Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Korea: an Analysis of the 2015 Korean Nationwide Cancer Registry
- Author:
Jun Sik YOON
1
;
Han Ah LEE
;
Hwi Young KIM
;
Dong Hyun SINN
;
Dong Ho LEE
;
Suk Kyun HONG
;
Ju-Yeon CHO
;
Jonggi CHOI
;
Young CHANG
;
Hyun-Joo KONG
;
Eunyang KIM
;
Young-Joo WON
;
Jeong-Hoon LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Liver Cancer 2021;21(1):58-68
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2015.
Methods:Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative sample of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in Korea, were analyzed. A total of 1,558 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2015 were investigated.
Results:The median age was 61.0 years (interquartile range, 54.0-70.0 years), and men accounted for 79.7% of the subjects. Hepatitis B virus infection was the most common underlying liver disease (58.1%). According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, stage 0, A, B, C, and D HCCs accounted for 14.2%, 26.3%, 12.7%, 39.0%, and 7.8% of patients, respectively. Transarterial therapy (29.5%) was the most commonly performed initial treatment, followed by surgical resection (25.1%), best supportive care (20.2%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Overall, 42.4% of patients were treated in accordance with the BCLC guidelines: 61.7% in stage 0/A, 39.0% in stage B, 18.1% in stage C, and 71.6% in stage D. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 66.5%, 49.0%, and 17.0%, respectively.
Conclusions:In 2015, approximately 40% of Korean HCC cases were diagnosed at a very early or early stage, and 35% of patients underwent potentially curative initial treatment. BCLC guidance was followed in 42.4% of patients; in patients with stage B or C disease, there was relatively low adherence.
