Impact of the branched‐chain amino acid to tyrosine ratio and branched‐chain amino acid granule therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score analysis. Issue 9 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tada, Toshifumi; Kumada, Takashi; Toyoda, Hidenori; Kiriyama, Seiki; Tanikawa, Makoto; Hisanaga, Yasuhiro; Kanamori, Akira; Kitabatake, Shusuke; Yama, Tsuyoki
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 30:Issue 9(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1412
• Page End: 1419
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12954
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jgh12954-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Aim</title> <p>It has been reported that the branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) to tyrosine ratio (BTR) is a useful indicator of liver function and BCAA therapy is associated with a decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there has not been sufficient research on the relationship between BTR and the effects of BCAA therapy after initial treatment of HCC. We investigated the impact of BTR and BCAA therapy on survival in patients with HCC.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12954-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 315 patients with HCC who were treated (<italic>n</italic> = 66) or not treated (<italic>n</italic> = 249) with BCAA were enrolled; of these, 66 were selected from each group using propensity score matching. Survival from liver‐related mortality was analyzed.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12954-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In patients who did not receive BCAA therapy (<italic>n</italic> = 249), multivariate analysis for factors associated with survival indicated that low BTR (≤ 4.4) was independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC (hazard ratio, 1.880; 95% confidence interval, 1.125–3.143; <italic>P</italic> = 0.016). In addition, among patients selected by propensity score matching (<italic>n</italic> = 132), multivariate analysis indicated that BCAA therapy was independently associated with good prognosis in patients with HCC (hazard ratio, 0.524; 95% confidence interval, 0.282–0.973; <italic>P</italic> = 0.041). BTR was not significantly associated with survival.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12954-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Intervention involving BCAA therapy improved survival in patients with HCC <italic>versus</italic> untreated controls, regardless of BTR. In addition, low BTR was associated with poor prognosis in patients who did not receive BCAA therapy.</p> </sec> </abstract>