Outcomes and Survival of Egyptian Patients With Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicentre Retrospective Study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses significant health challenges globally, particularly in regions with considerable HBV prevalence such as Egypt. Despite immunisation programmes, HBV remains a leading cause of liver cancer in Egypt, often diagnosed at advanced stages, complicating management and worsening prognosis. This retrospective multicentre study included 365 Egyptian patients diagnosed with HBV-related HCC between February 2007 and July 2023 from six tertiary care centres across Egypt. Clinical, laboratory, tumour characteristics, treatment outcomes and overall survival were collected and analysed. Diagnosis was confirmed according to international guidelines using triphasic CT or dynamic MRI. Treatment responses were assessed using modified RECIST criteria, and survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Patients had a median age of 59 years, predominantly male (76.4%), and most (98.4%) presented with cirrhosis at diagnosis. The majority were not receiving antiviral treatment (76.71%) at presentation. Intermediate and advanced BCLC stages (B-D) comprised over 75% of cases. Trans-arterial chemoembolization was the primary treatment modality (34.5%), followed by sorafenib (24.1%) and best supportive care (28.8%). Median overall survival was 13.1 months. Independent factors associated with mortality included high ALBI score, positive HBV DNA at diagnosis, and advanced Child-Pugh classification. In conclusion: this study underscores the advanced stage at which HBV-related HCC is typically diagnosed in Egypt and the resulting poor survival outcomes. Strengthening early detection through surveillance programmes, increasing antiviral therapy coverage and adherence to treatment protocols are critical strategies to enhance patient prognosis.
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Authors

Barakat Barakat, Kohla Kohla, Tawheed Tawheed, Shousha Shousha, Moustafa Moustafa, Said Said, Sayed Sayed, Rewisha Rewisha, Abdelaziz Abdelaziz, Abd Elaziz Abd Elaziz, Abdelmalek Abdelmalek, Dabees Dabees, El Fouly El Fouly, Elkhateeb Elkhateeb, Nabeel Nabeel, Eltabbakh Eltabbakh, Riad Riad, Nasif Nasif, Abdeen Abdeen, Elhelbawy Elhelbawy, Elbaz Elbaz, Askar Askar, Shoukry Shoukry, Khalifa Khalifa, Abdelmaksoud Abdelmaksoud, Shamkh Shamkh, Kaddah Kaddah, Abdelrazek Abdelrazek, Lithy Lithy, Sleem Sleem, Hashem Hashem, Abdelaziz Abdelaziz, Ramadan Ramadan, Farid Farid, Abdallah Abdallah, Ghazy Ghazy, AbouElmaaty AbouElmaaty, Hassan Hassan, El-Kassas El-Kassas
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