Introduction: We evaluated the prognostic significance of the preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with various liver etiologies.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 157 patients with HCC between July 2010 and February 2021. The relationship between clinicopathological variables was investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean overall survival (OS) was 24.5 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 90.4%, 81.2%, and 68.7%, respectively. Patients were classified into 2 groups: AGR <1.16 (low-AGR group; n = 43) and AGR ≥1.16 (high-AGR group; n = 114). In univariate analysis, OS was significantly reduced in patients with a low AGR (AGR <1.16), an alpha-fetoprotein level ≥25 ng/mL, a tumor size ≥3.5 cm, microvascular invasion, and poor tumor differentiation. In multivariate analysis, a low AGR (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) (2.394 [1.092-5.213]; p = 0.030) and microvascular invasion (2.268 [1.019-5.169]; p = 0.045) were independent predictors of OS.
Discussion/conclusion: A low AGR was significantly associated with poor OS in patients with HCC, regardless of liver etiology. This may assist in treatment stratification and better management of patients with HCC.
Keywords: Albumin-to-globulin ratio; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Inflammation-based prognostic score; Prognosis; Surgical resection.
© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.