Preoperative Bilirubin Level Predicts Overall Survival and Tumor Recurrence After Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma Patients

OBJECTIVE: Currently, the correlation between preoperative bilirubin level and overall survival (OS) remains poorly defined in respectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the outcomes of perihilar CC after resection and then to analyze factors influencing curative resection, tumor recurrence and OS. METHODS: 115 patients with perihilar CC underwent surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed based on clinic characteristics, operative details, tumor recurrence and long-term survival data. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates after resection were 75.9%, 36.5%, 21.7%, whereas the corresponding tumor recurrence rates were 29.6%, 70.8%, 85.3%, respectively. Preoperative bilirubin level combined with liver resection, resection margin, vascular invasion and perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage were found to be correlated with OS and tumor recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative bilirubin level together with resection margin, perineural invasion, and TNM stage were independent predictors of OS and tumor recurrence. Furthermore, preoperative bilirubin level was related with R0 resection, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and postoperative liver function recovery. CONCLUSION: Preoperative bilirubin level may effectively reflect the severity of perihilar CC and predict the OS and tumor recurrence after resection for perihilar CC patients.