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

Abstract 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.