Hepatitis B core-related antigen levels predict recurrence-free survival in patients with HBV-associated early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: results from a Dutch long-term follow-up study.

Prognosis of hepatitis B (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor due to high rates of HCC recurrence and progression of underlying liver disease. We studied whether serum hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels could predict HCC recurrence and outcome in HBV associated. Higher HBcrAg levels at HCC diagnosis were independently associated with reduced overall and recurrence-free survival in patients with early, but not advanced, stage HCC.