Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with non-B non-C hepatitis virus hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

Abstract Background A substantial population of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is negative for markers of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (non-B non-C hepatitis virus [NBC]). Methods Clinicopathologic data and outcomes were compared retrospectively for HCC patients with hepatitis B virus, HCV, and NBC who had undergone hepatectomy. Results The TNM stage was significantly higher, and the prevalence of cirrhosis was significantly lower, in the NBC group compared with the HCV group. Among patients with a maximum tumor diameter of 5 cm or less, the survival rates were significantly higher in the NBC group than in the HCV group. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) level was a prognostic factor for survival in NBC–HCC patients. The DCP/tumor size ratio was significantly higher in NBC–HCC patients with normal liver histology than in patients with hepatitis or cirrhosis. Conclusions NBC–HCC patients had more advanced tumors compared with HCV–HCC patients, but significantly higher survival rates. Measurement of DCP potentially is significant for early diagnosis of NBC HCC, which may increase the chance of curative therapy without recurrence.