Hepatocellular carcinoma in Central Europe: prognostic features and survival

Ablative Transarterial Radioembolization Improves Survival in Patients with HCC and Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

PURPOSE

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We sought to compare survival, tolerability, and safety in such patients treated with conventional yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization dosimetric techniques or ablative transarterial radioembolization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective, single-center cohort study included patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and right, left, and/or main portal vein tumor thrombus, preserved liver function (Child-Pugh class ≤ B7), and good performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score ≤ 1) treated with yttrium-90 microspheres from 2011 to 2018 with ablative intent transarterial radioembolization (A-TARE), or conventional technique (cTARE). Statistical models were used to compare overall survival, post-treatment survival, toxicities, and prognosticators of response.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were included (21 [36.8%] ablative and 36 [63.2%] conventional intent). Median overall survival was 15.7 months. Compared to conventional treatment, ablative radioembolization was associated with longer median overall survival (45.3 vs 18.2 months; P = 0.003), longer post-treatment survival (19.1 vs 4.9 months; P = 0.005), a 70% lower risk of death (hazard ratio 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.70; P = 0.005), and improved 4-year survival (53.9% vs 11.2%). Overall survival did not differ significantly between treatment with resin and glass microspheres (27.5 vs 22.2 months; P = 0.62). Acceptable hepatic toxicities were observed after yttrium-90 administration, without statistical differences between the groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus, A-TARE is associated with longer survival than cTARE. Neither modality is associated with deleterious effects on liver function.

Comparison of macrovascular invasion-free survival in early-intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma after different interventions: A propensity score-based analysis

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare macrovascular invasion (MVI)-free survival (MFS) at the three-year follow-up in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatic resection (HR), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), or TACE combined with radiofrequency ablation (TACE-RFA).

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 828 patients who were diagnosed with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A or stage B HCC. Of these patients, 116 underwent HR, 395 underwent TACE-RFA, 239 underwent TACE, and 78 patients received conservative treatment (control group). A validation cohort of 158 patients was included. The MFS and overall survival (OS) before and after propensity score (PS) matching were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results: The baseline characteristics between the control and TACE groups were comparable. MFS was higher in the TACE group than in the control group at the three-year follow-up (p = 0.0091), and OS was similar in the two groups (p = 0.0549). PS matching was used to generate 68 pairs of patients in the control versus HR group and 74 pairs of patients in the control versus TACE-RFA group (1-to-1 matched). MFS was significantly higher in the HR or TACE-RFA groups than in the control group (p < 0.0001 (HR versus control) and p = 0.0001 (TACE-RFA versus control), respectively). Furthermore, for patients in the HR versus TACE-RFA versus TACE groups that were generated by PS matching, the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that MFS and OS were higher with HR or TACE-RFA than with TACE at three years. In the study, similar results were obtained in the validation cohort.

Conclusions: MFS and OS were higher with HR or TACE-RFA than with TACE for HCC patients without MVI.

Update on Management of Portal Vein Thrombosis and the Role of Novel Anticoagulants

The clinical management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains ambiguous due to its heterogeneous presentations and its associations with liver disease, malignancy, and hypercoagulable states. The natural history and clinical outcome of PVT are highly variable, dependent upon size, extent and degree of the thrombotic occlusion, as well as the physiological impact of patient comorbidities. While existing clinical guidelines consistently recommend low molecular weight heparin or vitamin K antagonist anticoagulation in cirrhotic patients with symptomatic acute PVT, management of asymptomatic and chronic PVT may need to be determined on a case-by-case basis, factoring in the state of underlying liver disease. In general, patients with PVT and underlying malignancy should be anticoagulated to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrences that could disrupt the cancer management. However, existing clinical data does not support routine anticoagulation of cirrhotic patients with asymptomatic PVT in the absence of underlying cancer. While low molecular weight heparin and vitamin K antagonist remain the most commonly used agents in PVT, an emerging body of clinical evidence now suggests that direct-acting oral anticoagulants may be used safely and effectively in PVT. As such, direct-acting oral anticoagulants may offer a more convenient anticoagulation alternative for PVT management in future practice.

Interleukin-6 as a biomarker in patients with hepatobiliary cancers

Background

The role of inflammation has been well established in many cancers, including hepatobiliary cancers. Elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory marker, are associated with poor overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods

We performed a study to establish the role of IL-6 as a prognostic biomarker in both HCC and biliary cancer patients and further assessed the impact of IL-6 on pain score and performance status, two parameters that affect the quality of life. We evaluated 91 patients with newly diagnosed unresectable hepatobiliary cancer and compared them with age, gender and BMI matched healthy controls.

Results

We found that IL-6 levels were elevated in hepatobiliary cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Higher levels of IL-6 were associated with poor prognosis, elevated pain scores and poor performance status in patients. Interestingly, we found an association between elevated IL-6 levels and the presence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) at the time of cancer diagnosis.

Conclusions

This study suggests that IL-6 is an important prognostic biomarker in hepatobiliary cancers, where elevated levels are not only associated with a worse survival but also linked to an inferior quality of life.

The association of liver function and quality of life of patients with liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (QOL) assessments with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, C30 and HCC18 index scores have been shown to be prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), independent of disease stage and liver function. Liver function parameters (including bilirubin, albumin, international normalized ratio [INR], Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade, MELD, alkaline phosphatase [ALP]-to-platelet ratio, albumin-to-ALP ratio) have also been found to be independent prognostic factors for OS in HCC patients. There has been scanty data on whether QOL and baseline liver function per se are correlated in HCC patients. This study investigates the correlations between baseline QOL data and liver function variables in HCC patients.

METHODS

From 2007 to 2011, 517 patients were enrolled. Baseline QOL was assessed at diagnosis using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18; thereafter C30 and HCC18 index scores were derived. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. For liver function assessment, Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade, MELD, ALP-to-platelet ratio and albumin-to-ALP ratio were derived. Correlation analyses were performed between QOL and liver function data.

RESULTS

Complete QOL data were available in 472 HCC patients. After adjusting for clinical variables, significant correlations were found between QOL (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18) and dichotomized liver function variables (including Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade and the presence of ascites). It was demonstrated that QOL had significant and potentially clinically important correlations with continuous liver function variables (albumin, bilirubin, ALP and albumin-to-ALP ratio), with the highest Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho) exceeding 0.4. HCC18 and C30 index scores were also significantly correlated with these liver function variables. HCC18 index score, which had rho up to 0.37, generally performed better than C30 index score, which had rho up to 0.33.

CONCLUSIONS

In HCC patients, baseline QOL assessment (using EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, C30 index-score or HCC18 index-score) is significantly correlated with liver function. Based on the findings of this study, future trials are warranted to assess whether treatment to enhance liver function could improve HCC patients' QOL.

An Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Scoring System as an Aid to Decision Making on Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Multicenter Study

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is a significant poor prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with PVTT limited to a first-order branch of the main portal vein (MPV) or above could benefit from negative margin (R0) liver resection (LR). An Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital (EHBH)/PVTT scoring system was established to predict the prognosis of HCC patients with PVTT after R0 LR and guide selection of subgroups of patients that could benefit from LR. HCC patients with PVTT limited to a first-order branch of the MPV or above who underwent R0 LR as an initial therapy were included. The EHBH-PVTT score was developed from a retrospective cohort in the training cohort using a Cox regression model and validated in a prospective internal validation cohort and three external validation cohorts. There were 432 patients in the training cohort, 285 in the prospective internal validation cohort, and 286, 189, and 135 in three external validation cohorts, respectively. The score was calculated using total bilirubin, α-fetoprotein (AFP), tumor diameter, and satellite lesions. The EHBH-PVTT score differentiated two groups of patients (≤/>3 points) with distinct long-term prognoses (median overall survival [OS], 17.0 vs. 7.9 months; P < 0.001). Predictive accuracy, as determined by the area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs; 0.680-0.721), was greater than that of the other commonly used staging systems for HCC and PVTT. Conclusion: The EHBH-PVTT scoring system was more accurate in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients with PVTT than other staging systems after LR. It selected appropriate HCC patients with PVTT limited to a first-order branch of the MPV or above for LR. It can be used to supplement the other HCC staging systems.

Comparison of Radioembolization and Sorafenib for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Safety and Efficacy

OBJECTIVE

To compare the safety and efficacy of radioembolization with that of sorafenib for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies reporting outcomes in patients with HCC and PVTT treated with radioembolization or sorafenib. Meta-analyses of cumulative overall survival (OS) and Kaplan-Meier survival rates according to the time to progression (TTP) and incidence of adverse events (AEs) were performed. Subgroup analyses were conducted on 1-year OS data.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were identified (four involving radioembolization, 10 involving sorafenib, and three comparing both). Pooled OS rates were higher in the radioembolization group, notably at 6 months {76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64-85%) vs. 54% (95% CI, 45-62%)} and 1 year (47% [95% CI, 38-57%] vs. 24% [95% CI, 18-30%]); TTP was also longer with radioembolization. In patients undergoing radioembolization, the proportion of patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0 (p < 0.0001), Child-Pugh A (p < 0.0001), extrahepatic metastasis (p = 0.0012), and a history of cancer treatment (p = 0.0048) was identified as a significant source of heterogeneity for the 1-year OS. Radioembolization was associated with a lower incidence of grade 3/4 AEs than sorafenib (9% [95% CI, 3-27%] vs. 28% [95% CI, 17-43%]).

CONCLUSION

Compared with sorafenib, radioembolization is a safer and more effective treatment for HCC with PVTT and is associated with prolonged survival, delayed tumor progression, and fewer grade 3/4 AEs.

Effects of various interventions on the occurrence of macrovascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma after the baseline serum γ-glutamyltransferase stratification

Background

Elevated serum γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) levels are related to an increased cancer risk and worse prognosis in many cancers. We evaluated the effects of γ-GT stratification on the occurrence of macrovascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatic resection (HR), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), or TACE combined with radiofrequency ablation (TACE-RFA).

Patients and methods

A total of 903 patients with HCC in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage A or B were included. Of these patients, 118 underwent HR, 445 underwent TACE-RFA, 256 underwent TACE, and 84 patients received conservative treatment only (control group). γ-GT, albumin, α-fetoprotein, and intervention were selected as significant predictive factors for MVI in 1 year by forward selection. The optimal cutoff value of γ-GT was 39 IU/L according to receiver operating characteristic analysis, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.0% and 45.6%, respectively.

Results

The 1-year MVI incidence of patients with HCC in the group with γ-GT ≥39 IU/L was higher than that of the group with γ-GT <39 IU/L treated with HR, TACE-RFA, or TACE (P=0.0166, P=0.0041, and P<0.001, respectively). The MVI rates at 1 year were similar in the group with γ-GT ≥39 IU/L that underwent HR, TACE-RFA, or TACE and the control group (P=0.4402, P=0.2214, and P=0.4159, respectively). Different effects of various treatments with γ-GT <39 IU/L group on the occurrence of MVI are not significant (P=0.5167). However, the incidence of MVI after TACE was significantly higher than that after HR or TACE-RFA in γ-GT ≥39 IU/L group (P=0.0253).

Conclusion

Baseline serum γ-GT stratification may help select the appropriate treatment to reduce the MVI incidence.

Improved survival with radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma with major vascular invasion: A propensity-matched analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database

Objectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with major vascular invasion is an advanced stage disease with an extremely poor prognosis and low survival rate. Our study evaluated the survival benefit of radiotherapy (RT) in HCC patients with major vascular invasion through Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Methods

We analyzed 3181 HCC patients with major vascular invasion cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2013. Patients (N = 308) who underwent RT and patients (N = 2873) who did not receive RT were compared. We successfully analyzed patients using propensity score matching (PSM). Kaplan‐Meier and Cox‐regression analyses were applied to assess prognosis.

Results

The median survival time in radiation‐treated group was longer compared to the control group (7 months vs 3 months; P < 0.001) in the overall sample and 3 months longer compared to the control group (7 months vs 4 months; P < 0.001) in a PSM cohort. Cox‐regression analyses showed that radiation‐treated patients in propensity‐matched sample had a significantly lower risk of mortality (HR: 0.625, 95% CI: 0.522‐0.749, P < 0.001) compared with untreated patients. The radiation‐treated groups had better survival rate than untreated group. Subgroup analysis revealed that the survival time of patients in radiation‐treated group was significantly longer than that in the untreated group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively). The subgroup analysis also revealed that RT provides a survival benefit regardless of race, marital status, and tumor size after PSM.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy provides improves survival in HCC patients with major vascular invasion, especially for tumor(s) confined to one lobe and not on surface of liver.

Should we apply sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion after curative hepatectomy?

Objective

Microvascular invasion (MVI) has been proved to be an independent risk factor for the recurrence of HCC. If promptly treated, the recurrence rate can be reduced and the total survival time can be prolonged. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of sorafenib on the clinical outcomes in HCC patients with MVI after curative hepatectomy.

Methods

HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy and were pathologically diagnosed with MVI were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into sorafenib group and control group. Sorafenib 400 mg, twice daily, was administered orally after surgery in the sorafenib group. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed during follow-up, and associated factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate COX regression.

Results

There was no significant difference in demographics, clinical staging, and tumor index between sorafenib group (16 patients) and control group (33 matched patients). The RFS and OS were both longer in the sorafenib group, and the 3-years RFS rates of the sorafenib group and control group were 56.3% (9 of 16) and 24.2% (8 of 33), respectively (P=0.027). The 3-year OS rate of the sorafenib group was 81.3% (13 of 16), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (39.4%, P=0.006). The results of multivariate COX regression indicated that treatment with sorafenib was an independent associated factor for RFS and OS.

Conclusion

We believe that using sorafenib therapy after curative hepatectomy in HCC patients with MVI is effective and beneficial as it can reduce recurrence and prolong the survival time.

