Inflammation-based prognostic score for hepatocellular carcinoma patients on sorafenib treatment.

BACKGROUND No reliable prognostic predictor is known for patients undergoing sorafenib treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS In 81 patients receiving sorafenib treatment for advanced HCC, we evaluated the prognostic significance of an inflammation-based prognostic score, the Glasgow prognostic score [evidenced by an elevated C-reactive protein level (>1.0 mg/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dl)] and compared it with Child-Pugh grade, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, Japan Integrated Staging (JIS) score, and the performance status by Cox-proportional analysis. RESULTS Median overall survival after sorafenib administration was 11.3 months. On multivariate analysis, Glasgow prognostic score (0 vs. 1 and 2; p<0.001), JIS score (1 and 2 vs. 3 and 4; p=0.001), and performance status (0 vs. 1; p=0.001) were found to be independently associated with survival. CONCLUSION The Glasgow prognostic score has significant prognostic value in patients undergoing sorafenib treatment for advanced HCC.