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Telomerase Activity in Tumor and Remnant Liver as Predictor of Recurrence and Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Resection

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Abstract

Background and Aim

Results after curative liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma are unsatisfactory with regard to high postoperative intrahepatic recurrence and liver failure. This study evaluates telomerase activity in liver with and without tumor as a predictor of recurrence and survival.

Materials and Methods

Liver tissue with and without tumor from 53 hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving curative resection during the period of 1998–2000 was used for detecting telomerase activity by PCR-ELISA. Clinicopathological data were compared to identify predictors of recurrence and survival.

Results

Telomerase activity was detected in 98% of liver tissue with tumor and 70% liver tissue without. Telomerase activity in cancerous liver correlated significantly with HCV infection (P = 0.012) and cirrhotic change in liver parenchyma (P = 0.006). Telomerase activity in non-cancerous liver correlated with high serum AFP level (P = 0.002). The telomerase activity of liver tissue with and without tumor is significant higher in patients with recurrence than in those without recurrence, 413.7 ± 100.5 versus 110.8 ± 32.7, P = 0.006, and 34.7 ± 14.2 versus 4.2 ± 1.4, P = 0.039. Recurrence could be predicted by abnormally high tumor telomerase activity (P = 0.026) or by advanced TNM stage (P = 0.001). TNM stage or high serum ALT level could predict multinodular intrahepatic recurrence (P = 0.028 and P = 0.030). High serum AFP combined with high telomerase activity in liver without tumor had a significant ability to predict poor survival (OR: 11.19, CI: 1.95–64.12, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Tumor telomerase is an independent predictor of recurrence. Simultaneous high remnant liver telomerase and high serum AFP is a strong negative predictor of survival.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by grant number NCKU-MC-88-01 from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The authors thank Dr. Chang Yu-Chung and Dr. Lin Yih-Jih for the collection of specimens, Miss Tang Li-Ying for completion of the PCR-ELISA test and Randy Gillespie for English editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138, Sheng-Li Road, 70428, Tainan, Taiwan ROC

    Yan-Shen Shan MD PhD & Pin-Wen Lin MD

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 E. Monument Street Suite 6-100, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Yu-Hsiang Hsieh PhD

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  1. Yan-Shen Shan MD PhD
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  2. Yu-Hsiang Hsieh PhD
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  3. Pin-Wen Lin MD
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Correspondence to Pin-Wen Lin MD.

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Shan, YS., Hsieh, YH. & Lin, PW. Telomerase Activity in Tumor and Remnant Liver as Predictor of Recurrence and Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Resection. World J Surg 31, 1122–1129 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-006-0783-0

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