In-hospital Mortality after Surgical Resection in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Background: Survival benefit of surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) has been approved recently. However, risk factors for in-hospital mortality in these patients remain unclear. We aimed to determine risk factors and reduce the mortality of these patients. Methods: We analyzed data for 521 of all 1531 HCC patients with PVTT underwent surgery. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality after surgical resection. Univariate and Multivariate cox-regression were performed to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The methods of Kaplan-Meier, bootstrap and ten-fold-cross validation were applied to validate the risk factors. Results: 521 of 1531 patients in 2004-2012 occurred for the diagnosis of HCC associated with PVTT and underwent surgical resection as a training cohort. Other 325 patients in 2013-2016 were included as a validation cohort. Overall mortality of postoperative in-patients was 3.3% (17/521) and 2.8 % (9/325), respectively. Univariate analysis of mortality revealed that frequency of hospitalization, total albumin, different types of PVTT, bleeding volume, blood transfusion, resection volume, and tumor volume were related with mortality. Therefore, the bootstrap validation reflected that the risk factors of multivariate cox regression in model1(frequency of hospitalization, bleeding volume, and tumor volume) and model 2 (frequency of hospitalization, bleeding volume and total albumin) were stable with mortality in hospital. Ten-fold cross-validation of cox regression analysis showed that the mean C-statistic with 95%CI of model1 and model2 respectively were 0.887(0.779-0.976) and 0.867(0.789-0.966) for predicting in-hospital mortality. Consistency results of models were in the training cohort and validation cohort. Conclusion: Total albumin, tumor volume, intraoperative bleeding and frequency of hospitalization were independent predictive factors for in-hospital mortality in HCC patients with PVTT under surgery. Further study is warranted to utilize these factors to lower in-hospital mortality.

The Importance of Safety-Net Hospitals in Emergency General Surgery

INTRODUCTION

Safety-net hospitals provide care to an inherently underprivileged patient population. These hospitals have previously been shown to have inferior surgical outcomes after complex, elective procedures, but little is known about how hospital payer-mix correlates with outcomes after more common, emergent operations.

METHODS

The University HealthSystem Consortium database was queried for all emergency general surgery procedures performed from 2009 to 2015. Emergency general surgery was defined as the seven operative procedures recently identified as contributing most to the national burden. Only urgent and emergent admissions were included (n = 653,305). Procedure-specific cohorts were created and hospitals were grouped according to safety-net burden. Multivariate analyses were done to study the effect of safety-net burden on hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

For all seven emergency procedures, patients at hospitals with a high safety-net burden were more likely to be young and black (p < 0.01 each). Patients at high-burden hospitals had similar severity of illness scores to those at other hospitals. Compared with lower burden hospitals, in-hospital mortality rates at high-burden hospitals were similar or lower in five of seven procedures (p = NS or < 0.01, respectively). After adjusting for patient factors, high-burden hospitals had similar or lower odds of readmission in six of seven procedures, hospital length of stay in four of seven procedures, and cost of care in three of seven procedures (p = NS or < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Safety-net hospitals provide emergency general surgery services without compromising patient outcomes or incurring greater healthcare resources. These data may help inform the vital role these institutions play in the healthcare of vulnerable patients in the USA.

A systematic review comparing outcomes of surgical resection and non-surgical treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is very poor. According to most HCC guidelines, sorafenib, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or other non-surgical treatments are recommended as the first-line therapy for these patients. However, selected patients with HCC and PVTT can undergo surgical resection (SR). The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes of SR with Non-SR for such patients.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane library were searched for studies which compared SR with Non-SR for HCC and PVTT published before December 2017.

RESULTS

4810 patients from 7 studies who were enrolled in this meta-analysis were divided into the SR group (n = 2 344, 49%) and the Non-SR group (n = 2 476, 51%). The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates of the SR group when compared with the Non-SR group, were 0.57 (95% CI 0.48-0.67, P <0.001), 0.66 (95% CI 0.56-0.77, P <0.001) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.57-0.81, P <0.001), respectively. On subgroup analysis, the pooled HRs for the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates of the SR group when compared with the TACE group, were 0.62 (95% CI 0.54-0.71, P <0.001), 0.74 (95% CI 0.66-0.83, P <0.001) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.70-0.87, P <0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed SR resulted in better OS than TACE, or other Non-SR treatments, for patients with HCC and PVTT. SR should be considered in selected patients with resectable HCC and PVTT.

Association and interaction between model for end-stage liver disease score and minimally invasive treatment with regard to mortality of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombi

The development of minimally invasive treatment over the last two decades has had a great impact on hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated primary liver cancer. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is the optimal evaluated parameter for mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease. However, the association between MELD score and minimally invasive treatment with regard to the mortality of patients with HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) remains unclear. In the present study, a total of 173 patients who had been diagnosed with HBV-associated HCC and PVTT in the Beijing Ditan Hospital (Beijing, China), between January 2012 and January 2015, were screened. Follow-up was performed to observe the survival time and collect information on the demographic characteristics and associated clinical indicators present in the cohort. The patient's age, sex, laboratory parameters and the use of minimally invasive treatment were analyzed with SPSS 20.0 software. Independent risk factors for mortality were screened by Cox regression analysis. Logistic regression indicated that there was an interaction between the MELD score and minimally invasive treatment. In addition, a MELD score ≤17.85 was associated with a lower mortality rate subsequent to minimally invasive treatment.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy based treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with extensive portal vein tumor thrombosis

BACKGROUND

There is currently no worldwide consensus for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). We evaluated the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as the initial treatment for HCC with extensive PVTT based on a relatively large number of patients.

METHODS

In our multidisciplinary approach for patients with hepatobiliary tumors, SBRT is recommended for unresectable HCC with PVTT or those with contraindication for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The aim is to shrink the tumor thrombus and preserve adequate portal venous flow, thus facilitating subsequent treatments such as TACE and tumor resection. In the present study, 70 continuous cases of HCC patients with extensive PVTT initially treated with SBRT were studied. The median follow-up period was 9.5 months (range, 1.0-21.0 months). The dynamic changes of tumor thrombosis with time after SBRT were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The median survival time for the whole group was 10.0 months (95% CI, 7.7-12.3 months), with a 6- and 12-month overall survival (OS) rate of 67.3%, and 40.0% respectively. Patients who received combined SBRT and TACE showed significantly longer OS than those without indication for TACE after SBRT (12.0 ± 1.6 vs. 3.0 ± 1.0 months). Patients with good response to radiation usually had better survival. SBRT was well tolerated in our patient series.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, SBRT used as the initial treatment for HCC patients with extensive PVTT originally unsuitable for resection or TACE can achieve adequate thrombus shrinkage and portal vein flow restoration in the majority of cases. It could thus offer the patients an opportunity to undergo further treatment such as resection or TACE procedure. Such therapeutic strategy may result in survival advantage, especially for those who do receive combined modality with SBRT.

Proton therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Current knowledges and future perspectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, as few patients can be treated with currently available curative local modalities. In patients with HCC where curative modalities are not feasible, radiation therapy (RT) has emerged as an alternative or combination therapy. With the development of various technologies, RT has been increasingly used for the management of HCC. Among these advances, proton beam therapy (PBT) has several unique physical properties that give it a finite range in a distal direction, and thus no exit dose along the beam path. Therefore, PBT has dosimetric advantages compared with X-ray therapy for the treatment of HCC. Indeed, various reports in the literature have described the favorable clinical outcomes and improved safety of PBT for HCC patients compared with X-ray therapy. However, there are some technical issues regarding the use of PBT in HCC, including uncertainty of organ motion and inaccuracy during calculation of tissue density and beam range, all of which may reduce the robustness of a PBT treatment plan. In this review, we discuss the physical properties, current clinical data, technical issues, and future perspectives on PBT for the treatment of HCC.

