Efficacy and safety of selective internal radiotherapy with yttrium-90 resin microspheres compared with sorafenib in locally advanced and inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (SARAH): an open-label randomised controlled phase 3 trial

Expanding Indications for Liver Transplantation in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Improvements in downstaging therapies have expanded the indications for liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with more advanced disease are now considered candidates due to advancements in radiation therapy, combination therapies, and immunotherapy. Combination stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been shown to be superior to the historic treatment, sorafenib, in patients with macrovascular invasion. These patients are now candidates for LT with stable disease after LRT. Patients with ruptured HCC and prolonged stability have also been shown to have acceptable outcomes. The role of neoadjuvant immunotherapy needs to be further defined and has the potential to further improve tumor control prior to transplant.

Additional Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy to Sorafenib Was Cost-Effective for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Major Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

Purpose

The combination of sorafenib and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (SoHAIC) has shown to enhance overall survival rates in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and major portal vein tumor thrombosis (HCC-Vp3-4) compared to sorafenib alone. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SoHAIC versus sorafenib for the treatment of HCC-Vp3-4, taking into account the viewpoint of Chinese healthcare payers.

Methods

This pharmacoeconomic study employed a Markov model to assess the cost-effectiveness of treating HCC-Vp3-4 with SoHAIC in comparison to sorafenib. The patient characteristics were drawn from individuals from the trial conducted between June 2017 and November 2019, with cost and health value data sourced from published literature. The primary outcome measure in this research was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), which indicates the additional cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold per QALY was set at $30,492.00. Furthermore, 1-way sensitivity and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were carried out to validate the consistency of the results.

Results

In the baseline scenario, sorafenib resulted in 0.42 QALY at a cost of $10,507.89, while SoHAIC generated 1.66 QALY at a cost of $32,971.56. When comparing SoHAIC to sorafenib, the ICER was $18,237.20 per QALY, which was below the WTP threshold per QALY. Furthermore, the 1-way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the ICER remained within the WTP threshold despite fluctuations in variables. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, SoHAIC had a 98.8% probability of being cost-effective at the WTP threshold, considering a wide range of parameters.

Conclusion

In this cost-effectiveness evaluation, SoHAIC demonstrated cost-effectiveness over sorafenib for HCC with major portal vein tumor thrombosis, as observed from the perspective of a Chinese payer.

Evaluation and Management of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Multidisciplinary Indian Consensus Statements from a Delphi Panel

Background India, like many parts of Asia, likely faces a high burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though large-scale data on etiology, presentation, and outcomes are lacking. There appears to be a predominance of unresectable, advanced-stage HCC at presentation in India with variable level of expertise in India to manage these scenarios. This publication summarizes the latest evidence with cognizance of the unique challenges faced in India by treating clinicians.

Methods A multidisciplinary panel of medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, and hepatobiliary surgical oncologists held a meeting in June 2022 and reviewed the evidence available for management of HCC. The meeting concentrated on the recognition and management of HCC not amenable to surgical approaches in the Indian context. A literature review of these aspects of management was conducted and consensus statements with level of evidence and grades of recommendation were prepared by individual specialists in each field. Statements were evaluated by the modified Delphi method.

Key Content and Findings The panel comprising 22 experts formulated 40 consensus statements with regard to defining unresectable HCC, optimization of underlying conditions prior to management, rationale use of various liver-directed therapies (LDTs) in unresectable HCC, and systemic therapeutic options in this group of patients.

Conclusion Our consensus statements offer practical, yet evidence-based management guidelines for treating unresectable HCC in the Indian context. There is an emphasis on the crucial need for combining available approaches for LDT, even if less well studied though possibly effective, with standard systemic therapy.

Establishing Updated Safety Standards for Independent 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT Treatment Planning in Radioembolization

PURPOSE

Significant improvements within radioembolization imaging and dosimetry permit the development of an accurate and personalized pretreatment plan using technetium 99m-labeled macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) combined with anatomical CT (SPECT/CT). Despite these potential advantages, the clinical transition to pretreatment protocols with SPECT/CT is hindered by their unknown safety constraints. This study aimed to address this issue by establishing novel dose limits for 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT to enable quantitative pretreatment planning.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Stratification criteria to determine images most viable for dosimetry analysis were created from a cohort of 85 patients. SPECT/CT, cone beam CT, and activity calculations derived from the local deposition method were used to create an accurate pretreatment protocol. Planar and SPECT/CT images were compared using linear regression and modified Bland-Altman analyses to convert accepted planar dose limits to SPECT/CT. To validate these new dose limits, activity calculations based on SPECT/CT were compared with those calculated with the body surface area and planar methods for three treatment plans.

RESULTS

A total of 38 of 85 patients were deemed viable for dosimetry analysis. SPECT yielded greater lung shunt fractions (LSFs) than planar imaging when LSFs were <4.89%, whereas SPECT yielded lower LSFs than planar imaging when LSFs were >4.89%. Planar to SPECT/CT dose conversions were 0.76×, 0.70×, and 0.55× for the whole liver, normal liver, and lungs, respectively. Patients with SPECT LSFs ≤4.89% were safely treated with the direct application of planar lung dose limits. Activity calculations with the newly established SPECT/CT dose limits were greater than those of the body surface area method by a median range of 33.1% to 61.9% and were lower than planar-based activity calculations by a median range of 12.5% to 13.7% for the whole liver and by 29.4% to 32.2% for the normal liver.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a safe method for translating dose limits from 99mTc-MAA planar imaging to SPECT/CT. A robust pretreatment protocol was further developed guided by the current knowledge in the field. Established SPECT/CT dose limits safely treated 97.5% of patients and permitted the application of independent pretreatment planning with 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults

Deaths from the majority of cancers are falling globally, but the incidence and mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the United Kingdom and in other Western countries. HCC is a highly fatal cancer, often diagnosed late, with an incidence to mortality ratio that approaches 1. Despite there being a number of treatment options, including those associated with good medium to long-term survival, 5-year survival from HCC in the UK remains below 20%. Sex, ethnicity and deprivation are important demographics for the incidence of, and/or survival from, HCC. These clinical practice guidelines will provide evidence-based advice for the assessment and management of patients with HCC. The clinical and scientific data underpinning the recommendations we make are summarised in detail. Much of the content will have broad relevance, but the treatment algorithms are based on therapies that are available in the UK and have regulatory approval for use in the National Health Service.

Multicenter evaluation of the safety and efficacy of selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90 resin microspheres in Taiwan: data from the RESIN registry

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The REgistry of Selective Internal radiation therapy in AsiaNs (RESIN) was a multicenter, single-arm, prospective, observational study of 90Y resin microspheres in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) from Taiwan. RESIN is the first real-life clinical study of this therapy in an Asian cohort. Study objectives were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 90Y resin microspheres.

