Sorafenib after resection improves the outcome of BCLC stage C hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Patients’ demographics and clinical characteristics by group n (%)

Variables	SR + sorafenib	SR	P value
	(n = 12)	(n = 24)
Age1, yr	49.8 ± 6.5	52.8 ± 6.9	0.226
ECOG PS score2			1.000
0	10 (83.3)	19 (79.2)
1	2 (16.7)	5 (20.8)
Largest tumor diameters1, cm	9.8 ± 2.1	11.2 ± 2.5	0.103
Pathologic results3			0.404
Well differentiated (grade 1)	3 (25.0)	2 (8.3)
Moderately differentiated (grade 2)	7 (58.3)	18 (75)
Poorly differentiated (grade 3)	2 (16.7)	4 (16.7)
Satellite lesion4, n	4 (33.3)	9 (37.5)	1.000
AFP			0.700
< 400 ng/mL	4 (33.3)	6 (25)
≥ 400 ng/mL	8 (66.7)	18 (75)
HBV-DNA			0.664
< 1000 cps/mL	9 (75)	20 (83.3)
≥ 1000 cps/mL	3 (25)	4 (16.7)
Degree of fibrosis5			1.000
0-2	2 (16.7)	3 (12.5)
3-4	10 (83.3)	21 (87.5)
Types of PVTT6			0.764
First-order branch (VP3)	10 (83.3)	19 (79.2)
Main trunk (VP4)	2 (16.7)	5 (20.8)
Preoperative laboratory results
ALT1, μmol/L	57.3 ± 19.9	50.8 ± 22.1	0.397
Albumin1, g/L	39.5 ± 3.5	39.9 ± 4.5	0.781
Bilirubin1, μmol/L	17.4 ± 4.5	19.8 ± 6.0	0.236
Hemoglobin1, g/L	137.3 ± 10.9	132.0 ± 7.8	0.103
Platelet count1, 109/L	185.4 ± 46.2	164.3 ± 48.6	0.220
Prothrombin time1, s	12.1 ± 1.0	12.0 ± 1.0	0.785
INR7	1.4 ± 0.5	1.3 ± 0.4	0.436
Blood loss7, mL	304.2 ± 151.4	343.8 ± 143.2	0.458
Blood transfusion7, mL	37.5 ± 93.2	62.5 ± 124.5	0.679
Surgery time7, min	218.3 ± 33.3	232.5 ± 47.8	0.265
TTP times8, mo	26.5 (14-54)	21.5 (9-34)	0.0419
Patients with recurrence after SR2	6 (50)	18 (75)	0.157
Survival times8, mo	32 (21-58)	25.5 (11-37)	0.0109
Patients died after SR2	5 (41.7)	14 (58.3)	0.483

¹mean ± SD for continuous data, differences between groups were compared using two-sample t-test;

²n (%) categorical data and differences between groups were compared using Pearson χ² test;

⁷Mann-Whitney U test;

³Median (range: min to max) for time-related data, and differences between groups were compared using Fisher exact test;

⁸Log-rank test was used for time-related data;

⁴Satellite lesions were defined as tumors ≤ 2 cm in size that were located within a distance of 2 cm from the main tumor;

⁵The degree of fibrosis of the hepatic parenchyma was graded according to the classification of Ishak et al[39] grade 0-2, no or minimal fibrosis; grade 3-4, incomplete bridging fibrosis; grade 5-6, complete fibrosis and nodules;

⁶PVTT was typed according to the classification of primary liver cancer by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan[40]. Patients were defined as having a tumor thrombus in the first-order branch (VP3) and the main trunk (VP4) of the portal vein;

⁹P < 0.05, indicates a significant difference between two groups. SR: Surgical resection; AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; PVTT: Portal vein tumor thrombus; TTP: Time to progression.