Hepatoma ResHepatoma Research2454-25202394-5079OAE Publishing Inc.10.4103/2394-5079.154356Original ArticleRole of diabetes mellitus on the recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinomas after radiofrequency ablation in chronic hepatitis C patientsEl-SawyAbd Allah Ahmedhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8200-0535M_atawfik@hotmail.comTawfikMohamed Abd El-RaoufHepatogastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta 31527, EgyptCorrespondence Address: Dr. Mohamed Abd El-Raouf Tawfik, Hepatogastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta 31527, Egypt. E-mail: M_atawfik@hotmail.com20151542015124930122014332015This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/), which allows others to remix, tweak and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Aim: The aim was to assess the impact of hyperglycemia on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as evaluate survival after curative ablation by radiofrequency.
Methods: This study, which was conducted retrospectively on 107 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with 159 HCCs, was presented to the Hepatology Unit of Internal Medicine Department at Tanta University Hospitals. All lesions were curatively treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and the surveillance of HCC recurrence was evaluated radiologically every 3 months for periods between 6 and 36 months. Of 107 subjects, 70 were males and 37 were females, with mean age 50.4 ± 9.4 years. All patients were divided according to their glycemic state into the following three groups: Group I, which included 37 type 2 diabetic patients, with adequate maintenance of blood glucose, has 52 HCCs; Group II, which included 25 type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose, has 43 HCCs; and Group III, which included 45 euglycemic non-diabetic patients, has 64 HCCs.
Results: Our results showed that, there was significant increase in recurrence rate in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose (Group II) compared to those in Group I and Group III (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, there was no significant difference concerning HCC recurrence between diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose (Group I) and non-diabetic euglycemic patients (Group III). Our results also identified that, inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients was also a significant predictor of poor survival.
Conclusion: Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients is a significant risk factor for recurrence of HCC and for poor survival after curative RFA therapy in CHC patients.
Hepatocellular carcinomahyperglycemiaradio frequency ablationrecurrencesurvivalIntroduction
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as one of the most common cancers worldwide and its incidence has been increasing in many countries.[1] It accounts for 80% of primary liver cancers, complicating liver cirrhosis in most cases and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths.[2]
There is considerable geographical variation in the incidence of HCC, which is thought to be related to differences in the prevalence of underlying risk factors, in particular hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections.[3]
Hepatocellular carcinoma surgical resection, liver transplantation, and local ablation therapy, such as radio frequency ablation (RFA) therapy, have been considered as efficient curative therapies for HCC.[4] Currently, RFA has gained popularity based on the ease of use, safety, reasonable cost and applicability to minimally invasive techniques.[5] RFA therapy is now widely indicated in patients with small HCC[5] in which the survival rates were similar to surgical resection.[6]
Hepatocellular carcinoma has a high rate of recurrence after curative resection or local ablation therapy, reaching approximately 80% within 5 years.[7-9] The recurrence of HCC and patient survival are associated with the number of HCC nodules and their sizes.[10,11] Hepatic reserve function at the time of HCC therapy is another fact or that is associated with the recurrence of HCC and patient survival.[12] Antiviral therapy targeting HCV[13,14] or HBV[15] has been shown to decrease HCC recurrence, and improve hepatic reserve function and survival.
There is a strong association between diabetes mellitus and increased cancer risk in liver, the key organ involved in the metabolic derangements typical of diabetes.[16] Metabolic factors, such as obesity and diabetes, are closely linked to the etiology of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is also considered a cause of HCC.[17] If these metabolic factors are related to the recurrence of HCC, therapeutic intervention targeting these factors may lead to prevention of frequent recurrence of HCC and improved patient survival.
The impact of diabetes on the recurrence of HCC, after treatment, has been discussed, but with conflicting results.[18-21] In our study, the possible impacts of hyperglycemia on the recurrence of HCC in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients after curative RFA were analyzed and we found that inadequate maintenance of blood glucose was related to the high rate of HCC recurrence.
Methods
This study was conducted retrospectively on 107 patients with 159 hepatic focal lesions. The patients were curatively treated by RFA therapy from January 2010 to June 2013. There were 70 males and 37 females with mean age 50.4 ± 9.4 years.
An informed consent was taken from all participants. All the records were confidential. The results of this research were used only for scientific purpose. Any unexpected risks that appeared during the course of the research were cleared with the participants and the clinical committee on time.
We selected the patients for this study according to the following inclusion criteria: maximum diameter of HCC ≤ 4 cm, number of HCC nodules ≤ 3, no previous history of treatment of HCC and follow-up observation for at least 6 months and up to 36 months after RFA therapy. The etiological background of liver disease was HCV infection for all patients as other etiology of liver disease were excluded from this study. Exclusion criteria for our study were as following: maximum diameter of HCC > 4 cm, number of HCC nodules > 3, previous history of treatment of HCC, follow-up observation for less than 6 months after RFA therapy and cirrhotic patient by other than CHC.