METHODS

Adults with HCC or mCRC scheduled to receive SIRT with 90Y resin microspheres were included. Primary endpoints were best overall response rate (ORR), adverse events, and changes from baseline in liver function. Secondary efficacy endpoints included overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Of 107 enrolled patients, 83 had HCC, and 24 had mCRC. ORR was 55.41% (HCC) and 33.33% (mCRC). Of 58 HCC patients with 6-month post-SIRT data, 13.79% (n = 8) had resection, transplantation, transarterial chemoembolization, or radiofrequency ablation as the result of down-staging or down-sizing of their lesions. One hundred and ten treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 51 patients, and five serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in five patients. The most frequent TEAEs were abdominal pain, nausea and decreased appetite (HCC), and abdominal pain, decreased appetite, fatigue, and vomiting (mCRC). Two deaths due to SAEs (probably related to SIRT) were reported, both in patients with extensive HCC, active hepatitis infection, and other comorbidities. Median OS was 24.07 (HCC) and 12.66 (mCRC) months.

CONCLUSIONS

Safety and efficacy outcomes with the routine use of SIRT with 90Y resin microspheres in Taiwan are consistent with published data.

Selective Internal Radiotherapy in Liver Tumors: Early Promise Yet to be Fulfilled

Selective intra-arterial radiotherapy (SIRT) is a technique which has evolved over the past 30 years. In present this is primarily used to treat primary and secondary tumors in the liver. The technique normally depends on the delivery of a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical or radiolabeled particulate via a radiologically placed intra-arterial catheter in the hepatic artery. This is because most of these tumors have a single arterial blood supply but normal hepatocytes are supplied by both the hepatic artery and portal vein. Initially, this was done with I-131 labelled poppy seed oil but this technique was only used in a few centers. The technique became more popular when Y-90 particulates become widely available. Early results were promising but in phase 3 randomized controlled trials resulted in disappointing results compared to systemic chemotherapy. More recent work however, have shown that increasing the radiation dose to the tumor to at least 60Gy and combining with more effective systemic therapies are starting to produce better clinical results. There have also been advances in the angiographic methods used to make this into a day-case technique and the use of new radionuclides such as Ho-166 and Re-188 provides a wider range of possible SIRT techniques.

Selective internal radiation therapy for unresectable HCC: The SIRT downstaging study

BACKGROUND

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is recommended as a downstaging (DS) strategy for solitary unresectable HCC <8 cm. The aim of this study was to report the results of acquired experience in a tertiary center for all unresectable HCCs.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational study using data collected from consecutive patients undergoing SIRT between October 2013 and June 2020. DS was considered achieved when a curative treatment could be proposed 6 months after SIRT.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven patients were included (male = 90%, 64 ± 11 y), of whom 112 (n = 88%) had cirrhosis. HCC was classified as BCLC stage C in 64 patients (50%), with a median diameter of 61 mm, an infiltrative pattern in 51 patients (40%), and portal vein invasion in 62 (49%) patients. Fifty patients (39%) achieved DS 6 months following SIRT, with 29 of them (23%) undergoing curative treatment in a median time of 4.3 months: 17 (13%) were transplanted, 11 (85%) had liver resection, and 1 patient had a radiofrequency ablation. The median overall survival of patients with or without DS was 51 versus 10 months, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients who achieved DS, progression-free survival was higher in patients who underwent surgery: 47 versus 11 months (p < 0.001). Four variables were independently associated with DS: age (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: [0.92, 0.99]; p = 0.032), baseline α-fetoprotein (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: [1.00, 1.00]; p = 0.034), HCC distribution (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: [0.11, 0.75]; p = 0.012), and ALBI grade (OR: 0.34. 95% CI: [0.14, 0.80]; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that SIRT in patients with unresectable HCC could be an effective treatment: DS was achieved for around 39% of the patients and more than half of these then underwent curative treatment.

Hepatic Radioembolization: A Multistep Theragnostic Procedure

This article provides a thorough overview of the practice and multistep approach of hepatic radioembolization. The current literature on hepatic radioembolization in primary or metastatic liver tumors as well as future perspectives are discussed.

Examining the Efficacy and Safety of Combined Locoregional Therapy and Immunotherapy in Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma

More than 800,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) each year, with approximately 700,000 deaths alone occurring in that same year. Treatment of HCC presents complex therapeutic challenges, particularly in intermediate and advanced stages. LRTs such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and ablations have been the mainstay treatment for early to intermediate-stage HCC, and systemic therapies are used to treat intermediate-late-stage HCC. However, novel literature describing combining LRT with systemic therapies has shown promising results. This review explores recent advances in both liver-directed techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma, including bland transarterial embolization, chemoembolization, radioembolization, and ablative therapies in conjunction as well as with systemic therapies, with a focus on combination therapies, patient selection, procedural technique, periprocedural management, and outcomes. Our findings suggest that LRT combined with systemic therapies is a viable strategy for improving progression-free survival and time to progression for patients with intermediate-to-late-stage HCC. However, further investigation is required to refine treatment protocols and define patient cohorts that would benefit the most.

Repeated Previous Transarterial Treatments Negatively Affect Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Sorafenib

Background: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) and radioembolisation (TARE) can lead to the deterioration of liver function, especially in cases of a high tumour burden, potentially lessening the benefits of subsequent systemic treatments. We aimed to verify whether a high number of previous transarterial treatments modified the outcomes of patients who received sorafenib as a frontline systemic treatment. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a large multicenter dataset containing prospectively collected data of sorafenib-treated patients was conducted. Results: Data from 696 patients were analysed, with 139 patients having received >two transarterial procedures before starting sorafenib. A propensity score matched 139 identified pairs of patients. Having received >two locoregional treatments was independently associated with a shorter survival (hazard ratio 1.325, 95% confidence interval 1.018–1.725, p = 0.039). This pattern was confirmed amongst responders to sorafenib, but not in progressors. A trend toward a higher rate of the permanent discontinuation of sorafenib due to liver failure (18.7 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.089) and a lower rate of eligibility for second-line treatments (24.5 vs. 17.3%, p = 0.184) was observed in patients who had received >two transarterial procedures. Conclusions: Repeated endovascular treatments negatively impacted the survival of HCC patients, especially sorafenib-responders. An early switch to systemic therapies should be considered in cases that are unlikely to respond.

TACE combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab versus TACE alone in efficacy and safety for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matching study

BACKGROUNDS

To compare the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab (TLC) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) with those of TACE alone .

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 222 patients with uHCC who were treated between September 2013 and Jun 2023. One group received TACE + lenvatinib + camrelizumab (TLC) (n = 97) and another group received TACE alone (n = 151). Efficacy and safety were compared after propensity score matching between the TLC and TACE groups.

RESULTS

After propensity matching, the TLC group had higher objective response rate (ORR) (88.6% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.001), disease control rate (DCR) (94.3%% vs. 72.9%, P < 0.001), and conversion rates before and after propensity matching were 44.1% and 41.4%, respectively, compared with the TACE group. The median progression free survival (PFS) was longer in the TLC group than in the TACE group (12.7 vs. 6.1 months, P = 0.005). The median overall survival (OS) was longer in the TLC group than in the TACE group (19.4 vs. 13.0 months, P = 0.023). Cox multivariate analysis with different modes of adjustment showed that treatment was an independent influencing factor of PFS and OS. The interaction analysis showed that cirrhosis and Child-Pugh stage an interactive role in the PFS of different treatment. Decreased AFP after treatment portends higher ORR and DCR.

