Prognostic roles of preoperative α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Figure 1 Flowchart of selection of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in this retrospective study. A total of 40 patients with non-B/non-C hepatitis, including those with obstructive jaundice with false-positive preoperative DCP levels, and patients with alcoholic hepatitis were excluded from the study. Six patients with combined HBV and HCV infections were also excluded. Finally, 107 HCC patients with HBV infection and 103 HCC patients with HCV infection were included for analysis. Two patients in the HBV group and three in the HCV group were receiving warfarin and subsequently excluded. Therefore, 105 patients in the HBV group and 100 patients in the HCV group were included in this retrospective study. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; DCP: Des-γ-carboxy prothrombin.

Figure 2 Interactive dot diagrams. A: Interactive dot diagrams showing α-fetoprotein levels were used to predict recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy among hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis B infection; B: Interactive dot diagrams showing des-γ-carboxy prothrombin levels were used to predict recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy among hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis B infection. The horizontal line indicates the cutoff point with the best separation (minimal false-negative and false-positive results) between the two subgroups.

Figure 3 Disease-free survival and overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis B viral infection. A: In the disease-free survival analysis, there were significant differences between the three groups; B: In the analysis of overall survival, there were significant differences between the three groups.

Figure 4 Interactive dot diagrams. A: Interactive dot diagrams showing α-fetoprotein levels were used to predict recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy among hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis C infection; B: Interactive dot diagrams showing des-γ-carboxy prothrombin levels were used to predict recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy among hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis C infection. The horizontal line indicates the cutoff point with the best separation (minimal false-negative and false-positive results) between the two subgroups.

Figure 5 Disease-free survival and overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatitis C viral infection. A: In the disease-free survival analysis, there were significant differences between the three groups; B: In the analysis of overall survival, there were significant differences between the three groups.