Backgrounds: Several studies have indicated that BALAD score which includes the HCC tumor markers of HCC, AFP, AFP-L3%, DCP, and serum albumin and bilirubin value were good predictors of HCC patients for all treatment modalities. In this study, we aim to clarify the impact of BALAD score as the prognostic factor for HCC patients after curative surgery.
Methods: This study investigated 578 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC between January 2003 and May 2013. Cumulative recurrence rate, overall survival (OS), and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed according to the level of BALAD score.
Results: In patients with higher BALAD score, recurrence rate and OS was poor (p = 0.0015 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed independent risk factors for recurrence to be male (hazard ratio [HR] 1.52, P = 0.011), HCV-antibody positive (HR 1.33, P = 0.019), multiple tumors (HR 2.16, P < 0.0001), microvascular invasion (HR 1.45, P = 0.0035) and higher BALAD score (RR 1.70, P = 0.015). The independent risk factors for OS were multiple tumors (HR 1.52, P = 0.014), microvascular invasion (HR 1.53, P = 0.012), and higher BALAD score (RR 2.51, P = 0.0012).
Conclusion: BALAD score is associated with high recurrence rate and poor overall survival of the patients who underwent curative liver resection for HCC.
Keywords: Alpha-fetoprotein; DCP; Hepatocellular carcinoma; PIVKA-Ⅱ; Prognosis.
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