CONCLUSION

TACE combined Lenvatinib plus Camrelizumab regimen was safe and superior to TACE alone in improving PFS, OS, and tumor response rates for unresectable recurrent HCC patients.

Is ALPPS still appropriate for large or locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in an era of targeted agents and immunotherapy?

Therapeutic options for large or locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have limited efficacy. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads trans-arterial chemo-embolization (dTACE), portal vein embolization (PVE), tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) compared to Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) for large or locally advanced HCC.Data regarding clinicopathological details, safety, and oncological outcomes were reviewed for the quadruple therapy (dTACE-PVE-TKI-ICI) and compared with ALPPS.From 2019 to 2020, 10 patients with large or locally advanced HCC underwent future remnant liver (FRL) modulation (dTACE-PVE-TKI-ICI: 5; ALPPS: 5). All five dTACE-PVE-TKI-ICI cases responded well, with patients #4 and #5 achieving complete tumor necrosis. The overall response rate (ORR) was 5/5. Patients #1-4 underwent hepatectomy, while #5 declined surgery due to complete tumor necrosis. Mean FRL volume increased by 75.3% (range 60.0%-89.4%) in 2-4 months, compared to 104.6% (range 51.3%-160.8%) in 21-37 days for ALPPS (P = 0.032). Major postoperative complications occurred in 1/5 ALPPS patients. Resection rates were 4/4 for quadruple therapy and 5/5 for ALPPS. 2-year progression free survival for dTACE-PVE-TKI-ICI and ALPPS were 5/5 and 3/5, respectively.Quadruple therapy is a feasible, effective strategy for enhancing resectability by downsizing tumors and inducing FRL hypertrophy, with manageable complications and improved long-term prognosis. In addition, it provokes the re-examination of the application of ALPPS in an era of molecular and immune treatments.

Combination and Optimal Sequencing of Systemic and Locoregional Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel

Hepatocellular carcinoma, historically, has had a poor prognosis with very few systemic options. Furthermore, most patients at diagnosis are not surgical candidates. Therefore, locoregional therapy (LRT) has been widely used, with strong data supporting its use. Over the last 15 years, there has been progress in the available systemic agents. This has led to the updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) algorithm's inclusion of these new systemic agents, with advocacy of earlier usage in those who progress on LRT or have tumor characteristics that make them less likely to benefit from LRT. However, neither the adjunct of LRT nor the specific sequencing of combination therapies is addressed directly. This Research Consensus Panel sought to highlight research priorities pertaining to the combination and optimal sequencing of LRT and systemic therapy, assessing the greatest needs across BCLC stages.

Proton Beam Therapy for Treating Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Major Portal Vein Tumor Invasion: A Single Center Retrospective Study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) has a poor prognosis and is generally not indicated for surgery. Proton beam therapy (PBT) may offer an alternative treatment. In this study, long-term outcomes were examined in 116 patients (median age 66 years, 100 males) with HCC with advanced PVTT (Vp3 or Vp4) who received PBT from April 2008 to March 2018. Of these patients, 63 received PBT as definitive treatment and 53 as palliative treatment. The representative dose was 72.6 Gy (RBE) in 22 fractions. Eight patients died in follow-up, including 72 due to tumor progression. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 18.0% (95% CI 9.8-26.2%) and the 5-year local control (LC) rate was 86.1% (74.9-97.3%). In multivariate analyses, performance status and treatment strategy were significantly associated with OS. The median follow-up period for survivors with definitive treatment was 33.5 (2-129) months, and the 5-year OS rate was 25.1% (12.9-37.3%) in these cases. The median survival time after definitive irradiation was >20 months. The 5-year OS rate was 9.1% (0-19.7%) for palliative irradiation. These results compare favorably with those of other therapies and suggest that PBT is a useful option for cases of HCC with advanced PVTT that cannot undergo surgery, with an expected survival benefit and good local control. Determining the optimal indication for this treatment is a future challenge.

Efficacy of Yttrium-90 Transarterial Radioembolisation in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Experience With Hybrid Angio-Computed Tomography and Glass Microspheres

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) involves selective intra-arterial administration of microspheres loaded with a radioactive compound like Yttrium-90 (Y-90). Conventionally, C-arm-based cone-beam computed tomography has been extensively used during TARE. However, angio-computed tomography (CT) is a relatively new modality which combines the advantages of both fluoroscopy and fCT. There is scarce literature detailing the use of angio-CT in Y90 TARE.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of primary liver cancer cases in which the TARE procedure was done from November 2017 to December 2021. Glass-based Y-90 microspheres were used in all these cases. All the cases were performed in the hybrid angio-CT suite. A single photon emission computed tomography-computed comography (SPECT-CT) done postplanning session determined the lung shunt fraction and confirmed the accurate targeting of the lesion. Postdrug delivery, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was obtained to confirm the distribution of the Y-90 particles. The technical success, median follow-up, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were recorded.

Results

A total of 56 hepatocellular carcinoma patients underwent TARE during this period, out of which 36 patients (30 males and 6 females) underwent Y90 TARE. The aetiology of cirrhosis included non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (11), hepatitis C (HCV) (11), hepatitis B (HBV) (9), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD) (2), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (1), cryptogenic (1), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (1). The technical success was 100 % and the median follow-up was 7 months (range: 1-32 months). The median OS was 15 months (range 10.73-19.27 months; 95 % CI) and the median local PFS was 4 months (range 3.03-4.97 months; 95 % CI). The ORR (best response, CR + PR) was 58 %. No major complications were seen in this study.

Conclusion

TARE is a viable option for liver cancer in all stages, but more so in the advanced stages. The use of angio-CT in TARE aids in the precise delivery of the particles to the tumour and avoids non-target embolisation.

Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Yttrium-90 Transarterial Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A 5-Year Institutional Experience

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the clinical outcomes of yttrium-90 (Y90) transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through the evaluation of a 5-year institutional experience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 88 consecutive patients with primary HCC receiving Y90 TARE treatment at an academic medical center from 2017 to 2021. Disease distribution was bilobar in 60.2% of patients with an average lesion diameter of 5.0 ± 3.4 cm and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B or C in 77% of the participants. Clinical outcomes were elucidated by examination of complications, liver function tests, biochemical response, and radiographic response. Objective response ratio (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were also calculated.

