Impact of Cirrhosis Outcome Risk Estimator (CORE) Risk Score on Prognosis Following Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background/Aim: Several studies have reported the clinical value of prognostic markers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no study has examined the clinical significance of the Cirrhosis Outcome Risk Estimator (CORE) risk score on outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of CORE risk score on survival in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC. Patients and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 639 patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC between January 2004 and December 2023. Clinical parameters were compared between the low (≤2.4) and high (>2.4) CORE score groups. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of the CORE risk score on outcomes. Results: Patients in the high CORE score group had significantly worse 5-year overall (58.9% vs. 80.4%; p<0.001) and recurrence-free (32.9% vs. 52.5%; p<0.001) survival rates than the low CORE score group. Multivariable analyses indicated high CORE risk score as an independent prognostic factor for poor overall [hazard ratio (HR)=1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.38-2.43; p<0.001] and recurrence-free (HR=1.38; 95%CI=1.09-1.75; p=0.007) survival. Conclusion: The CORE risk score, an easily accessible screening test, may be a reliable predictor of survival in patients undergoing hepatectomy for HCC.