Statin, aspirin and metformin use and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma related outcomes following liver transplantation: A retrospective study

Table 3 Summary patient characteristics of those who had hepatocellular carcinoma -recurrence vs no hepatocellular carcinoma – recurrence, n (%)

Characteristics	HCC-recurrence	No HCC-recurrence	P value
Total	34	277
Sex (male)	30 (88.24)	223 (82.29)	0.39
Age at LT [median (Q1-Q3)]	58.83 (53.85-62.35)	58.9 (53.9-63.1)	0.79
Aetiology of liver disease
HBV	12 (35.29)	61 (22.51)	0.1
HCV	20 (58.82)	130 (47.97)	0.23
Alcohol related liver disease	5 (14.71)	81 (29.89)	0.064
NAFLD	3 (8.82)	30 (11.07)	0.69
Pre LT co-morbidities
Diabetes	9 (26.47)	87 (32.10)	0.51
Hypertension	7 (20.59)	66 (24.35)	0.63
Stroke	2 (5.88)	5 (1.85)	0.67
Ischaemic heart disease	0 (0)	7 (2.58)	0.35
Obesity (BMI > 30)	12 (35.29)	91 (33.58)	0.84
Total cholesterol ≥ 4 mmol/L [median (Q1-Q3)]	26 (76.47)	227 (83.76)	0.29
Pre-LT AFP ≥ 100 ng/mL	9 (26.47)	17 (6.27)	< 0.01
Pre-LT regional therapy ≥ 3	22 (64.71)	118 (43.54)	0.02
Pre-LT largest diameter of HCC ≥ 3 cm	19 (55.88)	78 (28.78)	< 0.01
Histology: Microvascular invasion	13 (38.24)	27 (9.96)	< 0.01
All-cause mortality	18 (52.84)	30 (11.07)	< 0.01
Death within 2 years	11 (32.35)	11 (4.06)	< 0.01
Beyond Milan criteria	20 (58.82)	70 (25.83)	< 0.01
Beyond up-to-7 criteria	14 (41.18)	38 (14.03)	< 0.01
Complete response prior to LT	6 (17.65)	101 (37.27)	0.024
Chemoprophylaxis
Statins	4 (11.76)	52 (19.19)	0.29
Aspirin	15 (44.12)	36 (13.28)	< 0.01
Metformin	6 (17.65)	44 (16.24)	0.84
Statins, metformin or aspirin use	20 (58.82)	106 (39.11)	0.028
MTORi use	10 (29.41)	75 (27.68)	0.83
Follow up time [median months (Q1-Q3)]	30.46 (8.97-58.87)	65.99 (30.97-104.70)	< 0.01

Statin, aspirin and metformin use was defined as use for at least 29 days, started within 24 months of liver transplantation. Comparison between groups by Mann-Whitney U test. LT: Liver transplantation; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; AFP: Alfa-fetoprotein; BMI: Body mass index; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; MTORi: Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor.