DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES AND FACTORS AFFECTING OVERALL SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS IN TURKEY

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver. Cirrhosis, due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), and alcohol is the most important risk factor for HCC. In this analysis, we evaluated demographic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and overall survival (OS) of patients with HCC. Methods: Data from patients with HCC, who presented at medical oncology outpatient clinics of three centers between April 2007 and April 2012, were assessed retrospectively. Patient demographics, treatments, progression, and the date of last follow-up were recorded. Results: This analysis included 166 patients [138 males (83.1%), 28 (16.9%) females] with a mean age of 62 (range, 18-86) years. Ninety-two (55%) patients were followed for cirrhosis before HCC was diagnosed. HBV positivity, HCV positivity, and a history of alcohol consumption were present in 102 (61.4%), 16 (9.6%), and 50 (30.1%) patients, respectively. Distant metastasis occurred in 34 (20.5%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the most significant prognostic factors for OS were a history of alcohol consumption (p = 0.002), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p < 0.001), Child-Pugh score (p = 0.005), transplantation (p = 0.049), and transarterial chemoembolization (p < 0.001). Discussion: We found that long survival could be achieved by the provision of local treatment modalities to patients with early-stage HCC and good performance status. Vaccination against HBV, which plays a major role in the etiology of HCC, should be prioritized and efforts should be made to detect HCC in the early stages.