Table 2.
Comparison of Clinicopathological Characteristics Between HCC Patients Positive or Negative for CK19
| Variables | CK19-Negative | CK19-Positive | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 78 | n = 27 | ||
| Age (years) | |||
| <45 | 27 (34.6) | 16 (59.3) | 0.025* |
| ≥45 | 51 (65.4) | 11 (40.7) | |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 67 (85.9) | 24 (88.9) | 0.693 |
| Female | 11 (14.1) | 3 (11.1) | |
| HBsAg | |||
| Negative | 8 (10.3) | 4 (14.8) | 0.771 |
| Positive | 70 (89.7) | 23 (85.2) | |
| HBV-DNA | |||
| <5.0×102 | 24 (30.8) | 6 (22.2) | 0.397 |
| ≥5.0×102 | 54 (69.2) | 21 (77.8) | |
| AFP (ng/mL) | |||
| <400 | 39 (50.0) | 7 (25.9) | 0.030* |
| ≥400 | 39 (50.0) | 20 (74.1) | |
| Tumor size (cm) | |||
| <5 | 19 (24.4) | 4 (14.8) | 0.301 |
| ≥5 | 59 (75.6) | 23 (85.2) | |
| Tumor number | |||
| Single | 48 (61.5) | 17 (63.0) | 0.895 |
| Multiple | 30 (38.5) | 10 (37.0) | |
| Liver cirrhosis | |||
| Negative | 4 (5.1) | 0 | 0.538 |
| Positive | 74 (94.9) | 27 (100) | |
| Edmondson grade | |||
| III–IV | 28 (35.9) | 14 (51.9) | 0.145 |
| I–II | 50 (64.1) | 13 (48.1) | |
| BCLC stage | |||
| 0–A | 42 (53.8) | 15 (55.6) | 0.878 |
| B–C | 36 (46.2) | 12 (44.4) | |
| Tumor capsule | |||
| Complete | 52 (66.7) | 12 (44.4) | 0.041* |
| Incomplete | 26 (33.3) | 15 (55.6) | |
| MVI | |||
| Negative | 26 (33.3) | 7 (25.9) | 0.475 |
| Positive | 52 (66.7) | 20 (74.1) | |
| PVTT | |||
| Negative | 63 (80.8) | 19 (70.4) | 0.260 |
| Positive | 15 (19.2) | 8 (29.6) | |
Notes: Values are n (%); P < 0.05 was considered significant; *p < 0.05.
Abbreviations: AFP, alpha-fetoprotein; BCLC stage, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage; CK19, cytokeratin 19; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV-DNA, hepatitis B virus DNA; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; MVI, microvascular invasion; PVTT, portal vein tumor thrombosis.