ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the correlation between preoperative circulating tumor cells (CTC) and microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The data of 227 patients who underwent hepatocellular carcinoma resection in Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The peripheral blood CTC was detected by Cyttel detection before operation. The relationship between preoperative peripheral blood CTC and clinical characteristics of patients was analyzed; the multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for MVI; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the efficacy of each independent risk factor in predicting the occurrence of MVI, and the relationship between CTC and MVI was clarified.Results:According to the ROC curve, the cut-off values for predicting MVI of CTC, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist Ⅱ (PIVKA-Ⅱ), and tumor long-axis diameter were 3 CTC/3.2 ml, 158 μg/L, 178 AU/L and 59 mm. CTC-positive group had ≥3 CTC/3.2 ml in peripheral blood, and CTC-negative group had <3 CTC/3.2 ml, and there were 117 and 110 cases in the two groups. The median AFP levels of preoperative CTC-positive group and CTC-negative group were 123.0 μg/L (0-20 000.0 μg/L) and 9.6 μg/L (0-18 676.0 μg/L), and the median tumor long-axis diameter was 50.0 mm (5.0-200.0 mm) and 36.0 mm (2.0-150.0 mm), the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Before operation, AFP≥158 μg/L ( OR = 3.551, 95% CI 1.426-8.843, P = 0.006), PIVKA-Ⅱ≥178 AU/L ( OR = 12.250, 95% CI 4.384-34.231, P < 0.01), peripheral blood CTC ≥ 3 CTC/3.2 ml ( OR = 8.913, 95% CI 3.561-22.306, P < 0.01) and tumor long-axis diameter ≥59 mm ( OR = 3.250, 95% CI 1.339-7.885, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of MVI; the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of these factors for predicting MVI was 0.752, 0.777, 0.857 and 0.743. CTC was more effective in predicting MVI than AFP and tumor long-axis diameter, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The efficacy of CTC in predicting MVI was slightly better than that of PIVKA-Ⅱ, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:CTC may be one of the important indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma MVI in clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the application value of detecting circulating tumor cells (CTC) before liver transplantation for predicting the recurrence and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:From October 2015 to October 2019, 62 HCC patients at Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital were collected and analyzed by Cyttel method before liver transplantation. CTC was determined by X-tile software and Kaplan-Meier method for determining the optimal cutoff value of CTC before liver transplantation and the relationship between CTC and clinical factors was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were performed for determining the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis. Kaplan Meier method was employed for describing the survival curve of tumor-free survival and overall survival after transplantation.Results:The optimal preoperative critical value of CTC was 3.2 ml. CTC ≥3/3.2 mL was set as CTC positive group while CTC <3/3.2 mL CTC negative group. The positive/negative CTC before transplantation was significantly correlated with preoperative Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level, maximal tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, liver transplantation criteria and degree of differentiation ( P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate COX regression models indicated that the number of preoperative CTC (HR: 1.262, 95%CI: 1.069-1.489, P=0.006) and microvascular invasion (HR: 2.657, 95%CI: 1.120-6.305, P=0.027) were independent risk factors for tumor-free survival after transplantation while microvascular invasion (HR: 3.738, 95%CI: 1.219-11.459, P=0.027) was the sole independent risk factor affecting the overall survival of HCC after transplantation. Statistically significant difference existed between preoperative CTC positive/negative and tumor recurrence or metastasis (no recurrence, intrahepatic recurrence, and distant metastasis)( χ2=7.790, P=0.020). The disease-free survival rates of 1/2/3-year CTC-negative/positive patients were 82.90%, 68.70%, 58.90% and 49.00%, 29.40%, 22.10%; the 1/2/3-year overall survival rates of preoperative CTC-negative/positive patients were 85.50%, 77.10%, 69.79% and 64.90%, 47.20%, 40.50% respectively. The disease-free survival curve of CTC-negative patients was significantly higher than that of CTC-positive counterparts ( P<0.001) and the overall survival curve of CTC-negative patients was significantly higher than that of CTC-positive counterparts ( P<0.005). Conclusions:Preoperative CTC detection has certain application value in evaluating the prognosis of liver cancer after liver transplantation, which has important clinical significance and application prospects.