Hepatitis B virus infection is an independent factor influencing the occurrence of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer: a retrospective analysis of 1413 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationships between Hepatitis B virus infection, cirrhosis and colorectal cancer liver metastasis have not been investigated simultaneously and it remained unclear that whether the immune changes caused by Hepatitis B virus infection or the structural changes caused by cirrhosis conduce to the lower incidence of liver metastasis. METHODOLOGY: Data of 1413 colorectal cancer patients were reviewed to investigate the impacts of Hepatitis B virus infection and cirrhosis on the occurrence and prognosis of liver metastasis. RESULTS: The incidence of liver metastasis in the Hepatitis B virus infection group or in the cirrhotic group was lower than the control groups (9.4% vs 23.9%, P<0.001; 6.3% vs 22.9%, P=0.03, respectively). However, a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only Hepatitis B virus, the T and N classifications were independent factors for the occurrence of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-years survival rates between hepatitis B virus infection group and the non-infection group, nor between cirrhotic group and non-cirrhosis group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B virus infection was one of the independent factors for the occurrence of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer but not for the survival.