Pre- to postoperative alpha-fetoprotein ratio-based nomogram to predict tumor recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: This study aimed to investigate the role of the alpha fetoprotein (AFP) ratio before and after curative resection in the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to develop a novel pre- to postoperative AFP ratio nomogram to predict recurrence free survival (RFS) for HCC patients after curative resection. Methods: A total of 485 pathologically confirmed HCC patients who underwent radical hepatectomy from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The independent prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma were identified by multivariate COX proportional model analysis, and the nomogram model was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic and the C-index were used to evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of the model prediction, the correction curve was used to assess the calibration of the prediction model, and decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical application value of the nomogram model. Results: A total of 485 HCC patients were divided into the training cohort (n = 340) and the validation cohort (n = 145) by random sampling at a ratio of 7:3. Using X-tile software, it was found that the optimal cut-off value of the AFP ratio in the training cohort was 0.8. In both cohorts, the relapse-free survival of patients with an AFP ratio <0.8 (high-risk group) was significantly shorter than in those with an AFP ratio ≥0.8 (low-risk group) (P < 0.05). An AFP ratio <0.8 was an independent risk factor for recurrence of HCC after curative resection. Based on the AFP ratio, BCLC stage and cirrhosis diagnosis, a satisfactory nomogram was developed. The AUC of our nomogram for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS was 0.719, 0.690, and 0.708 in the training cohort and 0.721, 0.682, and 0.681 in the validation cohort, respectively. Furthermore, our model demonstrated excellent stratification as well as clinical applicability. Conclusion: The AFP ratio was a reliable biomarker for tumor recurrence. This easy-to-use AFP ratio-based nomogram precisely predicted tumor recurrence in HCC patients after curative resection.