Abstract:
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of combining the red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RAR) with the albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score (ALBI–RAR) to predict postoperative recurrence risk in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection and compared its performance with each individual index.
Methods: Clinical data of 257 patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy at Lanzhou University Second Hospital from January 2013 to December 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative demographic information, laboratory parameters, tumor features, and follow-up data were collected. The optimal RAR cutoff (3.245) was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Patients were stratified by ALBI score, RAR grade, and combined ALBI–RAR grade. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was the primary endpoint. Kaplan–Meier survival curves with Log-rank testing compared RFS among groups, Cox proportional hazards regression identified independent predictors of recurrence, and time-dependent ROC curves (nearest neighbor estimation) assessed predictive performance.
Results: Univariate analysis showed that maximum tumor diameter, TNM stage, albumin level, ALBI score, RAR grade, and ALBI–RAR grade were significantly associated with postoperative recurrence (
P<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed the ALBI–RAR score as an independent predictor (grade 4
vs. grade 1: HR=14.6, 95% CI: 1.8–118.0,
P=0.012). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that the combined score provided the clearest separation of RFS (median RFS: 96, 48, 24, and 5 months for grades 1–4, respectively;
P<
0.0001), outperforming ALBI and RAR alone. At 36 months, areas under the ROC curve were 0.715 for ALBI, 0.709 for RAR, and 0.751 for ALBI–RAR, indicating greater predictive accuracy for the combined score.
Conclusion: The ALBI–RAR combined score more accurately stratifies recurrence risk in patients with HCC after curative resection. Its improved predictive performance and ease of use make it a practical tool for preoperative risk assessment and individualized postoperative surveillance planning.