The association of liver function and quality of life of patients with liver cancer

BMC Gastroenterology

Nelson L. S. Tang¹  Winnie Yeo²  Stephen L. Chan²  Leung Li²  Jane Koh²  Frankie Mo²  Edwin P. Hui²  Simon C. H. Yu³ 

[1] Department of Chemical Pathology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;Department of Clinical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;

关键词: Hepatocellular carcinoma;    Health related quality of life;    EORTC QLQ-C30;    QLQ-HCC18;    C30 index-score;    HCC18 index-score;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12876-019-0984-2

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Quality of life (QOL) assessments with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, C30 and HCC18 index scores have been shown to be prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), independent of disease stage and liver function. Liver function parameters (including bilirubin, albumin, international normalized ratio [INR], Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade, MELD, alkaline phosphatase [ALP]-to-platelet ratio, albumin-to-ALP ratio) have also been found to be independent prognostic factors for OS in HCC patients. There has been scanty data on whether QOL and baseline liver function per se are correlated in HCC patients. This study investigates the correlations between baseline QOL data and liver function variables in HCC patients. Methods From 2007 to 2011, 517 patients were enrolled. Baseline QOL was assessed at diagnosis using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18; thereafter C30 and HCC18 index scores were derived. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. For liver function assessment, Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade, MELD, ALP-to-platelet ratio and albumin-to-ALP ratio were derived. Correlation analyses were performed between QOL and liver function data. Results Complete QOL data were available in 472 HCC patients. After adjusting for clinical variables, significant correlations were found between QOL (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18) and dichotomized liver function variables (including Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade and the presence of ascites). It was demonstrated that QOL had significant and potentially clinically important correlations with continuous liver function variables (albumin, bilirubin, ALP and albumin-to-ALP ratio), with the highest Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rho) exceeding 0.4. HCC18 and C30 index scores were also significantly correlated with these liver function variables. HCC18 index score, which had rho up to 0.37, generally performed better than C30 index score, which had rho up to 0.33. Conclusions In HCC patients, baseline QOL assessment (using EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, C30 index-score or HCC18 index-score) is significantly correlated with liver function. Based on the findings of this study, future trials are warranted to assess whether treatment to enhance liver function could improve HCC patients’ QOL.

【 授权许可】

Unknown