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Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences 1/2021

01-01-2021 | Hepatocellular Carcinoma | Original Article

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Population-Based Observational Study

Authors: Daryl Ramai, Andrew Ofosu, Jonathan K. Lai, Zu-Hua Gao, Douglas G. Adler

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

In the USA, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) accounts for 1–2% of all cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. FLC remains poorly understood.

Aim

We aim to investigate the incidence, demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with FLC.

Methods

Data on FLC between 2000 and 2016 were extracted from the SEER database and analyzed.

Results

A total of 300 patients with FLC were identified where 126 were male. Median age at diagnosis was 27 ± 22 years. The overall age-adjusted incidence of FLC between 2000 and 2016 was 0.02 per 100,000 per year. A bimodal distribution was observed where the highest incidences occurred between 15–19 years and 70–74 years. Most tumors on presentation were moderately differentiated (20.7%), while the most common stage at presentation was stage 1 (21.7%) followed by stages 3 and 4 (20.0% and 20.3%, respectively); 50.3% of these tumors were surgically resected, while 8.0% received radiation and 45.3% received chemotherapy. One- and 5-year cause-specific survival for FLC was 72.0% and 32.9%, respectively, with a median survival of 32.9 months. HCC had a median survival time of 11.7 months. Patients who were not treated with surgical intervention had about 3 times increased risk for death (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.68–4.72, P = 0.000). Radiation and chemotherapy did not significantly affect outcomes.

Conclusion

FLC presents with a bimodal distribution in both early and elderly individuals. Compared to HCC, FLC has a higher recurrence rate but better survival outcome. Surgical intervention is superior to chemotherapy and radiation.
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Metadata
Title
Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Population-Based Observational Study
Authors
Daryl Ramai
Andrew Ofosu
Jonathan K. Lai
Zu-Hua Gao
Douglas G. Adler
Publication date
01-01-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-020-06135-3

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