Immunohistochemical markers for hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis after liver resection and liver transplantation

Abstract Aim There were differences in progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC ) after surgery between liver resection ( LR ) and liver transplantation ( LT ). In this study, immunohistochemical ( IHC ) markers associated with the prognosis of HCC were assessed. Methods Data were collected from 167 patients who underwent LT (n=41) or LR (n=126) for HCC . IHC markers including alpha‐fetoprotein ( AFP ), p53, Ki‐67, cytokeratin 7 ( CK 7), and cytokeratin 19 ( CK 19) were compared between the treatment methods in tumor tissue. Results AFP ‐ and p53‐negative patients had a significantly higher survival rate than AFP ‐ and p53‐positive patients ( AFP : disease‐free survival [ DFS ] P =.006, overall survival [ OS ] P =.016; p53: DFS P =.005, OS P =.038) in the LR group. CK 19 was related to DFS ( P =.005), while CK 7 ( P =.014) and CK 19 ( P =.06) were related to OS in the LT group. When we combined factors that were significant in both groups ( LR : AFP and p53, LT : CK 7 and CK 19), all‐negative patients had a higher survival rate ( LR : DFS P =.025, OS P =.043, LT : DFS P =.034, OS P =.008). Conclusion p53 and AFP were predictors for poor prognosis of HCC after LR ; CK 7 and CK 19 could be predictors for poor prognosis of patients with HCC after LT .