All patients were divided according to glycemic state to the following three groups: Group I included 37 controlled type 2 diabetic patients, with adequate maintenance of blood glucose, with 52 HCC nodules; Group II included 25 uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose, with 43 HCC nodules; and Group III included 45 euglycemic patients with 64 HCC nodules. The Child-Pugh classification grade was either A (n = 50) or B (n = 57). The number of HCC nodules was 1 in 61 patients, 2 in 40 patients, and 3 in 6 patients. The maximum diameter of HCC nodules was 3.11 ± 0.53 cm.
Inadequate maintenance of blood glucose was defined as an average value of casual blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL. The level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was not used in the present study because the lifespan of erythrocytes is shortened due to hypersplenism in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, leading to lower HbA1c levels relative to the blood glucose level.[22] Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was made according to the American Diabetes Association criteria of a fasting blood glucose level ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c level ≥ 6.5.[23] Obesity was defined as a body mass index > 25 kg/m2 according to the definition of the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity.[24]
After initial treatment of HCC by RFA, the ablated area was confirmed by triphasic computed tomography (CT) or dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 1-week. If the ablated area was not sufficient, then RFA therapy was repeated until the HCC nodule was completely ablated.
Diagnosis of HCC was based on abdominal ultrasonography, triphasic CT, dynamic MRI and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Classical HCC was diagnosed for tumors showing vascular enhancement with washout on at least two types of diagnostic imaging. Tumor biopsy was used to diagnose tumors with non-classical imaging findings.
For surveillance of HCC recurrence after curative therapy with RFA, patients were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced triphasic CT, or contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI every 3 months.
Recurrence of HCC was diagnosed based on reappearance of arterial enhancement in the ablated lesions or new focal lesions detected by ultrasonography showing vascular enhancement with washout on triphasic CT or dynamic MRI. If the tumor was not hypervascular, a tumor biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Statistical analysis
All patients’ data were tabulated and processed using SPSS 10.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). The data were presented by mean and standard deviation and compared using one way analysis of variance test. In addition, the data were presented by frequency and percent and compared using Chi-square test or Fischer’s exact test when appropriate. For analysis of survival and recurrence, the time of initial RFA treatment was defined as day 0. Survival rate was analyzed by the Kaplan- Meier method and log rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazard model. In all tests P value was considered significant if < 0.05.
Results
The clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients undergoing curative RFA for HCC are summarized in Table 1.
The clinical and laboratory criteria for all patients undergoing RFA
Our results showed that, upon comparison of the three groups, that is, the diabetes with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose group (Group I), the diabetes with adequate maintenance of blood glucose group (Group II), and the euglycemic non-diabetes group (Group III), the recurrence rate was significantly higher in the diabetes with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose group than in the other two groups (P < 0.0001) [Figure 1 and Table 2]. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the HCC recurrence rate between the diabetes patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose group and the non-diabetes group (P = 1.0000).
The recurrence of all studied patients as regard all risk factors after radiofrequency ablation. AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; BMI: body mass index
The recurrence of all studied patients as regard all risk factors after RFA
Group
Recurrence of HCC as regard independent risk factors
Recurrent lesions
Risk factor
n
n (%)
P
I (n = 37)
AFP ≥ 200
13
4 (30.7)
0.0423
AFP < 200
24
1 (4)
Solitary nodule
24
1 (4)
0.0423
Multiple nodules
13
4 (30.7)
Nodule diameter ≥ 3 cm
11
4 (36.3)
0.0207
Nodule diameter < 3 cm
26
1 (3.8)
BMI ≥ 25
23
3 (13)
1.0000
BMI < 25
14
2 (14)
Cumulative
37
5 (13)
II (n = 25)
AFP ≥ 200
11
10 (90.9)
0.0421
AFP < 200
14
7 (50)
Solitary nodule
9
3 (33.3)
0.0099
Multiple nodules
16
14 (87.5)
Nodule diameter ≥ 3 cm
13
12 (92)
0.0112
Nodule diameter < 3 cm
12
5(41.6
BMI ≥ 25
17
11 (64.7)
1.0000
BMI < 25
8
6 (75)
Cumulative
25
17 (68)
III (n = 45)
AFP ≥ 200
14
5 (35.7)
0.0080
AFP < 200
31
1 (3)
Solitary nodule
28
1 (3.5)
0.0228
Multiple nodules
17
5 (29)
Nodule diameter ≥ 3 cm
14
5 (35.7)
0.0080
Nodule diameter < 3 cm
31
1 (3.2)
BMI ≥ 25
15
3 (20)
0.3843
BMI < 25
30
3 (10)
Cumulative
45
6 (13)
P
AFP ≥ 200
Pa = 0.0045
Pb = 0.0119
Pc = 1.0000
AFP < 200
Pa = 0.0017
Pb = 0.0005
Pc = 1.0000
Solitary nodule
Pa = 0.05
Pb = 0.0375
Pc = 1.0000
Multiple nodules
Pa = 0.0027
Pb = 0.0013
Pc = 1.0000
Nodule diameter ≥ 3 cm
Pa = 0.0078
Pb = 0.0044
Pc = 1.0000
Nodule diameter < 3 cm
Pa = 0.0078
Pb = 0.0042
