Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, and viral hepatitis is the most common cause of cirrhosis and HCC in Asia and Africa [1]. Epidemiological evidence suggests that approximately 10–25% of chronic HBV infections lead to HCC. China accounts for approximately half of the HCC cases reported worldwide due to the high prevalence of HBV infection [2]. Radical surgical resection is the mainstay treatment for patients with resectable HCCs, including some HCC patients with intermediate-stage disease [3]. Nevertheless, HCC is an aggressive cancer and is characterized by a high recurrence post-hepatectomy. A previous study suggested that 30–50% and up to 70% of patients suffered from recurrence within 2 and 5 years, respectively, making recurrence the major cause of mortality [4]. Unlike other solid tumors, HCC frequently occurs with underlying liver disease. Patients with underlying liver cirrhosis were at a 20-fold risk of developing HCC. Michael et al. concluded that underlying liver disease played a critical role in the prognosis of viral-related HCC [5]. To elucidate the impact of the underlying liver disease on the prognosis of patients with HCC was beneficial for HCC management.

Antiviral drugs, such as tenofovir and entecavir, were widely recommended for patients with HBV infection. Sustained virological response could effectively achieve histological improvement and thus reduce and prolong HCC development and improve prognosis [6, 7]. A liver assaulted by HBV can rapidly produce an immune reaction and lead to massive inflammatory cell infiltration. With chronic and persistent hepatitis, liver fibrosis and even cirrhosis can occur. The Scheuer scoring was first proposed by PJ Scheuer in 1991 and has since been widely used to evaluate hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis [8]. This scoring system can precisely classify the impaired liver into different degrees of inflammation or fibrosis.

Inflammation is known to be closely related to tumor development and prognosis. Numerous studies have reported that systemic inflammation has a negative impact on the prognosis of patients with HCC [9]. Regarding the correlation between hepatitis and prognosis, Xiang et al. reported that worse hepatitis was associated with worse prognosis among patients with non-cirrhotic HBV-associated HCC [10]. Using a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse model, researchers demonstrated that blockade of hepatocyte inflammation could prevent the development of HCC [11]. Since antiviral therapy is widely utilized, the relationship between hepatitis and the prognosis of patients with HCC needs further investigation in a real-world study.

Fibrosis and cirrhosis contribute to HCC development [12]. The negative impact of cirrhosis on postoperative complications is well known [13]. While the impact of cirrhosis on the long-term survival of patients with HCC remained inconsistent. Some studies reported that the long-term prognosis of patients with HCC and cirrhosis was worse than that of those without cirrhosis [14, 15]. However, high-quality studies have reported no significant difference in the prognosis between HCC patients with cirrhosis and without cirrhosis [4, 16, 17]. Among HCC patients without cirrhosis, Xiang et al. reported that a worse prognosis was associated with advanced fibrosis [10]. Hence, whether the degree of fibrosis, including cirrhosis, impacted the prognosis of HBV-related patients with HCC who were receiving antiviral therapy needs to be investigated.

Herein, we retrospectively enrolled HBV-related patients and attempted to elucidate the impact of pathological hepatic inflammation and fibrosis based on the Scheuer score system on the prognosis of patients with early-stage HCC after hepatectomy.

Methods and materials

Data from 638 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy between December 2017 and January 2019 in the Department of Liver Surgery and Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were: (1) patients with pathologically proven HCC; (2) patients who had undergone hepatectomy; (3) those with HBsAg positivity; (4) those receiving antiviral therapy(15 patients for adefovir, 4 patients for lamivudine, 530 patients for enticave, 75 patients for tenofovir, 9 patients for telbivudine, and 5 patients switching from others to enticave); (5) those with BCLC stage A disease; and (6) patients with normal renal function. The exclusion criteria were: (1) presence of recurrent HCC; (2) positive surgical margin; (3) history of HCV; (4) co-current cancers; and (5) incomplete clinicopathological information or follow-up data. The following data were prospectively collected preoperatively: demographic features, routine blood tests; liver function tests; HBV infection status; HBV-DNA load; alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level; tumor size, number, and differentiation; and status of microvascular invasion (MVI). This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital. The requirement for informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study.

