Tumor Necrosis Impacts Prognosis of Patients Undergoing Curative-Intent Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Abstract

The impact of tumor necrosis relative to prognosis among patients undergoing curative-intent resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains ill-defined. Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for HCC without any prior treatment between 2000 and 2017 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. Tumor necrosis was graded as absent, moderate (< 50% area), or extensive (≥ 50% area) on histological examination. The relationship between tumor necrosis, clinicopathologic characteristics, and long-term survival were analyzed. Among 919 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for HCC, the median tumor size was 5.0cm (IQR, 3.0-8.5). Tumor necrosis was present in 367 (39.9%) patients (no necrosis: n = 552, 60.1% vs < 50% necrosis: n = 256, 27.9% vs ≥ 50% necrosis: n = 111, 12.1%). Extent of tumor necrosis was also associated with more advanced tumor characteristics. HCC necrosis was associated with OS (median OS: no necrosis, 84.0months vs < 50% necrosis, 73.6months vs ≥ 50% necrosis: 59.3months; p < 0.001) and RFS (median RFS: no necrosis, 49.6months vs < 50% necrosis, 38.3months vs ≥ 50% necrosis: 26.5months; p < 0.05). Patients with T1 tumors with extensive ≥ 50% necrosis had an OS comparable to patients with T2 tumors (median OS, 62.9 vs 61.8months; p = 0.645). In addition, patients with T2 disease with necrosis had long-term outcomes comparable to patients with T3 disease (median OS, 61.8 vs 62.4months; p = 0.713). Tumor necrosis was associated with worse OS and RFS, as well as T-category upstaging of patients. A modified AJCC T classification that incorporates tumor necrosis should be considered in prognostic stratification of HCC patients.