Liver resection for early hepatocellular cancer: Comparison of centers in 3 different countries

AIM: To compare patients who underwent resection of early stage hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in three different countries. METHODS: This retrospective study characterizes 573 stage I/II HCC patients treated with liver resection in 3 tertiary-referral centers: Tokyo (n = 250), Honolulu (n = 146) and Shanghai (n = 177). RESULTS: Shanghai patients were younger, predominantly male, hepatitis-B seropositive (94%) and cirrhotic (93%). Tokyo patients were older and more likely to have hepatitis-C (67%), smaller tumors, low albumin, and normal alpha-fetoprotein. The Honolulu cohort had the largest tumors and 30% had no viral hepatitis. Age-adjusted mortality at 1 and 5-years were lower in the Tokyo cohort compared to Honolulu and there was no difference in mortality between Shanghai and Honolulu cohorts. Elevated alpha-fetoprotein, low albumin and tumor > 5 cm were associated with increased 1-year mortality. These factors and cirrhosis were independently associated with increased 5-year mortality. Independent risk factors of survival varied when examined separately by center. CONCLUSION: The profile of early-stage HCC patients is strikingly different across countries and likely contributes to survival differences. Underlying differences in patient populations including risk factors/comorbidities influencing disease progression may also account for variation in outcomes.