RESULTS

The mean administered Y90 radiation dose was 127.8 ± 20.2 Gy. No significant complications or LFT elevations occurred post-therapy. Of the 73.9% of patients with α-fetoprotein-producing tumors, 67.8% experienced a complete or partial biochemical response 1 month post-treatment. The ORR was 83.3% on 6-month imaging and PFS was 9.6 ± 8.5 months. Functional outcomes (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) were maintained or improved in 79.6% and 76.1% of patients by 6 months and 1 year post-treatment, respectively. The mean survival was 14.7 ± 12.1 months. At 6 months post-treatment, 77.3% of patients were downstaged to or maintained Milan criteria, which was sustained for 74.4% and 70.0% of patients 1 year and 2 years after treatment, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Y90-TARE is a safe and effective therapy for primary HCC. Enduring outcomes further act as a realistic bridge to liver transplantation, with a majority of patients maintaining Milan criteria and preserving their functional status long term.

Enhancing the therapeutic impact of sublethal radiofrequency hyperthermia in malignant solid tumor treatment

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective alternative to surgery for managing some malignant solid tumors. However, for medium-to-large tumors (>3 cm), tumors adjacent to large blood vessels, and certain irregular tumors, sublethal radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH) often produces a margin of ablated tumor owing to the "heat-sink" effect. This effect typically leaves behind viable residual tumors at the margin. Several studies have reported that a sublethal RFH can significantly enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy for malignant solid tumors. The possible mechanisms by which RFH enhances these therapies include heat-induced tissue fracturing, increased permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane, exaggerated cellular metabolism, blockade of the repair pathways of radiation-damaged tumor cells, and activation of the heat shock protein pathways. Therefore, RFA in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, or gene therapy may help reduce the rates of residual and recurrent tumors after RFA of malignant solid tumors.

Treating liver cancer through arginine depletion

Liver cancer, the sixth most common cancer globally and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths, presents a critical public health threat. Diagnosis often occurs in advanced stages of the disease, aligning incidence with fatality rates. Given that established treatments, such as stereotactic body radiation therapy and transarterial radioembolization, face accessibility and affordability challenges, the emerging focus on cancer cell metabolism, particularly arginine (Arg) depletion, offers a promising research avenue. Arg-depleting enzymes show efficacy against Arg-auxotrophic cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, in this review, we explore the limitations of current therapies and highlight the potential of Arg depletion, emphasizing various Arg-hydrolyzing enzymes in clinical development.

Predictive value of platelet-to-lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in HCC treated with sorafenib and radioembolization

Background & Aims

Herein we used data derived from the SORAMIC trial to explore the predictive value of systemic inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR] and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib monotherapy or the combination of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)/sorafenib.

Methods

Patients randomized to sorafenib monotherapy or SIRT/sorafenib within the per-protocol population of the SORAMIC trial were evaluated in this exploratory post hoc analysis. The median baseline values of NLR and PLR were used as cut-off values to describe subgroups. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to evaluate median survival in the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in each subgroup. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was applied to eliminate the effect of confounding factors.

Results

A total of 275 patients with a median overall survival of 12.4 months were included in this analysis. The median NLR value of the cohort was 2.77 and the median PLR was 26.5. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in patients with low NLR (p = 0.72) and PLR (p = 0.35) values. In patients with high NLR values, there was no statistically significant difference in median overall survival between SIRT/sorafenib and sorafenib cohorts (12.1 vs. 9.2 months, p = 0.21). In patients with high PLR values, overall survival in the SIRT/sorafenib arm was significantly longer than in the sorafenib arm (15.9 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.029). This significant difference was preserved in the multivariable analysis (SIRT/sorafenib arm: hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.96, p = 0.03) incorporating age, Child-Pugh grade, and alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Conclusions

PLR is a potential predictive factor of benefit from additional SIRT in patients with HCC receiving sorafenib therapy. The potential predictive value of PLR should be further evaluated in future trials.

Impact and implications

Systemic therapies are the mainstay of treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at advanced stages. However, not all patients respond well to these treatments. In our analysis, using blood test parameters showing systemic inflammation status, we were able to identify patients who would benefit more from combined treatment with a locoregional treatment of radioembolization (or selective internal radiation therapy).

Synthesis and characterization of 3-in-1 multifunctional lipiodol-doped Fe3O4@Poly (diallyl isophthalate) microspheres for arterial embolization, chemotherapy, and imaging

Transcatheter arterial embolization plays a pivotal role in treating various diseases. However, the efficacy of embolization therapy in cancer treatment can be limited by several factors, such as inevitable incomplete or non-target embolization, and the tumor recurrence and metastasis caused by the hypoxic microenvironment. Moreover, it is essential to explore simpler, more economical, and efficient methods for microsphere synthesis. Herein, we achieved one-step photocatalytic synthesis of lipiodol-doped Fe3O4@Poly (diallyliso-phthalate) multifunctional microspheres (IFeD MS) for arterial embolization, chemotherapy, and imaging. The prepared microspheres are in the shape of dried plums, with a particle size of 100-300 μm. Lipiodol demonstrates a certain degree of chemotherapeutic activity, and the incorporation of Fe3O4enables the microspheres to exhibit magnetothermal response and magnetic resonance imaging capabilities. Furthermore, the radiopaque characteristics of both agents provide the microspheres with promising potential for computed tomography and digital radiography imaging. The renal embolization experiment in rabbits demonstrated that IFeD MS achieved significant embolization and chemotherapeutic effects. Biocompatibility experiments revealed that this embolic agent did not induce tissue damage or inflammation beyond the treatment area. Additionally, IFeD MS exhibited promising imaging potential. The results of this study imply that the developed multifunctional embolic agent IFeD MS may have significant potential in transforming tumors previously only suitable for palliative cares into resectable radical treatments.

Do We Have a Winner? Advocating for SBRT in HCC Management

•Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a safe and effective locoregional therapy for inoperable patients with HCC.•SBRT compares favorably with other local therapies in terms of local control, survival, morbidity, and cost-effectiveness.•SBRT should be considered and discussed in multidisciplinary management of appropriate HCC patients.•Advances in SBRT and novel combinations with systemic therapy may further widen the therapeutic index in HCC.

Transarterial Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Invading the Bile Duct

Hepatocellular carcinoma invading the bile duct (bile duct tumor thrombus) is an unfavorable condition. Although overall survival following surgical resection among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombus is significantly better than that among those treated with transarterial chemoembolization or chemotherapy, surgical resection can be indicated for selected patients. Additionally, systemic therapy is indicated only for patients with Child-Pugh class A. Therefore, transarterial therapy plays an essential role in the treatment of bile duct tumor thrombus. Transarterial chemoembolization with iodized oil and gelatin sponge particles is an established first-line transarterial treatment that can necrotize most bile duct tumor thrombi. However, we should pay attention to symptoms caused by intraductal hemorrhage during transarterial chemoembolization and the sloughing of necrotized bile duct tumor thrombi.

Applications of Yttrium-90 (90Y) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, affecting millions of people worldwide. Due to the lack of systemic radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma, researchers have been investigating the use of yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization for local-regional tumor control since the 1960s. With the development of glass and resin 90Y microspheres and the durable local control, good long-term efficacy, and equivalent tumor responsiveness and tolerability of 90Y-selective internal irradiation compared with alternative therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib, 90Y radioembolization has gradually been applied in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma of all stages. In this article, we summarize the latest progress of 90Y in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of its principle, advantages, indications, contraindications, efficacy and adverse effects.

