Open AccessLow Frequency of Peripheral Lymphocyte in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Predicts Poor Progression to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Li Jian,
Li Juan,
Bao Yunwen,
Pan Kunyi,
Lin Xianghua,
Liu Xiaoqiang,
Wang Han,
Xu Ying,
Luo Xiaohong,
Li Hongyu,
Duan Chaohui
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.21838
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , incidence (geometry) , gastroenterology , cirrhosis , lymphocyte , cancer , peripheral , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , immunology , virus , physics , optics
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. The poor prognosis of HCC is mainly because of its discovery at advanced stages. Because chronic hepatitis B (CHB) accounts for 50–80% HCC occurrence worldwide, and immunity is regarded as an emerging hallmark of cancer, we investigated the predictive role of peripheral immune cells in HCC incidence in CHB patients. Methods This investigation collected and analyzed data from 89 CHB patients, 94 primary HCC patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV), 81 primary HCC patients without HBV, 69 normal healthy patients, and 257 CHB patients with at least 3‐year regular followup. Results The results demonstrated that CHB and primary HCC patients had different concentrations of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes in their peripheral circulation. Further study showed that the peripheral lymphocyte concentration was an independent prognostic factor for HCC incidence in CHB patients during the 3 years of followup. Finally, a predictive HCC incidence model with an AUROC (area under the receiver operating characteristic) of 0.832 was constructed based on the peripheral lymphocyte concentration, serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) concentration, and cirrhosis status of CHB patients. Conclusions The peripheral lymphocyte concentration was an independent prognostic factor for HCC incidence in CHB patients, and a more accurate predictive model based on peripheral lymphocytes, serum AFP, and cirrhosis status was constructed.