Treatment outcomes after radiofrequency ablation in patients with non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria: comparison with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Figures & data

Figure 1. The flow chart of the study. HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; RFA: radiofrequency ablation; NBNC-HCC: non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma; PSM: propensity score matching.

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study patients.

	Total, n = 303	NBNC-HCC, n = 44	HBV-HCC, n = 259	p Value
Age (year) †	56.3 ± 11.7	56.0 ± 11.7	55.8 ± 11.0	.943
Gender
Male	266	35	231	.071
Female	37	9	28
Liver cirrhosis
Yes	197	21	176	.009*
No	106	23	83
Child-Pugh classification
A	269	41	228	.441
B	34	3	31
ALBI score
1	168	33	135	.008*
2	132	10	122
3	3	1	2
Biochemical tests†
AFP (μg/L)	340.8 ± 1182.7	288.2 ± 1442.5	357.0 ± 1147.2	.725
TBIL (μmol/L)	17.1 ± 11.4	16.4 ± 13.7	17.8 ± 11.4	.746
ALB (g/L)	39.1 ± 5.4	39.3 ± 6.5	38.7 ± 5.2	.984
ALT (U/L)	42.5 ± 32.3	30.5 ± 22.7	44.4 ± 34.2	.026*
PLT (×10^9/L)	137.6 ± 65.3	162.8 ± 90.3	135.1 ± 59.7	.027*
PT (s)	13.1 ± 1.4	12.9 ± 1.8	13.1 ± 1.3	.546
Tumor number
Solitary	256	37	219	.937
Multiple	47	7	40
Size (cm)#	2.49 ± 0.85	2.50 ± 0.89	2.47 ± 0.86	.814

† Data are given as mean ± SD. *Represented statistical significance.

NBNC-HCC: non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma; ALBI: albumin–bilirubin; AFP: alpha fetoprotein; TBIL: total bilirubin; ALB: albumin; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; PLT: platelet count; PT: prothrombin time.

Table 2. Complications after treatment.

Variable	NBNC-HCC	HBV-HCC
Major complication	1	6
Bile duct obstruction	0	1
Bleeding	1	3
Biloma	0	1
Pleural effusion	0	1
Minor complication	7	53
Pain	2	22
Fever (temperature > 38.5 °C)	3	22
Ascites	1	1
Pleural effusion	0	1
Bile duct dilation	1	2
Biloma	0	5

NBNC-HCC: non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Figure 2. Comparisons of local tumor progression (A), disease-free survival (B), and overall survival (C) after RFA among the NBNC-HCC and HBV-HCC groups. HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma; NBNC-HCC: non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; RFA: radiofrequency ablation.

Table 3. Prognostic factors of LTP, DFS, and OS in the NBNC-HCC group.

	LTP			DFS			OS
	Univariate	Multivariate		Univariate	Multivariate		Univariate	Multivariate
	p Value	HR (95% CI)	p Value	p Value	HR (95% CI)	p Value	p Value	HR (95% CI)	p Value
Age (≤60/>60 years)	.103			.496			.460
Gender (M/F)	.026*	–	–	.900			.900
Liver cirrhosis (Y/N)
Child-Pugh classification (A/B)	.908			.413			.932
ALBI score (1/2–3)	.715			.641			.349
AFP (≤20/>20 μg/L)	.364			.552			.217
TBIL (＜34.2/≥34.2 μmol/L)	.337			.410			.427
ALB (≤35/>35 g/L)	.470			.854			.756
ALT(≤40/>40 U/L)	.410			.510			.992
PLT (≤100/>100 × 10^9/L)	.355			.117			.244
PT (≤14/>14 s)	.772			.045*	–	–	.702
Tumor number (solitary/multiple)	.353			.283			.592
Maximum tumor size (≤3/>3 cm)	.003*	8.749 (1.599–47.849)	0.012*	.102			.659

*Represented statistical significance.

NBNC-HCC: non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; LTP: local tumor progression; DFS: disease-free survival; OS: overall survival; HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence interval; M: male; F: female; ALBI: albumin–bilirubin; AFP: alpha fetoprotein; TBIL: total bilirubin; ALB: albumin; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; PLT: platelet count; PT: prothrombin time.

Figure 3. Comparisons of local tumor progression (A), disease-free survival (B), and overall survival (C) after RFA among the NBNC-HCC and HBV-HCC groups after propensity score matching. HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma; NBNC-HCC: non-B non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; RFA: radiofrequency ablation.

Table 4. Baseline characteristics after propensity score matching between NBNC-HCC and HBV-HCC patients.

	Total	NBNC-HCC (n = 40)	HBV-HCC (n = 40)	p Value
Age (year) †	55.7 ± 13.1	56.5 ± 15.9	54.8 ± 9.8	.572
Gender
Male	65	33	32	.775
Female	15	7	8
Liver cirrhosis
Yes	45	20	25	.260
No	35	20	15
Child-Pugh classification
A	67	37	34	.481
B	13	3	6
ALBI score
1	42	22	20	.512
2	37	17	20
3	1	1	0
Biochemical tests†
AFP (μg/L)	391.5 ± 1251.4	317.3 ± 1493.9	465.8 ± 964.0	.599
TBIL (μmol/L)	20.1 ± 15.5	18.4 ± 13.4	21.9 ± 17.3	.314
ALB (g/L)	38.9 ± 5.6	39.4 ± 6.1	38.4 ± 5.1	.467
ALT (U/L)	34.4 ± 29.4	30.9 ± 23.6	38.0 ± 34.1	.280
PLT (×10^9/L)	13.3 ± 1.8	13.0 ± 1.8	13.6 ± 1.7	.135
Tumor number
Solitary	71	34	37	.481
Multiple	9	6	3
Size (cm) †	2.57 ± 0.92	2.52 ± 0.86	2.67 ± 0.95	.219

†Data are given as mean ± SD.

NBNC-HCC: non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV-HCC: hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma; ALBI: albumin–bilirubin; AFP: alpha fetoprotein; TBIL: total bilirubin; ALB: albumin; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; PLT: platelet count; PT: prothrombin time.

Data availability statement

We understand the terms of the share upon reasonable request data policy and our data generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author upon request.