Pc = 1.0000
BMI ≥ 25
Pa = 0.0019
Pb = 0.0155
Pc = 0.6632
BMI < 25
Pa = 0.0083
Pb = 0.0007
Pc = 0.6467
Cumulative
Pa < 0.0001
Pb < 0.0001
Pc = 1.0000
aP: P value between Group I and II; bP: P value between Group II and III; cP: P value between Group I and III. Group I: inadequate maintenance of blood glucose; Group II: adequate maintenance of blood glucose; Group III: non-diabetic euglycemic. HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; AFP: alpha-fetoprotein, BMI: body mass index, RFA: radiofrequency ablation
With regard to the number of HCC nodules, namely, solitary or multiple, the recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with multiple HCC nodules in all groups. Within each subgroup of patients with single and multiple HCC nodules, diabetes with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose was significantly associated with recurrence of HCC in comparison to other groups as shown in Figure 1 and Table 2. In terms of the initial level of serum AFP ≥ 200 ng/mL, the recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with AFP ≥ 200 ng/mL in all groups. Within each subgroup of patients with AFP ≥ 200 ng/mL and < 200 ng/mL, diabetes with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose was associated with a higher rate of recurrence in comparison to other groups as shown in Figure 1 and Table 2. On the other hand, obesity was not significantly associated with HCC recurrence in all groups.
As shown in Figure 2, the survival rate was significantly lower in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose (solid line) than in diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose (blood glucose < 200 mg/dL, broken line) or non-diabetic patients (dotted line) (P = 0.0060). There was no significant difference in survival rate between diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose and non-diabetic patients.
Survival rate in all groups
Discussion
The effect of metabolic factors, such as hyperglycemia, diabetes, and obesity, on the recurrence of HCC after curative RFA therapy was analyzed retrospectively. Our results identified that inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients was a significant and independent risk factor for early recurrence of HCC, whereas obesity and diabetes with adequate maintenance of blood glucose were not. This was based on the results that showed that diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose had a higher rate of HCC recurrence compared with diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose and non-diabetic patients. In other words, even in patients with diabetes, if the blood glucose was adequately maintained, the HCC recurrence rate did not differ significantly compared with those in non-diabetic patients. These results indicate the possibility that adequate management of hyperglycemia may lead to a reduction in the risk of HCC recurrence.
These results have been confirmed by several authors.[25-29] There may be several mechanisms involved in the relationship between hyperglycemia and HCC recurrence. Hyperglycemia promotes cancer cell proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells and breast cancer cells through accelerated cell cycle progression or through the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to activation of protein kinase C and increased DNA synthesis in cancer cells.[30-33]
Takahashi et al.[34] proved that post-challenge hyperglycemia is a significant risk factor for the development of HCC in patients with CHC while hyperglycemia at fasting was not. A possible reason for this result may be that patients with post-challenge hyperglycemia may have higher fluctuations in daily glucose levels that lead to oxidative stress.[34] This is because it was reported that acute fluctuations in blood glucose levels cause greater oxidative stress than sustained chronic hyperglycemia.[35] Taken together, a possible mechanism for the relationship between higher level of casual blood glucose and development of HCC in the present study may be that daily fluctuations in serum glucose levels caused greater oxidative stress. Alternatively, hyper-insulinemia or increased level of insulin-like growth factor, which are caused by hyperglycemia, may be related to carcinogenesis.[36]
The results of our study identified that, the survival rate was significantly lower in diabetic patients with inadequate maintenance of blood glucose than in diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose or non-diabetic patients. There was no significant difference in survival rate between diabetic patients with adequate maintenance of blood glucose and non-diabetic patients.
These results were confirmed by Hosokawa et al.[25] who suggested that glycemic control in diabetic patients, more so than diabetes itself, plays a role in the survival. The mechanism by which glycemic control and survival are related is unknown, but frequent recurrence of HCC in hyperglycemic patients and the accumulation of damage in liver function because of repeated treatment intervention for HCC may lead to worsening survival. Diabetes accelerates liver fibrosis and inflammation with increased inflammatory markers and cytokines resulting in severe liver failure and poor cancer prognosis.[25]
In conclusion, inadequate maintenance of blood glucose in diabetic patients is a significant risk factor for recurrence of HCC and for poor survival after curative RFA therapy in CHC patients.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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