Purpose: Interferon therapy suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and tumor recurrence after a resection of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the value of a liver resection and which method is best for the treatment of HCC detected after successful interferon therapy remains to be clarified. The risk factors for tumor recurrence after a liver resection for HCC detected after successful interferon therapy were investigated to determine the appropriate operative method for such HCC.
Methods: Risk factors including the clinicopathologic findings and the operative methods for tumor recurrence were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses in 24 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC detected after successful interferon therapy (sustained viral response or biochemical response).
Results: According to a univariate analysis, large tumor (> 2 cm, P = 0.0326), multiple tumors (P = 0.0372), nonanatomic resection (P = 0.0103), and positive surgical margin (< 5 mm of a free surgical margin, P = 0.0245) were possible risk factors for short tumor-free survival time after surgery. A multivariate analysis showed that large tumor (P = 0.0407), nonanatomic resection (P = 0.0215), and positive surgical margin (P = 0.0253) were independent risk factors for a short tumor-free survival time after surgery.
Conclusion: An anatomic resection with an appropriate surgical margin (> or = 5 mm of a free surgical margin) is recommended for patients with HCC detected after successful interferon therapy.