Prognostic Factors of Survival and Comparison of Surgically Resected Combined Hepatocellular-cholangiocellular Carcinoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and İntrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) are the most common primary malignancies of the liver. The combined form of these two tumors (i.e., cHC-CC) is a considerably rare type of liver cancer displaying both malignant components.

The present study aimed to explore the factors affecting survival in patients with HCC, ICC, and cHC-ICC through referring to statistical analysis, including demographics, histopathological, and operative and laboratory findings.

In this research, 53 patients were evaluated retrospectively, who had undergone an operation for primary liver tumors in a single tertiary center. Data were analyzed in terms of demographics, operation, tumor features, histopathological analysis, and their relationship with survival.

The study groups consisted of 20 ( 37.7%) and 33 (62.3%) females and males, respectively, with a mean age of 62.3 years. It was revealed that the survival rate was significantly higher in HCC, comparedto other groups (P<0.05). Moreover, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was significantly higher in the HCC group than in the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) group, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels and the presence of jaundice and perineural invasion were significantly higher in the ICC group, compared to HCC patients. In the HCC group, macroscopic vascular invasion, perineural invasion, and T staging were statistically significant. It was also found that in the ICC group, the macroscopic vascular invasion was statistically significant, and in the cHC-ICC group, the increased levels of AFP showed a statistically significant effect on survival (P<0.05).

To the best of our knowledge, the current research was one of the very few studies performed focusing on each group of liver tumors in a single study. Based on the findings of this research, there were statistically significant results in all three groups and their comparison with each other