Table 1.
Basic Characteristics of HCC Patients Stratified According to Levels of the PALBI
| Variables | Overall | PALBI Grade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (n=264) | 2/3 (n=201) | P value | ||
| Etiology: HBV/others | 418/47 | 234/30 | 184/17 | 0.303 |
| Sex: male/female | 366/99 | 204/60 | 162/39 | 0.386 |
| Age (years) | 52.9±10.7 | 53.1±10.4 | 52.6±11.2 | 0.614 |
| Age: >60/≤60 years | 344/121 | 198/66 | 146/55 | 0.565 |
| ALT (U/L) | 34.4(23.0–59.8) | 29.0(20.0–44.0) | 46.0(26.9–88.0) | <0.001 |
| AST (U/L) | 37.0(26.0–55.0) | 32.5(24.0–44.0) | 43.9(28.0–82.9) | <0.001 |
| TBIL (µmol/L) | 13.4(10.2–18.7) | 11.4(9.0–14.3) | 18.2(13.4–24.9) | <0.001 |
| ALB (g/L) | 39.6(35.6–42.8) | 41.9(39.0–45.0) | 36.2(33.2–39.6) | <0.001 |
| PLT (109/L) | 137(100–197) | 129(97–175) | 152(110–225) | <0.001 |
| AFP (ng/mL) | 62.4(5.1–1051.1) | 104.4(6.3–1210.0) | 38.7(4.7–847.9) | 0.245 |
| AFP: ≥400/<400ng/ml | 151/314 | 87/177 | 64/137 | 0.799 |
| Ascites: yes/no | 65/400 | 28/236 | 37/164 | 0.016 |
| Tumor size (cm) | 5.0(3.5–8.0) | 5.0(3.5–7.5) | 6.0(3.5–9.0) | 0.023 |
| Tumor size: >5/≤5cm | 223/242 | 118/146 | 105/96 | 0.107 |
| Tumor number: multiple/single | 66/399 | 38/226 | 28/173 | 0.887 |
| Vascular invasion: yes/no | 61/404 | 32/232 | 29/172 | 0.465 |
| Cirrhosis: yes/no | 229/236 | 142/122 | 87/114 | 0.025 |
| BCLC: 0+A/B+C | 341/124 | 198/66 | 143/58 | 0.352 |
| CLIP: 0/1-4 | 237/228 | 141/123 | 96/105 | 0.227 |
| C-P grade: A/B | 407/58 | 257/7 | 150/51 | <0.001 |
| ALBI score | −2.64(−2.93 to −2.24) | −2.84(−3.11 to −2.63) | −2.24(−2.52 to −1.96) | <0.001 |
| ALBI grade (1/2) | 254/211 | 209/55 | 45/156 | <0.001 |
Notes: Data were expressed as median (interquartile range), mean value ± SD, or no. Bold font highlights significant results.
Abbreviations: PALBI, platelet–albumin–bilirubin; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; TBIL, total bilirubin; ALB, albumin; PLT, platelet count; AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; CLIP, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program; C-P, Child–Pugh; ALBI, albumin–bilirubin.