Evaluation of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis

The degrees of hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis were evaluated using the Scheuer scoring system [8] as follows inflammation: G0, no portal or periportal and lobular necro-inflammatory activity; G1, portal or periportal inflammation and minimal occasionally spotty lobular inflammation; G2, mild piecemeal portal or periportal necrosis and mild or focal lobular necrosis; G3, moderate piecemeal portal or periportal necrosis and moderate or noticeable hepatocellular change inside liver lobule; and G4, severe piecemeal portal or peri FIB-4 scoring portal necrosis and severe or diffuse hepatocellular damage inside the lobule. Fibrosis: S0, absence of fibrosis; S1, fibrous portal expansion; S2, periportal or rare portal-portal septa; S3, fibrous septa with architectural distortion; and S4, cirrhosis). Minor, intermediate, and severe hepatic inflammation were defined as G1, G2, and G3-G4, respectively. Minor fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis were defined as S1-S2, S3, and S4, respectively [18].

Follows up

The follow-up plan was the same as that reported in a previous study from our center. All patients were followed up by the outpatient investigations department or phone interview postoperatively. Routine blood tests, liver function tests, serum AFP levels, HBV-DNA, and radiological examinations, including ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, contrast-enhanced CT, or MRI, were performed at each investigation. Antiviral drugs, such as entecavir or tenofovir, were administered based on the guidelines. Postoperative HCC recurrence was defined as the presence of two typical imaging findings or one positive imaging finding plus increased AFP levels or a positive histological finding. Re-treatment methods, including liver transplantation, repeat surgery, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), sorafenib, and best supportive care, were routinely recommended by our multiple disciplinary team (MDT), which mainly comprised hepatic surgeons, oncologist, and radiologist, based on the recurrence pattern and functional liver reserve. Overall survival (OS) time was defined as the interval between the operation and death or the last follow-up. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) time was defined as the time interval between the operation and the first detectable recurrence. The final follow-up visit occurred at the end of January 2022 or until death.

Statistical analysis

Categorical data were displayed as numbers (%) and were compared using the χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test. Continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations (SD) and were compared using the t-test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Potential risk factors with P < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis model using the step-forward method. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and was compared using the log-rank test. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics software (version 20.0) for Windows. A P value < 0.05 in two-tailed tests was considered statistically significant.

Results

Patient characteristics

Clinicopathological features of 638 HBV-related HCC patients are displayed in Table 1. There were 538 (84.3%) male patients, 134 (21.0%) patients with HBeAg positivity, 339 (53.1%) patients with high HBV-DNA load (> 2000 IU/mL), and 262(41.1%) patients with an AFP level of > 400 ng/mL. The average tumor diameter was 4.5 cm. Twelve (1.9%) patients had multiple tumors, 169 (26.5%) presented with MVI, and 60 (9.4%) with satellite lesions. The tumor capsule was invaded in 268 (42.0%) patients. There were 190 (29.8%) patients with thrombocytopenia, 22 (3.4%) with hypoproteinemia, 19 (3.0%) with hyperbilirubinemia, and 262 (41.1%) with elevated ALT levels.

Based on the G score (Scheuer scoring system), 50 (7.9%), 274 (42.9%), and 314 (49.2%) patients were divided into minor, intermediate, and severe hepatitis groups. Patients with severe hepatitis had a higher proportion of HBeAg positivity (26.4% vs. 16.0% vs. 11.2%), a higher proportion of thrombocytopenia, a higher proportion of MVI, and higher ALT levels than those with minor and intermediate hepatitis. The other variables were not significantly different between the three groups(Table 1).

Table 1 Characteristic stratified by hepatic inflammation
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Based on the S score (Scheuer scoring system), 125 (15.6%), 150 (23.5%), and 363 (56.9%) patients were divided into minor fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis groups. Patients with cirrhosis had a higher proportion of HBeAg positivity (26.4% vs. 16.0% vs. 11.2%), a higher proportion of thrombocytopenia (38.3% vs. 21.3% vs. 15.2%), a higher proportion of FIB-4 (> 3.6: 33.3% vs. 22.0% vs. 10.8%), and lower proportion of PLR > 101.1(33.1% vs. 40.7% vs. 52.0%), and smaller tumor diameter (4.0 cm vs. 4.75 cm vs. 5.8 cm) compared to those with minor and advanced fibrosis; however, they had normal ALT levels (36.9% vs. 38.7% vs. 42.4%). The other variables were not significantly different between the three groups(Table 2).

Table 2 characteristic stratified by hepatic fibrosis
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Survival analysis

The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS rates of patients with minor, intermediate, and severe hepatitis were 64.0%, 75.5%, and 72.0%; 43.7%, 53.8%, and 52.6%; and 33.7%, 40.3%, and 45.0%, respectively (P = 0.52). The OS rates of patients with severe hepatitis were similar to that of patients with minor or intermediate hepatitis at 1 year (92.0%, 91.2%, and 90.4%), 3 years (77.7%, 79.8%, and 76.0%) and 5 years (67.6%, 70.1%, and 67.1%) (P = 0.66)( Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Kaplan-meier analysis for patients with minor, intermediate and severe hepatic inflammation. The three groups had similar RFS (A) and OS (B).RFS: Recurrence free survival; OS: overall survival

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The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS rates of patients with minor fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis were 68.0%, 74.5%, and 73.9%; 49.0, 54.6%, and 52.6%; 43.3%, 47.9%, and 45.9%, respectively (P = 0.48). The OS rates of patients with cirrhosis were similar to that of patients with minor and advanced fibrosis at 1-year (87.2%, 91.3%, and 92.0%), 3-years (74.7%, 75.6%, and 79.7%), and 5-years (68.9%, 66.6%, and 68.8%), respectively, (P = 0.70)(Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Kaplan-meier analysis for patients with minor, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The three groups had similar RFS (A) and OS (B)

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Risk factors related to RFS and OS

The results of the univariate analysis showed that HBeAg positivity; tumor size, number, and differentiation; MVI; satellite lesions; capsule invasion; high HBV-DNA load, PT levels, AST levels, AFP (> 400 ng/ml) levels, and NLR levels were significant factors related to higher cumulative risk of HCC recurrence. All these factors were included in the multivariate analysis. The results of multivariate analysis suggested that HBeAg positivity (HR = 1.312, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.039–1.658, P = 0.023), tumor size (HR = 1.076, 95% CI:1.047–1.107, P < 0.001), tumor number (HR = 1.508, 95% CI:1.191–1.910, P = 0.001), MVI (HR = 1.446, 95% CI:1.154–1.813, P = 0.001), satellite lesions (HR = 2.195, 95% CI:1.663–2.899), capsule invasion (HR = 1.315, 95% CI:1.065–1.632, P = 0.011), and elevated AST level (HR = 1.286, 95% CI:1.037–1.595, P = 0.022) were independent risk factors of HCC recurrence (Table 3).

Table 3 Univariate and multivariable analyses to identify risk factors of RFS
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The results of the univariate analysis showed that HBeAg positivity, high HBV-DNA load, tumor size, tumor differentiation, MVI, satellite lesions, capsule invasion, PT, Hb, and elevated ALT, AST, NLR, and AFP levels (> 400 ng/ml) were significant predictors of OS. All these factors were included in the multivariate analysis. The results of multivariate analysis suggested that tumor size (HR = 1.080, 95% CI:1.043–1.118, P < 0.001), tumor differentiation (HR = 1.345, 95% CI:1.010–1.789, P = 0.042), MVI (HR = 1.756, 95% CI:1.304–2.365, P < 0.001), satellite lesions (HR = 2.350, 95% CI:1.682–3.284), PT (HR = 1.151, 95% CI:1.005–1.317, P = 0.042), AFP (HR = 1.497, 95% CI:1.138–1.971, P = 0.004), and elevated AST (HR = 1.513, 95% CI:1.128–2.028, P = 0.006) were independent risk factors of OS. Moreover, hepatic inflammation and cirrhosis were not independent risk predictors(Table 4).

Table 4 Univariate and multivariable analyses to identify risk factors of OS
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Discussion

Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis usually occur in patients with chronic HBV infection. Consistent hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were closely related to the incidence and prognosis of HCC. The role of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in the post-hepatectomy prognosis of patients needs to be clarified. In the present study, 638 consecutive patients with HBV-related early-stage HCC who received radical hepatectomy were enrolled. All patients received antiviral therapy at the time of surgery, and antiviral therapy was modulated during follow-up periods if virological suppression was not achieved. Unfortunately, the majority of patients with early-stage HCC had intermediate (43.0%) or severe (49.2%) hepatitis. Approximately half of the patients with early-stage HCC (56.9%) have pathological cirrhosis. This suggests that histological impairment is challengeable for HBV-related patients. More attention should be paid to the management of underlying liver disease. The result of the survival analysis indicated that patients with minor, intermediate, and severe hepatitis at the time of surgery had a similar prognosis in terms of RFS and OS. Meanwhile, patients with minor fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis at the time of surgery had comparable prognoses. To further exclude confounding factors, a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed. We consistently found that the hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were not independent risk factors associated with RFS or OS, indicating little impact of the hepatic inflammation and fibrosis on the prognosis of HCC patients when receiving continuous antiviral therapy. Only one previous study has used the Scheuer scoring system to explore the role of inflammation and fibrosis in patients with non-cirrhotic HBV-associated HCC. They concluded that hepatic inflammation and fibrosis had a negative impact on the prognosis of HCC [10], which is different from our conclusion possibly because we only included patients with BCLC 0-A stage HCC, while their study included approximately 30% of patients with BCLC stage C HCC, and we included patients with various degree of fibrosis (from minor fibrosis to cirrhosis), but their study excluded patients with cirrhotic liver. Since we consecutively enrolled patients with HBV-related early-stage HCC, it was easy to perform radical therapy and investigate the role of non-tumor factors in the patient’s prognosis. In our study, approximately 53.1% of patients had high HBV-DNA load and 21.0% had positive HBeAg at the time of surgery. This suggests that despite all patients receiving antiviral therapy, the virological management was not satisfactory. The antiviral therapy for all included patients was therefore modulated according to the guidelines preoperatively. Proper management of HBV infection aided to improvement in the histological impairment. Hence, the efficacy of antiviral therapy might reduce the negative impact of underlying liver conditions on the prognosis of HCC.

As a direct index reflecting hepatitis, we found that hepatitis had a close relationship with elevated serum ALT levels and decreased PLT and ALB levels. Notably, severe hepatitis was positively correlated with high HBV-DNA load and a high rate of positive HBeAg. A high proportion of patients with severe hepatitis (68.5%) tended to suffer from liver cirrhosis. This directedly suggests that there was a close relationship between viral status and hepatic inflammation and cirrhosis. Antiviral therapy is critical for HBV-related patients. MVI and satellite lesions are well-known prognostic factors for patients with HCC [19, 20]. Despite no statistical significance, the incidence of MVI and satellite lesions seemed to be higher among patients with severe hepatitis. This suggests that hepatitis can contribute to tumor aggressiveness. In our study, among the HBV-related patients with early-stage HCC, we demonstrated that MVI and satellite lesions were significantly associated with RFS and OS post-hepatectomy. Chronic hepatitis leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. About 59.2% of patients with liver cirrhosis had severe hepatitis, indicating that hepatitis significantly correlates with liver fibrosis. Patients with advanced fibrosis had a significantly high HBV-DNA load and positive HBeAg, reflecting the direct relationship between virological etiology and underlying liver condition. As the fibrosis progressed, the serum PLT level decreased significantly. FIB-4 scoring is an non-invasive method to evaluate liver fibrosis. We found that the FIB-4 scores were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis. Tumor size was an important prognostic factor for HCC. Herein, we found that advanced liver fibrosis was negatively associated with tumor size. This might be a result of more patients with cirrhosis following regular HCC surveillance. The mechanism of the inverse relationship between tumor size and degree of fibrosis needs further clarification. As reported previously [4, 21], liver cirrhosis might not be a robust prognostic factor associated with HCC recurrence and long-term survival. During the regular postoperative follow-up, good management of HBV infection might contribute to the minimized impact of liver cirrhosis.

The results of the multivariate analysis revealed that tumor-related factors remained a major contributor to the prognosis of patients with early-stage HCC. The prognosis was largely dependent on tumor biology [22]. Except for tumor size, satellite lesion, and MVI, elevated AFP and capsule invasion were related to long-term survival. This was consistent with the results of a previous study [23]. In contrast to the findings of previous studies [24, 25], we found that HBV-DNA or positive HBeAg was not a predictor of the long-term survival of patients. This might be the result of the efficacy of the antiviral therapy. AST was incorporated into some models to predict the prognosis of HCC [26, 27]. It has been demonstrated to be a risk factor associated with RFS and OS in our study. Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis had no statistical correlation with serum AST levels.

There were some limitations in our study. First, this was a single-center and retrospective study. Secondly, since all patients received antiviral therapy, it was difficult to explore the role of antiviral drugs on the prognosis due to the presence of numerous antiviral regimens. During the follow-up period, we did not further evaluate the histological changes and HBV-DNA fluctuation. Third, we only included patients who had HCC caused by HBV; hence, the conclusion might not be suitable for HCC caused by other etiologies.

In conclusion, we found that hepatic inflammation and fibrosis had little impact on the prognosis of HBV-related patients with BCLC stage A HCC who were receiving antiviral therapy. The efficacy of antiviral therapy might maximally alleviate the negative impact of the underlying liver condition on the prognosis.