[CK19 is associated with poor survival in patients with dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To study the role of CK19 in the survival of patients diagnosed with DPHCC in Fujian, China, which has a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Patients with DPHCC (n=84) who had undergone surgical interventions at the 900th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed using the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox model analyses were also conducted to further understand the correlation between CK19 and patient survival. Results: (1)Tumor size, differentiation, peripheral hepatic fibrosis, liver capsule invasion, microvascular invasion (MVI) and serum CA-199 level showed a correlation with CK19, as per the outcomes of Chi-squared tests. (2)According to the univariate analysis, the expression of CK19, MVI, the number of tumor lesions, necrosis, differentiation, peripheral hepatic fibrosis, and serum levels of both alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and CA-199 showed a strong correlation with overall survival. (3)Necrosis and serum AFP levels were strongly related to an increased risk of death, according to the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The expression of CK19 may correlate with the survival of patients with DPHCC and could potentially serve as a prognostic predictor of survival.