Macroscopic Portal Vein Thrombosis in HCC Patients

Macroscopic portal vein invasion (PVT) by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the liver is one of the most important negative prognostic factors for HCC patients. The characteristics of a large cohort of such patients were examined. We found that the percent of patients with PVT significantly increased with increasing maximum tumor diameter (MTD), from 13.7% with tumors of MTD <5cm to 56.4% with tumors of MTD >10cm. There were similar numbers of HCC patients with very large tumors with and without PVT. Thus, MTD alone was insufficient to explain the presence of PVT, as were high AFP levels, since less than 50% of high AFP patients had PVT. However, the percent of patients with PVT was also found to significantly increase with increasing blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and tumor multifocality. A logistic regression model that included these 3 factors together showed an odds ratio of 17.9 for the combination of MTD>5.0cm plus tumor multifocality plus elevated AFP, compared to low levels of these 3 parameters. The presence or absence of macroscopic PVT may therefore represent different HCC aggressiveness phenotypes, as judged by a significant increase in tumor multifocality and AFP levels in the PVT positive patients. Factors in addition to MTD and AFP must also contribute to PVT development.

Deal a death blow! HCC in cirrhotics - thrombotic complications: their frequency, characteristics, and risk factors

Introduction

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), being the commonest primary cancer, holds the sixth slot in the list of common cancers worldwide. Thrombotic complications in the form of portal vein tumour thrombosis (PVTT) and bland portal vein thrombosis with HCC are common with a bad prognosis.

Aim

The study aims to determine the demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters of HCC patients. The study also compares the clinical and biochemical parameters among patients having HCC with and without thrombotic complication. It further aims to assess the risk factors for thrombotic complication.

Material and methods

This was a retrospective study with a cross sectional design. Clinical and biochemical parameters among patients having HCC with and without thrombotic complication were determined. Tests of statistical significance were applied where a p-value < 0.05 was statistically significant

Results

Overall 118/305 (38.7%) patients of HCC had thrombotic complications. Most of the patients (74.5%) had PVTT whereas in 25.5% bland PVT was found. Higher age, male gender, greater tumour size, advanced stage of HCC (Okuda II, III), multifocal/massive tumour morphology and presence of oesophageal varices, upper GI bleeding, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, and extrahepatic spread were found to be statistically significant for thrombotic complication (p < 0.05 for each).

Conclusions

Viral related HCC is a commonly reported problem. Thrombotic complication is mainly due to tumour thrombosis rather than bland portal vein thrombosis. Age, gender, greater tumour size, advanced stage of HCC (Okuda II, III), and multifocal/massive tumour morphology were important risk factors for thrombotic complication.

Activated platelets inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell differentiation and promote tumor progression via platelet-tumor cell binding

Lack of differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with increased circulating platelet size. We measured platelet activation and plasma adenosine diphosphate (ADP) levels in HCC patients based on differentiation status. Local platelet accumulation and platelet-hepatoma cell binding were measured using immunohistochemistry (IHC) or flow cytometry. Using a xenograft assay in NON/SCID mice, we tested the effects of the anti-platelet drug clopidogrel on platelet activation, platelet infiltration, platelet-tumor cell binding and tumor cell differentiation. HCC patients with poor differentiation status displayed elevated platelet activation and higher ADP levels. Platelets accumulated within poorly differentiated tissues and localized at hepatoma cell membranes. Platelet-tumor cell binding was existed in carcinoma tissues, largely mediated by P-selectin on platelets. NOD/SCID mice with xenograft tumors also exhibited increased platelet activation and platelet-tumor cell binding. Clopidogrel therapy triggered hepatoma cell differentiation by attenuating platelet activation and platelet-tumor cell binding. TCF4 knockdown promoted HepG-2 cell differentiation and inhibited tumor formation, and TCF4 could be the potential downstream target for clopidogrel therapy.

Early prediction of survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib

AIM

To identify clinical biomarkers that could early predict improved survival in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization combined with sorafenib (TACE-S).

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of consecutive patients with advanced-stage HCC who underwent TACE-S from January 2012 to December 2015. At the first follow-up 4-6 wk after TACE-S (median, 38 d; range, 33-45 d), patients exhibiting the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-evaluated complete response, partial response, and stable disease were categorized as early disease control. At this time point, multiple variables were analyzed to identify the related factors affecting survival.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients were included in this study, and 60 of these patients achieved early disease control, with an overall disease control rate (DCR) of 63.2%. Patients who got sorafenib at the first TACE (no previous TACE) and patients without portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) had a higher DCR than those who underwent previous TACE before TACE-S (72.4% vs 48.6%, P = 0.019) and those with PVTT (75.5% vs 50.0%, P = 0.010). Early disease control after TACE-S, no previous TACE, and no PVTT were the independent prognostic factors for survival in the uni- and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

The first follow-up 4-6 wk after TACE-S can be used as the earliest time point to assess the response to TACE-S, and patients with mRECIST-evaluated early disease control, no previous TACE, and no PVTT had better survival.

Are 90K/MAC-2BP Serum Levels Correlated with Poor Prognosis in HCC Patients? Preliminary Results

In this study we assessed the prognostic significance of 90K/MAC-2BP serum levels in a group of 40 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This glycoprotein is a new, interesting serum marker that reflects the immune reaction of the host against certain viral infections and tumors such as breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most widespread tumors in the world. AFP is currently the most useful marker for HCC, in spite of its poor diagnostic sensitivity. In this study 40 cirrhotic HCC patients were enrolled. The prevalence of viral hepatic infections in this group was 73% for HCV, 8% for HBV, and 8% for both viruses. Thirteen percent of the patients showed non-virus-related liver damage. 90K serum levels were assayed by an ELISA kit and AFP levels by a chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric system. The overall survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, taking into account age, sex, 90K and AFP serum levels. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant influence on overall survival of age below 70 years and 90K serum levels below the cutoff of 14 ng/mL. Serum AFP (≤20 ng/mL) had positive prognostic value only when it was associated with 90K levels (p<0.02, log-rank).

Endovascular implantation of 125I seed combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the endovascular implantation of ¹²⁵I seed under ultrasound and x-ray guidance combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

PATIENTS & METHODS

The study included 134 pathologically proven or clinically confirmed primary HCC patients with PVTT in our hospital from January 2013 to June 2015.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

Compared with the TACE treatment alone, the combination therapy of ¹²⁵I seed implantation with TACE significantly prolonged the median survival time and improved the 6-, 12- and 18-month survival rates for HCC patients with PVTT. In addition, the type III PVTT and tumor size were independent predictors for poor prognosis of HCC patients with PVTT.

Prospective longitudinal quality of life and survival outcomes in patients with advanced infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis treated with Yttrium-90 radioembolization

Background

To determine the effect of Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its effect on overall survival advanced, unresectable infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with concurrent portal vein thrombosis (PVT).

Methods

Consecutive patients with unresectable infiltrative HCC and PVT were recruited. The Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL for consecutive patients treated with glass-based Y90 based on a prospective phase II trial. MR imaging was used to determine tumor progression every 3 months post-treatment. Overall survival (OS) from treatment and time to progression (TTP) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimation and log-rank test.

Results

Thirty patients were treated and followed for 17.4 months; physical and mental component summary scores (PCS & MCS) remained unchanged at one, three, and six months. While no difference was observed in baseline SF-36 scores for patients with prolonged TTP (≥4 months) and OS (≥ 6 months), corresponding 1-month PCS were significantly higher than those with TTP < 4 months and OS < 6 months. At 1 month, patients with normalized Physical Function (PF), Role Physical (RP) and PCS within 2 standard deviations (SD) of US normalized baseline scores had a significantly prolonged median OS (15.7 vs. 3.7 months; p < 0.001) and TTP (12.4 vs. 1.8 mo; p < 0.001) compared those with physical component scores greater than 2SD below normalized US population values.

Conclusion

Y90 radioembolization for HCC demonstrated long-term preservation of HRQOL. Lower baseline HRQOL scores were predictive of poorer OS. Early (1 month post-treatment) significant decreases in PCS were independent predictors of poorer OS and TTP.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01556282, registered March 16, 2012.

Sorafenib vs surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with macrovascular invasion: A propensity score analysis

BACKGROUND & AIM

Sorafenib is the standard of care for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and macrovascular invasion (MVI), with limited survival. Retrospective surgical studies have reported prolonged survival in this situation. This study aimed to compare the overall survival of patients with HCC and MVI treated with surgical resection or sorafenib.

METHODS

A total of 143 patients with HCC and MVI but no extra-hepatic spread, treated with surgical resection (SR-patients; n=75) or sorafenib (SOR-patients; n=68) in four French centres between 1990 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. A propensity score analysis was performed to reduce bias.

RESULTS

SR-patients were significantly younger and had a lower tumour burden than SOR-patients. Median overall survival (OS) rates were 10.1 months [95% CI: 4.1-16.1] in SR-patients and 12.9 months [95% CI: 7.9-17.9] in SOR-patients (P=.959). The 90-day mortality rate was 16% (n=12) in SR-patients and 7.5% (n=5) in SOR-patients (P=.196). SR-patients had a median disease-free survival of 4.60 months [95% CI: 3.3-5.9]. Under the propensity analysis, median OS was 12.0 months [95% CI: 5.5-18.5] in SR-patients vs 9.7 months [95% CI: 6.1-13.3] in SOR-patients (P=.682). Under multivariate analysis, extensive MVI (HR=1.956, P=.024) and bilirubin >17 μmol/L (HR=1.738, P=.011) were the two factors significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Under a propensity score analysis, the overall survival of patients with HCC and MVI undergoing surgical resection was similar to that achieved with sorafenib. We were not able to identify a patient subgroup experiencing a surgery-related improvement in survival, and quality of life was not evaluable.

Downstaging therapy followed by liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria

BACKGROUND

Orthotopic liver transplantation is a curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma within Milan criteria, but these criteria preclude many patients from transplant candidacy. Recent studies have demonstrated that downstaging therapy can reduce tumor burden to meet conventional criteria. The present study reports a single-center experience with tumor downstaging and its effects on post-orthotopic liver transplantation outcomes.

METHODS

All patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were evaluated by our multidisciplinary liver services team from 2012 to 2016 were identified (N = 214). Orthotopic liver transplantation candidates presenting outside of Milan criteria at initial radiographic diagnosis and/or an initial alpha-fetoprotein >400 ng/mL were categorized as at high risk for tumor recurrence and post-transplant mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 214 patients newly diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, 73 (34.1%) eventually underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. The majority of patients who did not undergo orthotopic liver transplantation were deceased or lost to follow-up (47.5%), with 14 of 141 (9.9%) currently listed for transplantation. Among transplanted patients, 21 of 73 (28.8%) were considered high-risk candidates. All 21 patients were downstaged to within Milan criteria with an alpha-fetoprotein <400 ng/mL before orthotopic liver transplantation, through locoregional therapies. Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma was higher but acceptable between downstaged high-risk and traditional candidates (9.5% vs 1.9%; P > .05) at a median follow-up period of 17 months. Downstaged high-risk candidates had a similar overall survival compared with those transplanted within Milan criteria (log-rank P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In highly selected cases, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma outside of traditional criteria for orthotopic liver transplantation may undergo downstaging therapy in a multidisciplinary fashion with excellent post-transplant outcomes. These data support an aggressive downstaging approach for selected patients who would otherwise be deemed ineligible for transplantation.

Pre-S deletions of hepatitis B virus predict recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection

The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery remains uncertain. A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the impact of pre-S deletions, T1762/A1764, and A1896 mutations on prognosis of HCC after curative resection. A total of 113 patients with positive serum HBV DNA (>200 IU/mL) who had underwent curative resection of pathologically proven HCC were recruited to determine the risk factors affecting the prognosis.The median follow-up time was 36.5 months and recurrence was detected in 67 patients (59.3%). The cumulative recurrence rates and overall survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year after curative resection were 18.0%, 49.7%, 70.3%, and 93.7%, 61.0%, 42.5%, respectively. Patients with pre-S deletions showed significantly higher recurrence rates compared with those with wild type infection (HR: 1.822, P = .018), but not related with a significantly poor survival (HR: 1.388, P = .235). Subgroup analysis indicated that the patients with type III deletion had significant higher tumor recurrence rates than other deletion types (HR: 2.211, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.008-4.846, P = .048). Multivariate analysis revealed that pre-S deletion, tumor size >3 cm in diameter, and the presence of microvascular invasion were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. HBV pre-S deletions were found to be clustered primarily in the 5' end of pre-S2 region and were more often found between amino acids 120 and 142 of the pre-S2 domain. The domains most frequently potentially involved were the transactivator domain in pre-S2 and polymerized human serum albumin binding site.Our cohort showed that pre-S deletions at the time of resection could predict tumor recurrence in HCC patients after curative resection.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma - a single center experience

PURPOSE

To determine the value of radioembolization (RE) for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of patients undergoing RE for unresectable HCC were retrospectively reviewed. Biochemical and clinical toxicities, imaging response (according to modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors), time-to-progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Data were stratified according to clinical and procedural parameters. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifteen patients (89 male, mean age 69.3 years) underwent 158 REs (119 resin-, 39 glass-based) (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC]-A: 6.1%, B: 33.9%, C: 60.0%). Median clinical follow-up was 5.9 (0.9-83.5) months. No grade 4 or 5 clinical toxicities were noted. Objective response rate was 35.6%; disease control rate was 76.7%. Median TTP of the treated part of the liver was 4 (0.9-45.4) months. 108/115 patients died during follow-up (median OS 8.4 [0.3-82.8] months after first RE [BCLC-A: 52.8 months, BCLC-B: 12.4 months, BCLC-C: 6.1 months]). On multivariate analysis, baseline Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group status <1, ascites prior to RE and best imaging response were predictors of longer OS. In BCLC-C patients, tumor burden, ascites prior to RE, baseline gamma-glutamyltransferase and Child-Pugh score were predictive of OS.

CONCLUSIONS

RE is safe and effective in carefully selected patients suffering from HCC with a low complication rate. Low baseline Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group status and absence of ascites prior to RE are positive prognostic factors.

Combination of sorafenib and TACE inhibits portal vein invasion for intermediate stage HCC: a single center retrospective controlled study

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of sorafenib plus Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) treatment on inhibiting portal vein invasion in patients with intermediate stage HCC.

Materials and Methods

The consecutive medical records of patients with HCC were retrospectively analyzed from October 2009 to February 2015. The propensity score matching method was applied into group matching. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-Rank Test was used to estimate the median survival time, median time to progression and median time to portal vein invasion. Factors associated with survival benefits were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox-regression model analyses.

Results

Of 97 patients enrolled, 19 patients received TACE-sorafenib treatment and 78 patients received TACE treatment. During the follow-up period of 15 months, the median time to portal vein invasion was 14.2 months vs 8.77 months, respectively (p=0.073). And the analysis of the cox's proportional hazard model revealed that patients treated with TACE treatment alone would run greater risk of portal vein invasion compared with TACE-sorafenib treatment (hr=7.49, p=0.021). Early administration of sorafenib was associated with lower risk of portal vein invasion (p=0.021) according to the univariate analysis. Adverse events (AEs) identified in the combined group were mostly classified as Grades 1 and 2, and skin-related reactions and fatigue were the most common.

Conclusions

Sorafenib may could inhibit portal vein invasion of hepatoma carcinoma cells. Early administration of sorafenib may bring more survival benefits.

Surgical treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system recommends a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (sorafenib) as standard therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Sorafenib has been shown to prolong median overall survival (OS) by approximately 3 months in advanced HCC patients with PVTT (8.1 vs. 4.9 months). However, its clinical effectiveness is still controversial and standard treatment with sorafenib is not established in Japan. Surgical resection is considered a potentially curative treatment and provides an acceptable outcome for carefully selected patients. The surgical mortality rate in patients with PVTT who receive surgical resection ranges from 0% to 10%. The median survival time and 1-year OS rate in HCC patients with PVTT who undergo surgical resection have been found to range from 8 to 22 months and 21.7% to 69.6%, respectively. But improvement in therapeutic outcome is difficult with surgical treatment alone. Combination treatment in conjunction with such methods as transarterial chemoembolization, hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has been found to improve the prognosis (median survival time, 11.5-37 months; 1-year OS rate, 46.8-100%). Yet, many problems remain, such as surgical indications and surgical techniques. After resolving these points, a multidisciplinary strategy based on surgical treatment should be established for advanced HCC with PVTT.

New Evidence and Perspectives on the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is an intractable condition but common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC patients with PVTT may have worse liver function, a higher chance of comorbidity related to portal hypertension, lower tolerance to treatment and poorer prognoses. In Western guidelines, patients are offered palliative treatment with sorafenib or other systemic agents because HCC with PVTT is grouped together with metastatic HCC during the planning of its management. In recent years, various treatment options have become available for patients with HCC and PVTT. Therapy has also shifted toward evidence-based treatment. However, policies for the management of HCC with PVTT have not been established. This comprehensive literature review aims to present current and available management options for patients with HCC and PVTT. Evidence is mainly based on studies published after 2010.

A Review of Non-operative Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Advanced Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) frequently occurs with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is an important factor in determining the prognosis of HCC. In many cases of HCC with advanced PVTT, treatment is difficult because the tumor has considerable extension into the liver, and portal hypertension is a frequent complication. The standard therapy for unresectable HCC with advanced PVTT is sorafenib therapy in patients with good hepatic function. However, the outcomes of sorafenib therapy are not completely satisfactory, making the development of another therapy an urgent task. Therefore, this review aims to summarize non-operative treatments for HCC with advanced PVTT and discuss future perspectives based on those therapies, including therapies still being developed.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: advances and challenges

Portal vein tumor thrombus is a frequent, challenging complication in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus may show worse liver function, less treatment tolerance and worse prognosis than patients without portal vein tumor thrombus, and they may be at higher risk of comorbidity related to portal hypertension. Western and some Asian guidelines stratify hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus together with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore recommend only palliative treatment with sorafenib or other systemic agents. In recent years, more treatment options have become available for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus, and an evidence-based approach to optimizing disease management and treatment has become more widespread. Nevertheless, consensus policies for managing hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus have not been established. This comprehensive literature review, drawing primarily on studies published after 2010, examines currently available management options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus.

Barcelona clinic liver cancer-stage C hepatocellular carcinoma: A novel approach to subclassification and treatment

Barcelona clinic liver cancer-stage C (BCLC-C) encompasses a broad spectrum of tumor burdens, liver function statuses, patient prognoses, and treatment strategies. Currently, sorafenib is the only recommended treatment for patients with BCLC-C and outcomes remain suboptimal. The aims of this study were to assess the heterogeneity of BCLC-C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases, propose a novel subclassification for these cases, and suggest optimal treatment strategies other than sorafenib.We retrospectively analyzed 196 consecutive BCLC-C HCC patients who were diagnosed and treated between January 2008 and December 2015.All 196 patients were classified according to the modified Union for International Cancer Control (Stage I, 0.0%; Stage II, 8.2%; Stage III, 64.3%; Stage IVA, 21.9%; and Stage IVB, 5.6%) and American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging systems (Stage I, 0.0%; Stage II, 16.3%; Stage IIIA, 27.6%; Stage IIIB, 49.5%; Stage IIIC, 1.5%; Stage IVA, 1.0%; and Stage IVB, 4.1%). First-line treatment modalities included surgical resection (8.7%), transarterial chemoembolization (49.5%), hepatic arterial infusion therapy (5.6%), sorafenib therapy (9.2%), radiotherapy (9.2%), and best supportive care (10.7%). In univariate analysis, Child-Pugh score, tumor size, distant metastasis, multinodular or infiltrative/diffuse type of HCC, main portal vein invasion, hepatic vein invasion, and bile duct invasion were significantly associated with survival (P < .001). Tumor size, distant metastasis, HCC type, and bile duct invasion remained significantly associated with 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in multivariate Cox regression analyses. Using these 4 characteristics, a novel subclassification of BCLC-C was developed and applied to the patient cohort. The subclassification included 5 substages (stages C0-C4), as defined based on the number of characteristics that were present in each HCC case (0-4). The subclassification showed significant associations with survival, with median survival times of 3026 days, 605 days, 224 days, 126 days, and 82 days for patients with Stage C0, C1, C2, C3, and C4 disease, respectively (P < .001). Additionally, diverse survival rates were observed when different treatment modalities were selected for cases within each substage.The proposed BCLC-C subclassification of HCC patients is effective in providing better prognostic subclassifications and more appropriate treatment strategies.

