Model combining pre-transplant tumor biomarkers and tumor size shows more utility in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence and survival than the BALAD models

Table 4 Baseline characteristics of 113 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent liver transplant with available biomarker results n (%)

Variables	Value
Age, yr, mean ± SD	58.2 ± 8.3
Male sex	86 (76)
Race
White	91 (80)
Asian	11 (10)
Others	7 (6)
Unknown	4 (4)
Etiology
Hepatitis virus C	66 (58)
Hepatitis virus B	11 (10)
Alcohol	14 (12)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or cryptogenic	14 (12)
Others	8 (7)
Cirrhosis	104 (92)
CTP class
A	13 (12)
B	76 (67)
C	24 (21)
MELD score, median (range)	14.2 (6.4–38.6)
ECOG status
0	57 (50)
1	34 (30)
2	19 (17)
3	3 (3)
Diameter of the largest tumor at the time of transplant by imaging, cm, mean ± SD	2.7 ± 1.6
Tumor number at the time of transplant
1	73 (64.6)
2	26 (23.0)
3	7 (6.2)
≥ 4	7 (6.2)
BCLC staging
Stage 0	1 (1)
Stage A	39 (35)
Stage B	7 (6)
Stage C	40 (35)
Stage D	26 (23)
Within Milan criteria at diagnosis	87 (77)
Within UCSF criteria at diagnosis	96 (85)
Within Milan criteria at transplant	88 (78)
Within UCSF criteria at transplant	105 (93)
AFP model score > 2	26 (23)
Total bilirubin, mg/dL, median (range)	2.3 (0.2-29.5)
Albumin, g/dL, median (range)	3.2 (2.1-5.2)
AFP, ng/mL, median (range)	25.3 (0.8-27800)
AFP > 400 ng/mL	18 (16)
AFP-L3, %, median (range)	12 (1-86.5)
AFP-L3 > 15%	45 (40)
DCP, ng/mL, median (range)	1.2 (0.2-1480)
DCP > 1.2 ng/mL	56 (50)

AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; AFP-L3: Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein; CTP: Child-Turcotte-Pugh; DCP: Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin.