BACKGROUND:There is no data regarding prognostic impact of interleukin (IL)-26 on outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of IL-26 on HCC patients undergoing liver resection. METHODS:From 2003 to 2008, 122 patients with HCC who received surgical curative resection were enrolled. Patients were stratified into IL-26-upper and -lower groups according to the median expression level from immunohistochemical staining of resected specimens. Prognostic impact of IL-26 was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate time-dependent prognostic impact and independency of IL-26. Demographic and clinical factors that were associated with IL-26 were comprehensively identified. RESULTS:Prognosis of the patients with high level of IL-26 revealed to be significantly unfavorable in both cumulative recurrence-free survival (Pâ¯<â¯0.001) and overall survival (Pâ¯=â¯0.002). Upper expression of IL-26 (HR: 1.643; 95% CI: 1.021 to 2.644; Pâ¯=â¯0.041) and microvascular invasion (HR: 3.303; 95% CI: 1.255 to 8.696; Pâ¯=â¯0.016) were identified as significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS:IL-26 is a novel prognostic factor for HCC after resection. Evaluation of IL-26 expression may be potentially valuable in clinical therapy when planning individualized follow-up schedule and evaluating candidates for prophylactic adjuvant treatment to prevent recurrence.
KEYWORDS: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Interleukin 26, Prognostic factors, Surgical resection