Stratified Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio: A Novel Target for Prognostic Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Liver Resection

Background and Aims: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been shown to predict prognosis of cancers. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of stratification of PLR in patients after curative liver resection (CLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 1804 patients who underwent CLR for suspected HCC between January 2007 and January 2014 were screened for the study. All of the patients were categorized into equal tertiles according to the number of patients and the distribution of PLR. Prognostic significance was determined for overall survival (OS) and was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were evaluated for association of all independent parameters with disease prognosis. Results: The optimal cut-off points of preoperative PLR were: (T1) 11.98-75.00, (T2) 75.00-113.33 and (T3) 113.33-567.50. There were obvious differences in each PLR tertile with mortality within 36 months of CLR (plog-rank < 0.001). Multivariable analysis suggested that the level of PLR (HR = 1.004, 95%CI: 1.001-1.008, p = 0.006), portal vein thrombosis (HR = 3.406, 95%CI: 1.185-9.794, p = 0.023), number of nodules (HR = 1.810, 95%CI: 1.345-2.437, p < 0.001), Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (HR = 1.741, 95%CI: 1.129-2.684, p = 0.012) and microvascular invasion (HR = 2.730, 95%CI: 1.777-4.196, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival (OS) demonstrated that each PLR tertile showed a progressively worse OS and apparent separation (plog-rank = 0.016). The highest 5-year OS rate following CLR (58%) was revealed in tertile 1. In contrast, the lowest 5-year OS rate (30%) was revealed in tertile 3. Conclusion: Stratified preoperative PLR could strengthen the predictive power for OS in HCC patients with CLR.

Tumour thrombus of the inferior vena cava extending into the right atrium in the setting of colon cancer

Tumour thrombus is seen in renal cell and hepatocellular carcinoma, but is rarely reported in colorectal cancer. A woman aged 46 years, with metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma, was found to have a large mass in the inferior vena cava (IVC) extending into the right atrium. Although this lesion was initially thought to be bland thrombus, imaging with contrast-enhanced CT scan and contrast-enhanced ultrasound supported the diagnosis of tumour thrombus. Despite the large size of the lesion, the patient was asymptomatic. Her lack of symptoms, and poor overall prognosis from her cancer led to the decision to avoid aggressive surgical or radiological interventions. Several months later, the patient passed away. At autopsy, there was no evidence of fatal embolisation from the pre-existing thrombus. Diagnosis of tumour thrombus in the IVC is difficult and management can be challenging due to the significant risks associated with treatment options.

Resin Versus Glass Microspheres for 90Y Transarterial Radioembolization: Comparing Survival in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Pretreatment Partition Model Dosimetry

The aim of this study was to compare survival of patients treated for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) with ⁹⁰Y transarterial radioembolization (TARE) using pretreatment partition model dosimetry (PMD). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 77 patients consecutively treated (mean age ± SD, 66.4 ± 12.2 y) for uHCC (36 uninodular, 5 multinodular, 36 diffuse) with ⁹⁰Y TARE (41 resin, 36 glass) using pretreatment PMD. Study endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimates. Several variables including Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, tumor size, and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: The characteristics of 2 groups were comparable with regard to demographic data, comorbidities, Child-Pugh score, BCLC, serum AFP level, and ⁹⁰Y global administered activity. The median follow-up time was 7.7 mo (range, 0.4-50.1 mo). Relapse occurred in 44 patients (57%) at a median of 6 mo (range, 0.4-27.9 mo) after ⁹⁰Y TARE, and 41 patients (53%) died from tumor progression. Comparison between resin and glass microspheres revealed higher but not statistically significantly PFS and OS rates in the ⁹⁰Y resin group than the ⁹⁰Y glass group (resin PFS 6.1 mo [95% confidence interval CI, 4.7-7.4] and glass PFS 5 mo [95% CI, 0.9-9.2], P = 0.53; resin OS 7.7 mo [95% CI, 7.2-8.2] and glass OS 7 mo [95% CI 1.6-12.4], P = 0.77). No significant survival difference between both types of ⁹⁰Y microspheres was observed in any subgroups of patients with early/intermediate or advanced BCLC stages. Among the variables investigated, Cox analyses showed that only in the glass group, the BCLC staging system and the serum AFP level were associated with PFS (P = 0.04) and OS (P = 0.04). Tumor size was a prognostic factor without significant influence on PFS and OS after ⁹⁰Y TARE. Conclusion: Comparison between resin and glass microspheres revealed no significant survival difference in patients treated for uHCC with ⁹⁰Y TARE using pretreatment PMD. Further, larger prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

Objective

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma involving portal vein tumor thrombus.

Methods

Between January 2000 and December 2013, a total of 182 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus were retrospectively analyzed: 68 patients were treated by 3DCRT alone (group A), 74 by TACE alone (group B), and 40 by a combination of 3DCRT + TACE (group C). The overall survival (OS) of the three groups was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method. The independent predictors of survival were identified using multivariate analysis.

Results

The total effective rate (complete response + partial response) among all patients was 44% (80/182). The objective response rate (complete response + partial response) was higher in group C than in group A or B, but the differences were not significant. OS rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were significantly higher in group C than in group A or B (P<0.05), while OS rates were similar between groups A and B. Multivariate analysis identified serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein <400 ng/mL and the use of 3DCRT + TACE as independent predictors of better OS.

Conclusion

These results suggest that combining 3DCRT with TACE may provide better OS than either technique alone in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Efficacy of External Beam Radiation-Based Treatment plus Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Associated with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

Background. Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is a common event in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The optimal treatment for these patients remains controversial. Methods. A retrospective review of 149 patients who had unresectable HCC associated with PVTT between January 2005 and December 2012 was performed. Outcomes related to external beam radiation-based treatment were measured, and clinicopathological features and parameters affecting prognosis were analyzed as well. Results. The radiotherapeutic response of PVTT was an important element that affected the overall treatment response of HCC. Serum α-fetoprotein < 400 ng/mL, the presence of a radiotherapeutic response on PVTT, and receiving additional locoregional therapy were significant prognostic factors affecting the survival of patients. Patients who had received additional locoregional therapy obtained a better outcome, and six of them were eventually able to undergo surgical management with curative intent. Conclusion. The outcome of HCC associated with PVTT remains pessimistic. In addition to the current recommended treatment using sorafenib, a combination of external beam radiotherapy targeting PVTT and locoregional therapy for intrahepatic HCC might be a promising strategy for patients who had unresectable HCC with PVTT. This approach could perhaps offer patients a favorable outcome as well as a possible cure with following surgical management.

Phenotype and function of CXCR5+CD45RA-CD4+ T cells were altered in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma and elevated serum CXCL13 predicted better prognosis

The present study reveals an immunological characterization of circulating and tumor-infiltrating T follicular helper cells (Tfh), namely CXCR5⁺CD45RA⁻CD4⁺ T cells, and their related cytokines in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. In HCC patients, circulating Tfh cells showed a CCR7⁺ and/or ICOS⁺ phenotype with increased Th2-like cells and decreased Th1-like and Th17-like subsets. Although the bulk frequency of circulating Tfh cells was not altered in HCC patients, the frequency of infiltrated CXCR5⁺CD45RA⁻CD4⁺ CD3⁺cells was higher in tumor than in para-tumor tissues, and Th1-like cells were the predominant phenotype. Circulating Tfh cells in HCC patients were defective in the production of IL-21 in vitro, which was in accordance with lower IL-21 levels in tumor tissues than in para-tumor tissues. Serum CXCL13 was increased in HCC patients and associated with recurrence-free survival after hepatectomy. This was confirmed in an additional HCC cohort of 111 patients with up to 5 years follow-up. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the percentage of CXCR5⁺ or CXCL13⁺ cells was higher in poorly differentiated than in well-differentiated tumors. In conclusion, patients with HBV-related HCC showed altered phenotypes and impaired function of Tfh cells or subpopulations. CXCL13 could be a potential biomarker for predicting recurrence in HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Radioembolization Is a Safe and Effective Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Propensity Score Analysis

Background/Aims

Limited treatment options are available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Transarterial radioembolization using Yttrium-90 microspheres is a new treatment modality for HCC with PVT. For this analysis, we compared responses to treatment with radioembolization and with sorafenib.

