A research group investigated the role of diabetes mellitus and obesity in the recurrence rates and survival rates following surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma, a specific form of liver cancer.
Hepatocellular carcinoma, which is linked to hepatitis infections, tends to reappear at a high rate after surgical removal. Although advancements in antiviral treatments have decreased the number of affected individuals, obesity and diabetes contribute significantly to the occurrence of this type of liver cancer. Nevertheless, the impact of these conditions on patient survival and recurrence of cancer has remained ambiguous.
To explore this further, Dr. Hiroji Shinkawa and his team from Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine studied how diabetes mellitus and obesity influence postoperative results in 1,644 patients who had undergone liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.
The analysis showed that, two years after surgery, the likelihood of cancer recurrence was about 1.5 times greater in patients with obesity and 1.3 times higher for those with diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the chance of recurrence five years post-surgery was 3.8 times higher among patients with obesity and doubled for those with diabetes alone.
“We hope this study will aid in the early detection of cancer recurrence and the development of suitable treatment strategies,” remarked Dr. Shinkawa. “Given that the risk of recurrence over time is greater for hepatocellular carcinoma patients who also have obesity and diabetes, managing these conditions is crucial in treating this cancer.”
The results of the study were published in Liver Cancer.
