Relationship between Serum Hyaluronic Acid Level and Patient Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Underwent Hepatectomy

Atsushi Nanashima, Takafumi Abo, Goushi Murakami, Masaki Kunizaki, Hiroaki Takeshita, Shigekazu Hidaka, Kazuo To, Tomoshi Tsuchiya, Takeshi Nagayasu

Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2013.42A043                

Abstract

We examined the relationship between hyaluronic acid (HA) and tumor-related factors after hepatectomy in 158 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatectomy. We examined serum HA levels before hepatectomy by evaluating data for clinicopathological parameters, surgical records, postoperative complications and survival. The mean HA level was 190 ± 202 ng/ml. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group A had serum HA levels less than 50 ng/ml (normal range), group B had levels between 50 and 190 ng/ml, and group C had levels over 190 ng/ml. Group C had a higher rate of poor liver function compared to others. Multiple tumors were significantly more frequent in groups B and C compared to A. The grade of fibrosis and the inflammatory responses were positively correlated with the serum HA level. Postoperative long-term ascites was significantly more frequent in group C compared to others. Although the recurrence rate and the relapse-free period were not significantly related to the serum HA level, the serum HA level was significantly associated with overall survival after hepatectomy (p < 0.05). Cox’s multivariate analysis did not show a significant relationship between HA level and survival. Serum HA reflects progression and survival in HCC patients.

Keywords

Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Hepatectomy; Serum Hyaluronic Acid Level; Prognosis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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