Methods

We evaluated 32 patients who were part of a multicenter retrospective cohort. All patients had PVT without extrahepatic metastasis and were treated with radioembolization in one of six tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. We retrospectively enrolled another 31 consecutive PVT patients without extrahepatic metastasis from a single center who received sorafenib treatment to serve as the control group. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) using propensity scores to adjust for the between-group differences in baseline characteristics.

Results

At 3 months, the response rate and disease control rate were 32.1% (9/32) and 57.1% (16/32), respectively, in the radioembolization group and 3.2% (1/31) and 41.9% (13/31) in the sorafenib group. Median overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were not significantly different between the radioembolization group and the sorafenib group (13.8 months and 10.0 months, P = 0.22; and 6.0 months and 6.0 months, P = 0.08; respectively). No differences in OS (P = 0.97) or TTP (P = 0.34) were observed after IPW was applied to balance the population characteristics. The sorafenib group showed significantly more grade 3/4 adverse effects than the radioembolization group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

HCC patients with PVT who underwent radioembolization achieved comparable survival to patients who received sorafenib, even after application of IPW. The radioembolization group also experienced fewer severe adverse effects. Radioembolization can be considered a new treatment option for patients with HCC with PVT.

Yttrium-90 hepatic radioembolization: clinical review and current techniques in interventional radiology and personalized dosimetry

In recent years, yttrium-90 ((90)Y) microsphere radioembolization has been establishing itself as a safe and efficacious treatment for both primary and metastatic liver cancers. This extends to both first-line therapies as well as in the salvage setting. In addition, radioembolization appears efficacious for patients with portal vein thrombosis, which is currently a contraindication for surgery, transplantation and transarterial chemoembolization. This article reviews the efficacy and expanding use of (90)Y microsphere radioembolization with an added emphasis on recent advances in personalized dosimetry and interventional radiology techniques. Directions for future research into combination therapies with radioembolization and expansion into sites other than the liver are also explored.

Cancer and liver cirrhosis: implications on prognosis and management

Liver cirrhosis, the end-stage of every chronic liver disease, is not only the major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma but also a limiting factor for anticancer therapy of liver and non-hepatic malignancies. Liver cirrhosis may limit surgical and interventional approaches to cancer treatment, influence pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs, increase side effects of chemotherapy, render patients susceptible for hepatotoxicity, and ultimately result in a competitive risk for morbidity and mortality. In this review, we provide a concise overview about the impact of liver cirrhosis on the management and prognosis of patients with primary liver cancer or non-hepatic malignancies.

[Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Update consensus document from the AEEH, SEOM, SERAM, SERVEI and SETH]

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignancy of the liver and one of the most frequent causes of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. Simultaneously with the recognition of the clinical relevance of this neoplasm, in recent years there have been important developments in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of HCC. Consequently, the Asociación Española para el Estudio del Hígado has driven the need to update clinical practice guidelines, continuing to invite all the societies involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease to participate in the drafting and approval of the document (Sociedad Española de Trasplante Hepático, Sociedad Española de Radiología Médica, Sociedad Española de Radiología Vascular e Intervencionista y Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica). The clinical practice guidelines published in 2009 accepted as Clinical Practice Guidelines of the National Health System has been taken as reference document, incorporating the most important advances that have been made in recent years. The scientific evidence for the treatment of HCC has been evaluated according to the recommendations of the National Cancer Institute (www.cancer.gov) and the strength of recommendation is based on the GRADE system.

Low Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels Are Associated with Improved Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Macroscopic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common and dire prognostic feature of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and often precludes many treatments as a result. Little is known about its causes or mechanisms or clinical associations.

AIMS

To examine patients with PVT in order to possibly identify prognostically different subsets.

METHODS

A large cohort of non-curable patients with advanced and biopsy-proven HCC in which survival was documented, were retrospectively examined.

RESULTS

We analyzed a large HCC cohort containing 366 (63.3%) PVT-positive patients and found that PVT is associated with patients having larger tumors and higher levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (DCP). We identified in patients with normal bilirubin levels (≤ 2.0 mg/dl) two PVT-positive patients, having higher and lower AFP levels, respectively. They differed in the significantly better prognosis of the low AFP patients, which may be useful for patient management decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PVT are heterogeneous with respect to AFP levels. AFP-negative patients have a significantly better survival than those who have elevated AFP.

Stratified neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio accurately predict mortality risk in hepatocellular carcinoma patients following curative liver resection

OBJECTIVES

Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to predict prognosis of cancers in several studies. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of stratified NLR in patients who have received curative liver resection (CLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

A total of 1659 patients who underwent CLR for suspected HCC between 2007 and 2014 were reviewed. The preoperative NLR was categorized into quartiles based on the quantity of the study population and the distribution of NLR. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and derived by Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were evaluated for association of all independent parameters with disease prognosis.

RESULTS

Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that the level of NLR (HR = 1.031, 95%CI: 1.002-1.060, P = 0.033), number of nodules (HR = 1.679, 95%CI: 1.285-2.194, P<0.001), portal vein thrombosis (HR = 4.329, 95%CI: 1.968-9.521, P<0.001), microvascular invasion (HR = 2.527, 95%CI: 1.726-3.700, P<0.001) and CTP score (HR = 1.675, 95%CI: 1.153-2.433, P = 0.007) were significant predictors of mortality. From the Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival (OS), each NLR quartile showed a progressively worse OS and apparent separation (log-rank P=0.008). The highest 5-year OS rate following CLR (60%) in HCC patients was observed in quartile 1. In contrast, the lowest 5-year OS rate (27%) was obtained in quartile 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Stratified NLR may predict significantly improved outcomes and strengthen the predictive power for patient responses to therapeutic intervention.

A systematic review on the safety and effectiveness of yttrium-90 radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Over the past two decades, several advances have been made in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) radioembolization has recently been made a treatment option for patients with HCC and PVTT. However, there is still a need to systematicly evaluate the outcomes of 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT. We aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT. We performed a systematic review of clinical trials, clinical studies, and abstracts from conferences that qualified for analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, CINAHL, and the "gray" literature (Google Scholar) were searched for all reports (1991-2016) related to 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT.

RESULTS

A total of 14 clinical studies and three abstracts from conferences including 722 patients qualified for the analysis. The median length of follow-up was 7.2 months; the median time to progression was 5.6 months, and median disease control rate was 74.3%. Radiological response data were reported in five studies, and the median reported value of patients with complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease were 3.2%, 16.5%, 31.3%, and 28%, respectively. The median survival was 9.7 months for all patients, including the median overall survival (OS) were 12.1, 6.1 months of Child-Pugh class A and B patients, and the median OS were 6.1, 13.4 months of main and branch PVTT patients, respectively. The common toxicities were fatigue, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, mostly not requiring medical intervention needed no medication intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

90 Y radioembolization is a safe and effective treatment for HCC and PVTT.