Phantom study for 90Y liver radioembolization dosimetry with a long axial field-of-view PET/CT

PURPOSE

The physical properties of yttrium-90 (90Y) allow for imaging with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). The increased sensitivity of long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners possibly allows to overcome the small branching ratio for positron production from 90Y decays and to improve for the post-treatment dosimetry of 90Y of selective internal radiation therapy.

METHODS

For the challenging case of an image quality body phantom, we compare a full Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculation with the results from the two commercial software packages Simplicit90Y and Hermes. The voxel dosimetry module of Hermes relies on the 90Y images taken with a LAFOV PET/CT, while the MC and Simplicit90Y dose calculations are image independent.

RESULTS

The resulting doses from the MC calculation and Simplicit90Y agree well within the error margins. The image-based dose calculation with Hermes, however, consistently underestimates the dose. This is due to the mismatch of the activity distribution in the PET images and the size of the volume of interest. We found that only for the smallest phantom sphere there is a statistically significant dependence of the Hermes dose on the image reconstruction parameters and scan time.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that Simplicit90Y's local deposition model can provide a reliable dose estimate. On the other hand, the image based dose calculation suffers from the suboptimal reconstruction of the 90Y distribution in small structures.

Long-Term Overall Survival After Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Updated Analysis of DOSISPHERE-01 Trial

Interim analysis of the DOSISPHERE-01 study demonstrated a strong improvement in response and overall survival (OS) on using 90Y-loaded glass microspheres with personalized dosimetry compared with standard dosimetry in patients with nonoperable locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This report sought to provide a long-term analysis of OS. Methods: In this phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02582034), treatment was randomly assigned (1:1) with the goal to deliver either at least 205 Gy (if possible >250-300 Gy) to the index lesion in the personalized dosimetry approach (PDA) or 120 ± 20 Gy to the treated volume in the standard dosimetry approach (SDA). The 3-mo response of the index lesion was the primary endpoint, with OS being one of the secondary endpoints. This report is a post hoc long-term analysis of OS. Results: Overall, 60 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with at least 1 lesion larger than 7 cm and more than 30% of hepatic reserve were randomized (intent-to-treat population: PDA, n = 31; SDA, n = 29), with 56 actually treated (modified intent-to-treat population: n = 28 in each arm). The median follow-up for long-term analysis was 65.8 mo (range, 2.1-73.1 mo). Median OS was 24.8 mo and 10.7 mo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.9; P = 0.02) for PDA and SDA, respectively, in the modified intent-to-treat population. Median OS was 22.9 mo for patients with a tumor dose of at least 205 Gy, versus 10.3 mo for those with a tumor dose of less than 205 Gy (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.81; P = 0.0095), and was 22.9 mo for patients with a perfused liver dose of 150 Gy or higher, versus 10.3 mo for those with a perfused liver dose of less than 150 Gy (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75; P = 0.0033). Lastly, median OS was not reached in patients who were secondarily resected (n = 11, 10 in the PDA group and 1 in the SDA group), versus 10.8 mo in those without secondary resection (n = 45) (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.065-0.43; P = 0.0002). Only resected patients displayed favorable long-term OS rates, meaning an OS of more than 50% at 5 y. Conclusion: After longer follow-up, personalized dosimetry sustained a meaningful improvement in OS, which was dramatically improved for patients who were accurately downstaged toward resection, including most portal vein thrombosis patients.

Improving prognostication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing loco-regional therapy using pre- and post-locoregional therapy scores

BACKGROUND

Many scoring systems have been proposed for predicting survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing locoregional therapy (LRT). We aimed to study the role of the NIACE score, hepatoma arterial embolization prognostic score (HAP), and ABCR score in predicting transplant-free survival (TFS) in these patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective multicenter study of a United States Veteran cohort who underwent LRT, NIACE, HAP, and ABCR scores were calculated, and their predictive accuracy for TFS within different modified BCLC (mod-BCLC) stages was analyzed.

RESULTS

180 subjects underwent LRT between January-2012 and March-2019 were followed till January-2022, mean age 65.6 ± 6.3 years, model for end-stage liver disease -sodium (MELD-Na) score (at first LRT) 14.1 ± 6.7. A total of 43.9%, 35%, and 21.1% of patients had mod-BCLC A, B, and C stage disease, respectively. A total of 76.7% underwent transarterial embolization (TAE), 6.1% underwent ablation, and 17.2% underwent transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as the first intervention and were followed for a median of 576.5 patient-years. The NIACE score, HAP score, and ABCR scores differentiated patients within mod-BCLC stages A and B into groups with significant differences in TFS. In the stratified analysis of those undergoing only TAE, all three scores identified subgroups with significantly different TFS.

CONCLUSION

In patients with HCC undergoing LRT, the mod-BCLC stages have subgroups with variable overall TFS. The NIACE score, HAP score, and ABCR score identified differential prognoses is within mod-BCLC stages and characterized subgroups with different TFS following LRT (TAE). Integration of these scoring systems into treatment decisions would help to improve prognostication within respective mod-BCLC groups, which may help with more customized treatment allocation.

Enhanced therapeutic outcomes with atezolizumab-bevacizumab and SIRT combination compared to SIRT alone in unresectable HCC: A promising approach for improved survival

BACKGROUND

Integrating immunotherapy with locoregional therapies marks a significant milestone in the realm of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment . This study aimed to assess the impact of addition of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab (AtezoBev) on the outcome patients treated with SIRT.

METHODS

We conducted a study that included all Child-Pugh A HCC treated with SIRT since 2017. We examined the effects of the addition of 3 infusions of AtezoBev before the SIRT procedure and after SIRT on patients outcome (AtezoBev-SIRT group). Time-to-event data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier with the log-rank test.

RESULTS

Thirty five HCC patients treated with SIRT were included, of whom 23 % also received AtezoBev infusions. The two groups were similar in terms of liver function and HCC parameters. The median OS was not reached for patients who received AtezoBev in combination with SIRT and 14 months for patients only treated by SIRT. The median PFS was higher in the group treated by SIRT and AtezoBev vs SIRT alone (11.3 months vs 5.8 months). In the global cohort, 8 patients presented a downstaging (23 %), 4 underwent liver surgery (1 in the AtezoBev-SIRT group) and 4 liver transplantation (1 in the AtezoBev-SIRT group) CONCLUSIONS: The administration of AtezoBev, both before and after SIRT, is associated with enhanced OS and PFS outcomes compared to SIRT alone for unresectable HCC.

