Treatment optimization for recurrent hepatoblastoma: retrospective study from a hepatoblastoma cohort in Southern China

Purpose The present study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and optimal treatments of RHB patients. Methods We retrospectively collected 42 RHB cases and 161 primary HB (PHB) cases. Clinical characteristics were compared between RHB and PHB patients. The risk factors related to overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in RHB patients were explored by COX regression analysis. Patients were further divided into curable and refractory subgroup by treatments. Propensity score match (PSM) analysis was performed to match recurrent curable patients from 145 curable PHB patients from the same cohort. PFS was further compared between 34 pairs of primary and recurrent curative HB patients. Results Recurrence treatment and number of relapsed tumors were significantly related with both OS and PFS of RHB patients ( p < 0.05). Chemotherapy regimen alteration was also risk factor of PFS for RHB (HR = 4.26; 95% CI = 1.54–11.78; p = 0.005). RHB patients underwent curable treatment had better prognosis, compared with recurrent refractory subgroup ( p < 0.001). Matched curable PHB patients demonstrated no significant difference of 3-year PFS with curable RHB patients ( p = 0.540). Conclusion Curable RHB patients might get benefit from surgery or ablation with similar prognosis with primary curable HB patients.