Conditional probability of survival in patients with spontaneous tumor rupture on hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatectomy: a propensity score matching analysis

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the influences of tumor rupture on the observed survivals and conditional survival probabilities of patients received hepatectomy. Method: A consecutive cohort of patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for HCC between 2009 and 2013 was divided into tumor rupture group and non-rupture group. Propensity scores analyses were used to compare the observed survivals and conditional survival probabilities between these two groups. Prognostic factors for overall survival(OS) and progressive-free survival(PFS) were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: 916 HCC patients who underwent curative resection were divided into two groups: the rupture group (106) and the non-rupture group (810). Propensity score matching analysis created 89 pairs of patients with comparative background and tumor characteristics. Tumor rupture was significantly associated with increased risks of OS (p< 0.01). Tumor rupture was significantly associated with increased risks of PFS before, while not after propensity matching. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that tumor rupture was an independent risk factor associated with OS. There were significant differences between two groups for conditional probabilities of OS and PFS for additional 6 months and 1 year before propensity matching, while not after propensity matching Conclusions: The present study identified that spontaneous tumor rupture was an independent risk factor influencing OS, while not PFS of patients with HCC following partial hepatectomy. Moreover, the conditional probabilities of OS and PFS of patients for additional 6 months and 1 year in the rupture and non-rupture groups showed no differences after propensity matching.