Predictive Dosimetry and Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated by Yttrium-90 Resin Microsphere Radioembolization: A Retrospective Analysis Using Technetium-99m Macroaggregated Albumin Single Photon Emission CT/CT and Planning Software

PURPOSE

To characterize estimated mean absorbed tumor dose (ADT), objective response (OR), and estimated target dose of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resin microsphere yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization using partition dosimetry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective, single-center study, multicompartment dosimetry of index tumors receiving 90Y radioembolization between October 2015 and June 2022 was performed using a commercial software package and pretreatment technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT). In total, 101 patients with HCC underwent 102 treatments of 127 index tumors. Patients underwent imaging every 2-3 months after treatment to determine best response per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Best response was defined as the greatest response category per mRECIST and categorized as OR or nonresponse (NR). A Cox proportional hazards model evaluated the probability of tumor OR and progression-free survival using ADT.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 148 days (interquartile range [IQR], 92-273 days). The median ADT of OR was 141.9 Gy (IQR, 89.4-215.8 Gy) compared with the median ADT of NR treatments of 70.8 Gy (IQR, 42.0-135.3 Gy; P < .001). Only ADT was predictive of response (hazard ratio = 2.79 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.44-5.40]; P = .003). At 6 months, an ADT of 157 Gy predicted 90.0% (95% CI: 41.3%-98.3%) probability of OR. At 1 year, an ADT of 157 Gy predicted 91.6% (95% CI: 78.3%-100%) probability of progression-free survival. Partition modeling and delivered activity were predictive of progression (P = .021 and P = .003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

For HCC treated with resin microspheres, tumors receiving higher ADT exhibited higher rates of OR. An ADT of 157 Gy predicted 90.0% OR at 6 months.

Safety and Efficacy of Selective Internal Radionuclide Therapy with 90Y Glass Microspheres in Patients with Progressive Hepatocellular Carcinoma after the Failure of Repeated Transarterial Chemoembolization

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is currently the standard of care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and selective internal radionuclide therapy (SIRT) with 90Y microspheres is mainly used as an alternative modality in patients considered poor candidates for TACE. Treatment with sorafenib is the recommended option for patients with progressive disease after TACE. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SIRT with glass microspheres in patients with progressive HCC after repeated TACE who are not eligible for treatment with sorafenib. Forty-seven patients with progressive HCC after a median of three TACE sessions (range 2-14) underwent SIRT (3.5 ± 1.5 GBq; liver target dose 110-120 Gy). Toxicity was recorded 4 and 12 weeks after treatment and reported according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 5.0. Treatment response was assessed three months after SIRT using multiphase computed tomography and modified criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST). Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and a Cox proportional hazards model for uni- and multivariate analyses. Significant but reversible hepatotoxicity (≥grade 3) occurred in five patients (11%). No radioembolization-induced liver disease (REILD) was observed. The number of previous TACE sessions and cumulative administered activity did not predict the incidence of post-SIRT significant hepatotoxicity. Treatment responses consisted of partial responses in 26 (55%), stable disease in 12 (26%), and progressive disease in 9 (19%) patients. The median overall survival (OS) was 11 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 9-13), and objective responses to SIRT were associated with a longer OS (p = 0.008). Significant hepatotoxicity (≥grade 3) after SIRT was a contributor to impaired survival (median OS 6 months (95% CI, 4-8) vs. 12 months (95% CI, 10-14), p < 0.001). SIRT with glass microspheres is a safe and effective salvage treatment for patients with progressive HCC refractory to TACE who are considered poor candidates for sorafenib treatment.

2023 Update of Indian National Association for Study of the Liver Consensus on Management of Intermediate and Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Puri III Recommendations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant treatment challenges despite considerable advancements in its management. The Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL) first published its guidelines to aid healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in 2014. These guidelines were subsequently updated in 2019. However, INASL has recognized the need to revise its guidelines in 2023 due to recent rapid advancements in the diagnosis and management of HCC, particularly for intermediate and advanced stages. The aim is to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based recommendations tailored to the Indian context. To accomplish this, a task force was formed, and a two-day round table discussion was held in Puri, Odisha. During this event, experts in their respective fields deliberated and finalized consensus statements to develop these updated guidelines. The 2023 INASL guidelines offer a comprehensive framework for the diagnosis, staging, and management of intermediate and advanced HCC in India. They represent a significant step forward in standardizing clinical practices nationwide, with the primary objective of ensuring that patients with HCC receive the best possible care based on the latest evidence. The guidelines cover various topics related to intermediate and advanced HCC, including biomarkers of aggressive behavior, staging, treatment options, and follow-up care.

Efficacy of transarterial radioembolization using Y-90 resin microspheres versus atezolizumab-bevacizumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A matching-adjusted indirect comparison

INTRODUCTION

No head-to-head trials compared the efficacy of transarterial radioembolization (TARE, also known as selective internal radiation therapy) to combination immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The analysis objective was to compare effectiveness outcomes of TARE using Y-90 resin microspheres and atezolizumab-bevacizumab (AB) in advanced unresectable HCC.

METHODS

Patient-level data from SARAH randomized controlled trial for TARE and aggregate real-world data from AB-real study were used in an unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison. The basecase analysis used per-protocol data from SARAH; intention-to-treat data were used in sensitivity analyses. The following prognostic variables and effect modifiers were identified from literature: cause of disease, macrovascular invasion, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, alpha-fetoprotein level and albumin-bilirubin score. Weights were assigned to patients from SARAH to balance baseline characteristics across studies and reflect characteristics of AB-real patients. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and response rates (overall response rates [ORR]) were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

The analysis of OS and PFS included 140 patients receiving TARE and 131 for the analysis of response rates, compared to 202 receiving AB. Median OS was 15.0 and 14.9 months for TARE and AB, respectively (HR=0.980; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.658-1.461; p-value=0.922). Median PFS was 4.4 and 6.8 months for TARE and AB, respectively (HR=0.745; 95%CI: 0.544-1.022; p-value=0.068). ORR were 19.8% and 25% with TARE and AB, respectively (OR for AB=1.386, 95%CI: 0.746-2.668; p-value=0.306). Sensitivity analyses generated similar results.

CONCLUSION

In HCC patients receiving treatment, TARE using Y-90 resin microspheres may achieve comparable effectiveness outcomes compared with AB.

Intraperitoneal PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer with malignant ascites: a single-arm, single-center, phase Ib trial

BACKGROUND

Advanced primary liver cancer patients with malignant ascites have a poor prognosis and lack effective treatment plans. This phase Ib study aims to explore the safety and clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients received sintilimab 100 mg intraperitoneally plus best supportive care on days 1, 8, and 15 in three cycles of 4 weeks. The course was repeated every 28 days until intolerable toxicity had developed or disease progression. The primary endpoint was safety, while the secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), ascites control rate (ACR), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

From February 2021 through November 2022, a total of 21 patients (14 hepatocellular carcinoma and 7 cholangiocarcinoma) were enrolled to receive intraperitoneal sintilimab. Twelve patients had adverse events (AEs). The most common grade 3 AEs were fatigue, rash, and abdominal pain. No grade ≥4 AEs occurred in any patients. ORR was only evaluated in 13 patients, including partial response in 4, stable disease in 7, and progressive disease in 2. A reduction in the median maximum diameter of the tumor after treatment was observed; however, there was no statistical significance among patients. The objective remission rate of ascites was 43.75%, and the median OS for all 21 patients was 17.6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory study represents the first trial to demonstrate the safety and clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal anti-PD-1 antibody administration. No unexpected safety concerns were identified. A large, multicenter, prospective study is needed to confirm the promising clinical efficacy.