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma microvascular invasion (MVI) and to construct a preoperative prediction clinical scoring system.Methods:A retrospective analysis was made on 113 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatectomy at Zhongshan Hospital from March 2018 to Jun 2019.Postoperative pathology confirmed 35 cases with microvascular invasion.Results:The multivariate logistic regression model showed that the maximum tumor diameter( OR: 1.028, 95% CI: 1.001-1.005), the smoothness of the capsule edge( OR: 0.208, 95% CI: 0.062-0.699), the positive circulating tumor cells (CTC)( OR: 3.728, 95% CI: 1.029-13.501) and abnormal prothrombin(PIVKA-Ⅱ)( OR: 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000-1.002) were risk factors for MVI. The area, sensitivity and specificity of the clinical score constructed by assigning 1 point to each risk factor were 0.906, 74.29% and 92.31%, respectively. Clinical scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 predict MVI positive rates of 0 (0/26), 9.09% (3/33), 28.57% (6/21), 77.78% (14/ 18), 85.71% (12/14). Conclusions:Tumor maximum diameter>62 mm, PIVKA-Ⅱ>115 mAU/ml, unsmooth tumor capsule and CTC in peripheral blood are independent high risk factors in patients with MVI.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the independent risk factors of tumor recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to establish a preoperative prediction score.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 168 HCC patients treated with RFA at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University from June 2016 to September 2019. The X-tile software was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of preoperative circulating tumor cells (CTC) which was then used to analyze the relationship between different CTCs values with various clinical factors. The Cox regression model was used to analyze independent risk factors of recurrence after RFA, and each independent risk factor was assigned a score of 1 to compose the prediction score. The patients were divided into the low-risk group (0-2 scores), intermediate-risk group (3 scores) and high-risk group (4-5 scores). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw cumulative recurrence curves in calculating the cumulative recurrence rates of the 3 different groups.Results:Of 168 patients, there were 151 males and 17 females. Their age (Mean±SD) was 58.33±9.53 years. CTC≥1/3.2 ml was detected in 131 patients (77.98%) (range 0-20/3.2 ml). The X-tile software determined the preoperative CTC cut-off value of HCC patients to be 2/3.2ml which separated a CTC-negative group with 93 patients, and a positive group of 75 patients. On analyses, the relationship between preoperative CTC and various preoperative clinical parameters were related to number of tumor nodules, tumor maximum diameter and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that CTC positivity[ HR(95% CI): 1.990(1.332-2.974)], AFP>20 ng/ml[ HR(95% CI): 1.659(1.111-2.477)], PIVKA-II>40 mAU/ml[ HR(95% CI): 1.580 (1.022-2.443)], number of tumor nodules ≥2[ HR(95% CI): 1.568 (1.057-2.326)], and tumor diameter>30 mm[ HR (95% CI): 1.544 (1.007-2.369)] were independent risk factors of recurrence ( P<0.05) after RFA in HCC patients. The cumulative recurrence rates of patients at 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months were 14.9%, 35.6%, and 56.4% in the low-risk group, 38.9%, 70.5%, and 85.0% in the intermediate-risk group, and 64.5%, 84.5% and 100% in the high-risk group. The differences were significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Preoperative CTC positivity, AFP>20 ng/ml, PIVKA-II>40 mAU/ml, tumor nodules ≥2, and tumor diameter>30 mm were independent risk factors of recurrence after RFA in HCC patients. This preoperative predictive score could be used to guide clinical treatment strategies.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of infection after liver transplantation from donor liver of donation after citizen's death. Methods Clinical data of 68 recipients after liver transplantation from donor liver of donation after citizen's death were analyzed retrospectively. The recipients were divided into infection group (33 cases) and non-infection group (35 cases) according to the presence of infection after operation. Major infection characteristics of the 68 recipients after liver transplantation were summarized. Univariate analysis was conducted on the possible risk factors of infection after liver transplantation, and multivariate analysis was further conducted on the risk factors with statistical significance, so as to find out the independent risk factors. In addition, accuracy of predicting infection after liver transplantation was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Thirty-three recipients were infected after liver transplantation, accounting for 49% of the total recipients with bacterial infection and fungal infection mainly. These recipients mainly presented pulmonary infection and abdominal cavity infection. Univariate analysis results showed that a total of 8 factors contributed to infection after liver transplantation from donor liver of organ donation, including the donors' open injury, recipients' preoperative hemoglobin level, platelet count, Child-Pugh classification of liver function, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, intraoperative erythrocyte infusion, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) on day 1 after operation and postoperative stay time of intensive care unit (ICU) (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression results analysis showed that preoperative hemoglobin level <120 g/L and postoperative stay time of ICU >96 h were the independent risk factors of infection after liver transplantation from donor liver of organ donation (both P<0.05). Analysis results of ROC curves showed that preoperative hemoglobin level<114 g/L and postoperative stay time of ICU >102 h resulted in higher accuracy for predicting postoperative infection. Conclusions Infection after liver transplantation from donation after citizen's death presents high incidence, dominated by bacterial infection and fungal