Background: The significance of peri-neural invasion (PNI) in resected patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) has been rarely explored. Our study was performed to evaluate the significance of PNI in resected HCCA patients in terms of tumor biological features and long-term survival.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed surgically-treated HCCA patients between June, 2000 and June 2018. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis.
Results: A total of 239 resected HCCA patients were included (No. PNI: 138). PNI indicated more aggressive tumor biological features. Major vascular reconstruction was more frequently performed in patients with PNI (34.8% vs 24.8%, P = 0.064). Patients with PNI shared a significantly higher percentage of surgical margin width <5 mm (29.0% vs 16.8%, P = 0.02). The proportion of patients with T1-2 disease (31.2% vs 40.6%, P = 0.085) or I-II disease (21% vs 34.7%, P = 0.014) was significantly lower in patients with PNI. The overall morbidity rate was significantly higher in patients with PNI (P = 0.042). A much worse overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0003) or disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.0011) in patients with PNI. Even after matching vital prognostic factors, a significantly worse OS (P = 0.0003) or DFS (P = 0.0002) was still observed in patients with PNI. PNI was an independent prognostic factor in both OS (P = 0.011) and DFS (P = 0.024).
Conclusion: PNI indicated more aggressive tumor biological features and more advanced tumor stage in patients with resected HCCA. PNI can be an independent prognostic factor in both OS and DFS. Future multi-center studies covering various races or populations are required for further validation.
Keywords: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma; Peri-neural invasion; Prognosis; Surgery.
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