Management of Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Systemic Versus Locoregional Therapy

Intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprises a heterogeneous group of patients with varying levels of tumor burden. Transarterial chemoembolization was traditionally the mainstay of treatment for intermediate-stage HCC for almost 2 decades. New and emerging treatment options have revolutionized HCC therapy, allowing for broader application to patients with intermediate- and advanced-stage disease. Accordingly, new guidelines acknowledge these options, and intermediate stage HCC can now be treated with surgical, locoregional or systemic therapies, or a combination thereof. Patients will continue to benefit from the development of complex treatment strategies in a multidisciplinary setting to optimize individual outcomes.

Downstaging Hepatocellular Carcinoma before Transplantation: Role of Immunotherapy Versus Locoregional Approaches

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. With advances in locoregional therapy for unresectable HCC during the last 2 decades and the recent expansion of transplant criteria for HCC, as well as ongoing organ shortages, patients are spending more time on the waitlist, which has resulted in an increased usage of locoregional therapies. The plethora of molecularly targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors under investigation represent the new horizon of treatment of HCC not only in advanced stages but also potentially at every stage of diagnosis and management.

Establishment and Validation of the LI-RADS Morphologic Type II Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Recurrence Risk Scoring System

BACKGROUND

Tumor morphology links to early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Controversy exists regarding the recurrence risk of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System morphologic Type II hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to explore risk factors for early recurrence of Type II hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent curative resection and preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI from June 2016 to June 2020. Our patients formed the development set, and hepatocellular carcinoma patients from the TCIA database served as validation. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression identified independent risk factors for early recurrence. A risk scoring system was established for risk stratification, and an early recurrence prediction model was developed and validated.

RESULTS

95 Type II hepatocellular carcinoma patients were in the development set, and 29 cases were in the validation set. Early recurrence rates were 33.7% and 37.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed age, histological grade, AFP, and intratumoral hemorrhage as independent risk factors for early recurrence. The model's diagnostic performance for early recurrence was AUC = 0.817 in the development set. A scoring system classified patients into low-risk (scores ≤ 3) and high-risk (scores > 3) groups. The high-risk group had significantly lower recurrence-free survival (40.0% vs 73.2%, P = 0.001), consistent with the validation set (25.0% vs 73.3%, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk scoring system demonstrated excellent discrimination and predictive ability, aiding clinicians in assessing early recurrence risk and identifying high-risk individuals effectively.

Research in interventional oncology: How sound is the evidence base?

INTRODUCTION

Interventional oncology (IO) is an essential component of cancer care, which has gained substantial recognition in recent years. The aim of this review is to evaluate the level of evidence supporting IO and its inclusion in cancer treatment guidelines.

METHODS

A literature search of the PubMed database was performed to identify publication numbers and types for IO treatments published between 2012 and 2022. Selected cancer treatment guidelines and recommendations were reviewed for their inclusion of IO treatments.

RESULTS

With 68%, the majority of studies on IO treatments are case reports while randomised controlled trials (RCTs) amount only to 7% of studies. Despite this, IO studies have generated sufficient data to support the inclusion of IO treatments in cancer treatment guidelines and recommendations. This was frequently based on large prospective patient cohorts that corresponded to 24% (20% non-randomised studies and 4% observational studies) of all analysed studies rather than RCTs.

CONCLUSION

The level of evidence underpinning IO, as well as inclusion of IO in treatment guidelines and recommendations have increased substantially in recent years, indicating the growing importance and acceptance of IO in cancer care. The difficulty in conducting RCTs in IO is mitigated by the observation that they are not necessary to achieve guideline-inclusion. Nevertheless, it is crucial to conduct well-designed research projects to further consolidate the position of IO in the field of oncology. This will ensure that IO continues to evolve and meet the needs of cancer patients worldwide.

Liver-Directed Therapy Combined with Systemic Therapy: Current Status and Future Directions

In the past several decades, major advances in both systemic and locoregional therapies have been made for many cancer patients. This has led to modern cancer treatment algorithms frequently calling for active interventions by multiple subspecialists at the same time. One of the areas where this can be clearly seen is the concomitant use of locoregional and systemic therapies in patients with primary or secondary cancers of the liver. These combined algorithms have gained favor over the last decade and are largely focused on the allure of the combined ability to control systemic disease while at the same time addressing refractory/resistant clonal populations. While the general concept has gained favor and is likely to only increase in popularity with the continued establishment of viable immunotherapy treatments, for many patients questions remain. Lingering concerns over the increase in toxicity when combining treatment methods, patient selection, and sequencing remain for multiple cancer patient populations. While further work remains, some of these questions have been addressed in the literature. This article reviews the available data on three commonly treated primary and secondary cancers of the liver, namely, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastatic colorectal cancer. Furthermore, strengths and weaknesses are reviewed and future directions are discussed.

Global trends in hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology: implications for screening, prevention and therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality rates are increasing globally, and particularly in the Western world. Cirrhosis remains the predominant risk factor for HCC. However, epidemiological shifts in the incidence of HCC from patients with virus-related liver disease to those with non-viral aetiologies, including alcohol-associated and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, have important implications for prevention, surveillance and treatment. Hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C are effective for primary prevention of virus-related HCCs, but chemoprevention strategies for non-viral liver disease remain an unmet need. Emerging data suggest associations between aspirin, statins, metformin and coffee and reduced HCC incidence, although none has been proved to be causally related. Secondary prevention of HCC via semi-annual surveillance is associated with improvements in early detection and thus reduced mortality; however, current tools, including abdominal ultrasonography, have suboptimal sensitivity for the detection of early stage HCC, particularly in patients with obesity and/or non-viral liver disease. Promising blood-based or imaging-based surveillance strategies are emerging, although these approaches require further validation before adoption in clinical practice. In the interim, efforts should be focused on maximizing use of the existing surveillance tools given their prevalent underuse globally. Remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of HCC, including expanded eligibility for surgical therapies, improved patient selection for locoregional treatments and increased systemic treatment options, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this Review, we discuss trends in the epidemiology of HCC and their implications for screening, prevention and therapy.

