Survival and hepatitis status among Asian Americans with hepatocellular carcinoma treated without liver transplantation
2009

Survival and Hepatitis Status in Asian Americans with Liver Cancer

Sample size: 82 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Jessica P Hwang, Manal M Hassan

Primary Institution: The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Hypothesis

What are the predictors and rates of survival in Asian American patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated without transplantation?

Conclusion

The survival rate of Asian American patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, for whom transplantation was not available, was low.

Supporting Evidence

  • 94% of patients had positive anti-HBc and 61% had positive HBsAg.
  • Overall median survival was 9.2 months.
  • Male gender and high alpha-fetoprotein levels were associated with shorter survival.

Takeaway

This study looked at Asian Americans with liver cancer who couldn't get a liver transplant and found that most didn't live long after diagnosis. It's important for doctors to check for hepatitis early to help these patients.

Methodology

The study reviewed medical records of Asian American patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and used statistical methods to analyze survival rates.

Potential Biases

The study population may be biased as it comes from a tertiary referral center, which may attract patients with later-stage disease.

Limitations

The study is retrospective and has a small sample size, which may not represent the broader population.

Participant Demographics

Most participants were Asian American, primarily from Vietnam, China, or Korea, with a mean age of 57.8 years and a male-to-female ratio greater than 2:1.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p=0.09

Confidence Interval

95% CI 6.5–11.9

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-9-46

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