Prognosis-Oriented Definition of Borderline Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Improved Patient Outcomes

Researchers proposed a prognosis-oriented definition for borderline resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on a study of 221 patients. They identified risk factors for early recurrence, including serum α-fetoprotein levels ≥12 ng/ml, tumor diameters >5 cm, tumor number ≥3, and macrovascular invasion. With these criteria, they defined borderline resectable HCC as a tumor with two or more risk factors. In the validation cohort of 181 patients, 25% were diagnosed with borderline resectable HCC, with a 5-year survival rate of 42%. This definition allows clinicians to identify patients who may benefit from preoperative systemic therapy to improve outcomes.