Safety and Efficacy of Concurrent Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab or Nivolumab Combination Therapy with Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of Advanced Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining yttrium-90 radioembolization (Y90-RE) with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, consecutive advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated between 2016 and 2022 with atezolizumab/bevacizumab or nivolumab within three-months pre- and post-Y90-RE were retrospectively evaluated. Tumor response and treatment-related clinical/laboratory adverse events (AE) were assessed at 1 and 6 months, as well as differences in clinical and laboratory variables and median overall survival (OS) from initial treatment (whether it was Y90-RE or systemic therapy) between the two cohorts. A total of 19 patients (10 atezolizumab/bevacizumab; 9 nivolumab), comprising 84% males with median age 69 years, met the inclusion criteria. Compared to the atezolizumab/bevacizumab group, there were less males (100% vs. 67%; p = 0.02) and more ECOG ≥ 2 patients in the nivolumab group (0% vs. 33%; p = 0.02). Baseline characteristics or incidence of 6-month post-treatment any-grade AE (60% vs. 56%; p = 0.7), grade ≥ 3 AE (0% vs. 11%; p = 0.3), objective response (58% total, 60% vs. 56%; p = 0.7), and complete response (16% total; 10% vs. 22%; p = 0.8) were similar between the atezolizumab/bevacizumab and the nivolumab cohorts. Median OS was 12.9 months for the whole cohort, 16.4 months for nivolumab, and 10.7 months for atezolizumab/bevacizumab. Among patients with advanced unresectable HCC, the utilization of Y90-RE concurrently or within 90 days of nivolumab or atezolizumab/bevacizumab immunotherapy, appears to be well-tolerated and with a low incidence of severe AE.

Resection Postradioembolization in Patients With Single Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization (TARE) to convert to resection initially unresectable, single, large (≥5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

BACKGROUND

TARE can downsize cholangiocarcinoma to resection but its role in HCC resectability remains debatable.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with a single large HCC treated between 2015 and 2020 in a single tertiary center were reviewed. When indicated, patients were either readily resected (upfront surgery) or underwent TARE. TARE patients were converted to resection (TARE surgery) or not (TARE-only). To further assess the effect of TARE on the long-term and short-term outcomes, a propensity score matching analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Among 216 patients, 144 (66.7%) underwent upfront surgery. Among 72 TARE patients, 20 (27.7%) were converted to resection. TARE-surgery patients received a higher mean yttrium-90 dose that the 52 remaining TARE-only patients (211.89±107.98 vs 128.7±36.52 Gy, P <0.001). Postoperative outcomes between upfront-surgery and TARE-surgery patients were similar. In the unmatched population, overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was similar between upfront-surgery and TARE-surgery patients (83.0%, 60.0%, 47% vs 94.0%, 86.0%, 55.0%, P =0.43) and compared favorably with TARE-only patients (61.0%, 16.0% and 9.0%, P <0.0001). After propensity score matching, TARE-surgery patients had significantly better overall survival than upfront-surgery patients ( P =0.021), while disease-free survival was similar ( P =0.29).

CONCLUSION

TARE may be a useful downstaging treatment for unresectable localized single large HCC providing comparable short-term and long-term outcomes with readily resectable tumors.

Combination of transarterial radioembolization with atezolizumab and bevacizumab for intermediate and advanced staged hepatocellular carcinoma: A preliminary report of safety and feasibility

Purpose

The IMbrave150 Phase III trial demonstrated the superiority of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atezo/Bev) over sorafenib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of TARE in combination with Atezo/Bev for the treatment of intermediate and advanced staged HCC.

Methods

A retrospective review at a single institution was performed between May 2021 and December 2022. Patients who received TARE using yttrium-90 (Y90) with concomitant or sequential Atezo/Bev systemic treatment were included. The following outcomes were retrieved: overall survival (OS), radiologic tumor response, progression-free survival, technical adverse events related to TARE, and toxicity based on the National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0.

Results

Ten consecutive patients with intermediate (n ​= ​4) and advanced stage HCC (n ​= ​6) were treated with TARE and sequential/concomitant Atezo/Bev. Tumor control was achieved in all TARE-treated target lesions (100%). Overall disease progression occurred in 4 patients with PFS of 78.8% and 66.7% at 6- and 12- months, respectively. Two patients died at follow-up, with 6-month and 12-month OS rates of 90.0% and 77.1%, respectively. Three (75%) patients with intermediate stage disease were downstaged into Milan criteria. One patient developed grade 3 transaminitis and hypoglobulinemia, while Atezo/Bev was switched to Lenvatinib in another patient due to immunotherapy related myositis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the initial safety and feasibility of combined TARE with Atezo/Bev for intermediate/advanced stage HCC. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.

Portal hypertension increases the risk of hepatic decompensation after 90Yttrium radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a cohort study

Background

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is increasingly used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This treatment can induce or impair portal hypertension, leading to hepatic decompensation. TARE also promotes changes in liver and spleen volumes that may modify therapeutic decisions and outcomes after therapy.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the impact of TARE on the incidence of decompensation events and its predictive factors.

Design

In all, 63 consecutive patients treated with TARE between February 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively included.

Methods

We assessed clinical (including Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, portal hypertension assessment, and liver decompensation), laboratory parameters, and liver and spleen volumes before and 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. A multivariate analysis was performed.

Results

In total, 18 out of 63 (28.6%) patients had liver decompensation (ascites, variceal bleeding, jaundice, or encephalopathy) within the first 3 months after therapy, not associated with tumor progression. Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and bilobar treatment independently predicted the development of liver decompensation after TARE. A significant volume increase in the non-treated hemi-liver was observed only in patients with unilobar treatment (median volume increase of 20.2% in patients with right lobe TARE; p = 0.007), especially in those without CSPH. Spleen volume also increased after TARE (median volume increase of 16.1%; p = 0.0001) and was associated with worsening liver function scores and decreased platelet count.

Conclusion

Bilobar TARE and CSPH may be associated with an increased risk of liver decompensation in patients with intermediate or advanced HCC. A careful assessment considering these variables before therapy may optimize candidate selection and improve treatment planning.

Impact of Low Skeletal Muscle Mass on Long-Term Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Trans-Arterial Radioembolization: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study

Trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE) is a form of radiation therapy performed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via selective intra-arterial injection of Yttrium-90-loaded microspheres. This was a multi-center retrospective study of consecutive patients with HCC who underwent TARE between July 2009 and May 2019. Using pre-treatment computed tomography imaging, the total cross-sectional area (cm2) of the abdominal skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra was measured. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated by normalizing the muscle area to patient height. In total, 347 patients (median age, 65 years; 284 male) were included in the study. A total of 108 (31.1%) patients had portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), and 126 (36.3%) were classified as LSMM. The median overall survival (OS) was 28.1 months (95% CI, 24.8-35.7), and median progression-free survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 6.4-9.4). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that LSMM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; 95% CI, 1.00-1.85, p = 0.05), PVTT (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.33-2.49, p < 0.01), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (≥200 ng/mL) (HR 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.92, p = 0.03), and albumin-bilirubin grade (2-3) (HR 1.74; 95% CI, 1.24-2.43, p < 0.01) were independently associated with poor OS. TARE provided favorable long-term outcomes for patients with advanced HCC. Pre-treatment LSMM independently associated with survival, suggesting its utility as a surrogate biomarker for identifying TARE candidates.