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Validation of a Liver Index and Its Significance for HCC Aggressiveness

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Abstract

Background

We recently constructed a liver index (LI) from four liver parameters, namely: blood total bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), albumin, and platelet levels (a cirrhosis surrogate). We found that the scores for the liver index related significantly to a four-parameter HCC aggressiveness index (maximum tumor diameter, multifocality, percent portal vein invasion, and blood AFP levels).

Aims

To validate the relationship of liver parameters to tumor aggressiveness parameters in a larger, different HCC dataset.

Results

We now confirm these associations in another large HCC cohort. Furthermore, this liver index showed significant trends with the individual HCC aggressiveness parameters.

Conclusions

These results provide further support for the idea that liver microenvironment, as reflected in liver function tests, may relate to HCC behavior.

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Abbreviations

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

AFP:

Alpha-fetoprotein

GGTP:

Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase

PVT:

Portal vein thrombosis

MTD:

Maximum tumor diameter

CT:

Computerized axial tomography scan

Alb:

Albumin

Plts:

Platelets

Bil:

Bilirubin

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Acknowledgements

No authors have any proprietary or financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Brian I. Carr

  2. Department of Clinical Trials, IRCCS de Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Italy

    Vito Guerra

Authors
  1. Brian I. Carr
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  2. Vito Guerra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian I. Carr.

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Carr, B.I., Guerra, V. Validation of a Liver Index and Its Significance for HCC Aggressiveness. J Gastrointest Canc 48, 262–266 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-017-9971-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-017-9971-4

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