infection in lung and abdominal cavity. Low preoperative hemoglobin level and long postoperative stay time of ICU of recipients can increase the risk of infection after liver transplantation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the experience of prevention of biliary tract complications after liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death. Methods Clinical data of 88 cases undergoing liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death in the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from October 2008 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eighty-eight cases were eligible for the standards for organ donation after brain death plus cardiac death according to the Ⅲ national system for organ donation in China. According to the standard procedures, donor livers were successfully harvested and transplanted in 88 recipients. The biliary tract was reconstructed using the bile duct end-to-end anastomosis. The length of bile duct in the donors was shortened as possible. Slight tension should be maintained during anastomosis. Neither primary liver graft nonfunction nor rejection reaction occurred. One recipient suffered from bile leakage and recovered after drainage for 3 weeks. Two patients presented with biliary tract stenosis and mitigated after the placement of biliary tract stent. Conclusions The harvesting of donor liver should be in accordance with the standard procedures. The advantages of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be fully utilized to shorten warm and cold ischemia time as possible. Much attention should be diverted to the reconstruction of biliary tract, which contributes to decreasing the risk of biliary tract complications. Favorable clinical efficacy can be achieved in liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression and significance of β-catenin and peroxisome prolifera-tot-activated receptor-γ,(PPARγ) in bepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Tissue microarrays were established to detect β-catenin and PPARγ expression in 49 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma,49 cases of adjacent nontumoral liv-er tissue and 6 cases of normal liver tissue. The relationships between PPARγ and β-catenin as well as between PPARγ and clinicopathological parameters were observed. Results The aberrant expression rate of β-catenin was 69.39%,48.98 % and 0 respectively (P=0.001). The positive expression rate of PPARγ was 51.02%,30.61% and 0 respectively (P=0.016). Clinicopathological analysis revealed that the increase of PPARγ expression was not associated with age,tumor size,serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels,tumor embolus of portal vein or inferior vena cava,and HBsAg infection(χ2=0.214,3.201,0.046,3.201,P>0.05 for each),but correlated with differentiation grades(χ2=4.693,P<0.05). Aberrant expression of β-catenin was associated with PPARγ expression(χ2= 5.130,P<0.05). Conclusion Aberrant expression of β-catenin may involve in the liver carcinogenesis. The high expression of PPARγ in hepatocellular carcinoma is significantly correlated with the clinicopathological characteris-tics. Detection of PPARγ is valuable for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma,and evaluating malignancy extent and prognosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the effects of individual antibiotic and immunosuppressive regime on postoperative infection in liver transplant recipients. Method There were 31 cases of liver transplantation from March 2001 to May 2005. The recipients received individual antibiotic and immunosuppressive regime based on the drug susceptibility testing and monitoring of blood drug concentration. The incidence and pattern of infection and the mortality in these recipients were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were 15 episodes of infection during recipients' staying in hospital. The common etiologies were Enterobacter cloacae, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staph. epidermidis. According to the drug sensitive test, targocid/tienam and tazocin were mostly used in antibiotic regime for treatment of postoperative infection. With monitoring of blood concentration, appropriate application of immunosuppressive agents decreased the incidence of infection from 86.7% before 2003 to 48.4% after 2003 (P0.05). Conclusion Individual application of antibiotic and immunosuppressive regime leads to the suppression of infections and other complications in liver transplant recipients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the potential of interventional regional arterial infusion for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Regional arterial infusion with somatostatin and antibiotic was performed in 20 cases of SAP within 4 hours after diagnosis confirmed,and pressurized infusion lasted for 5 days. Another 28 cases of SAP as control group received drug treatment all over the body. The SAP clinical data such as symptom,mortality,complication rate and stay time in hospital were analysed in two groups. Results There were significant differences in remission,serum amylase,urine amylase and lipase between the regional and total infusion groups. The stay time in hospital,mortality,complication and operation rate were lower in regional infusion group than those of control group(P
ABSTRACT
0.05).(2) The volume range of 25 hepatocellular tumors was 395.16～2747.7 ml using diameter measurement and 203.10～1463.19 ml using MSCT 3D measurement before the operation.There was significant difference of the data in these two groups using t-test (t=7.689, P