., Uemuetlue M. R., PEYNİRCİOĞLU B., Loewe C., van Delden O., ...More

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER, vol.126, no.2, pp.211-218, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 126 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1038/s41416-021-01577-6
  • Journal Name: BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.211-218
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aims To investigate the prognostic value of baseline imaging features for overall survival (OS) and liver decompensation (LD) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Design Patients with advanced HCC from the SORAMIC trial were evaluated in this post hoc analysis. Several radiological imaging features were collected from baseline computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging, besides clinical values. The prognostic value of these features for OS and LD (grade 2 bilirubin increase) was quantified with univariate Cox proportional hazard models and multivariate Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression. Results Three hundred and seventy-six patients were included in this study. The treatment arm was not correlated with OS. LASSO showed satellite lesions, atypical HCC, peritumoral arterial enhancement, larger tumour size, higher albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, liver-spleen ratio <1.5, ascites, pleural effusion and higher bilirubin values were predictors of worse OS, and higher relative liver enhancement, smooth margin and capsule were associated with better OS. LASSO analysis for LD showed satellite lesions, peritumoral hypointensity in hepatobiliary phase, high ALBI score, higher bilirubin values and ascites were predictors of LD, while randomisation to sorafenib arm was associated with lower LD. Conclusions Imaging features showing aggressive tumour biology and poor liver function, in addition to clinical parameters, can serve as imaging biomarkers for OS and LD in patients receiving sorafenib and selective internal radiation therapy for HCC.