Clinical characteristics of nonB nonC hepatocellular carcinoma compared to HBV‐ and HCV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundsThe incidence of nonB nonC hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC‐HCC) is increasing. The aim was to clarify the risk factors and the clinical features of NBNC‐HCC and compare the clinical characteristics in patients with NBNC‐HCC, B‐HCC (HBsAg positive) and C‐HCC (HCVAb positive).Methods554 patients with HCC were included: 253 with B‐HCC, 204 with C‐HCC and 97 with NBNC‐HCC (both HBsAg and HCVAb negative).ResultsCompared with the patients with B‐HCC, those with NBNC‐HCC were older (mean age 67 years, p < 0.001), more associated with alcohol drinking (p < 0.03), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.002), hypertension (p < 0.0001) and predominantly female (p = 0.16), but less associated with cirrhosis (p < 0.001) or elevated alphafetoprotein levels (p < 0.01). Compared with the patients with C‐HCC, those with NBNC‐HCC were less predominantly female (p < 0.04), more associated with smoking (p < 0.01), alcohol drinking (p < 0.008), body mass index > 25 kg/m2 (p < 0.02), less elevated aspartate aminotransaminase (p < 0.02), less elevated alanine aminotransaminase (p < 0.01) and less associated with liver cirrhosis (p < 0.02). C‐HCC had the most favorable 5‐year survival rate (23.8%), followed by NBNC‐HCC (21.3%) and B‐HCC (16.1%), however this was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between B‐HCC vs. C‐HCC, B‐HCC vs. NBNC‐HCC and C‐HCC vs. NBNC‐HCC in early (TNM I + II) and advanced (TNM III + IV) stages.ConclusionsNBNC‐HCC patients have relation with drinking alcohol, having diabetes mellitus and a higher body mass index. There was no statistically significant difference in 5‐year survival among the three groups.Copyright © 2017, The Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan, The Digestive Endoscopy Society of Taiwan and Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver.