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Oral supplementation of branched-chain amino acids reduces early recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study

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Abstract

Purposes

The long-term outcomes of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) administration after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. This study assessed the effect of oral supplementation with BCAA on the development of liver tumorigenesis after hepatic resection in HCC patients.

Methods

Fifty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive either BCAA supplementation (Livact group, n = 26) or a conventional diet (Control group, n = 30). Twenty-six patients in the BCAA group were treated orally for 2 weeks before and 6 months after hepatic resection. Postoperative tumor recurrence was continuously evaluated in all patients by measuring various clinical parameters.

Results

There was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between the two patient groups; however, the recurrence rate at 30 months after surgery was significantly better in the Livact group in comparison to the Control group. Interestingly, the tumor markers, such as AFP and PIVKA-II, significantly decreased at 36 months after liver resection in the Livact group in comparison to the Control group.

Conclusions

Oral supplementation of BCAA reduces early recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HCC. This treatment regimen offers potential benefits for clinical use in such patients, even in cases with a well-preserved preoperative liver function.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Kochi University Discretionary Fund.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regenerative Medicine Group, Department of Surgery, Center for Innovative and Translational Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu-Okocho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan

    Kengo Ichikawa, Takehiro Okabayashi, Hiromichi Maeda, Tsutomu Namikawa, Tatsuo Iiyama, Takeki Sugimoto, Michiya Kobayashi, Toshiki Mimura & Kazuhiro Hanazaki

Authors
  1. Kengo Ichikawa
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  2. Takehiro Okabayashi
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  3. Hiromichi Maeda
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  4. Tsutomu Namikawa
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  5. Tatsuo Iiyama
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  6. Takeki Sugimoto
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  7. Michiya Kobayashi
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  8. Toshiki Mimura
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  9. Kazuhiro Hanazaki
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Correspondence to Takehiro Okabayashi.

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Ichikawa, K., Okabayashi, T., Maeda, H. et al. Oral supplementation of branched-chain amino acids reduces early recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study. Surg Today 43, 720–726 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0288-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-012-0288-4

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