Progressive hypofractionated carbon-ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Combined analyses of 2 prospective trials

Heavy Ion Particle Therapy in Modern Day Radiation Oncology

Heavy ion radiotherapy is an emerging technology for treating radioresistant solid tumors. Unlike current low-linear energy transfer techniques, heavy ion radiotherapy, such as carbon ion radiotherapy, enhances the biologic effects related to cancer therapy. Prospective clinical evidence has demonstrated feasibility and efficacy in several disease sites, including head and neck, thoracic, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, pelvic tumors, and sarcomas. Although presently unavailable in the Americas, Mayo Clinic is constructing a heavy ion facility in the United States that is planned for clinical operation in 2028.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy with carbon ions as local ablative treatment in patients with primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death due to treatment resistance and late onset of symptoms (Rumgay in J Hepatol 77: 1598-1606, 2022). The role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in treatment of unresectable liver cancer needs to be defined. The use of particle therapy such as carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) with high linear energy transfer (LET) could increase efficacy of EBRT while limiting the toxic effects of radiation on non-cancerous liver tissue. Promising effects of CIRT have been described in several studies during the past decades, mostly in Japan. To date, no standardized treatment protocol has been established and European data on CIRT for liver cancer is lacking. This retrospective analysis aims to investigate efficacy and safety of hypofractionated CIRT compared to photon-based stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) in primary liver cancer.

METHOD

Thirty-six (n = 36) and twenty (n = 20) patients with primary malignant liver tumors were treated with hypofractionated CIRT (4 fractions) and photon-based SBRT, respectively, between 2011 and 2022 and were retrospectively evaluated for survival, local control, and toxicity.

RESULTS

Two-year local control rate after CIRT was 92.3%. Compared to photon- based SBRT, CIRT scores with a significantly longer median distant progression free survival (3.1 versus 0.9 years). In a matched pair comparison of the two treatment regimens, the CIRT cohort demonstrated both longer 2-year overall survival (100% versus 59.6%) and longer 2-year distant PFS (75.7% versus 22.9%). No significant impairment of liver function was observed in either cohort.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective analysis, patients who received CIRT presented excellent local tumor control and had better oncologic outcomes than patients who received photon-based SBRT. SBRT with carbon ions is a promising local ablative treatment option that needs further investigation in large prospective trials.

Comparison of Prognostic Outcomes Between Repeat Liver Resection and Particle Therapy for Patients with Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Particle therapy (PT) as an initial hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment has been reported to be effective; however, its efficacy for the treatment of recurrent HCC remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PT compared with repeat liver resection for treating recurrent HCC after initial LR, with a focus on prognostic outcomes.

METHODS

Between 2005 and 2019, 89 and 49 patients underwent repeat LR and PT for recurrent HCC after initial LR, respectively. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated using propensity score matching. Treatment-related complications were scored using the National Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and were compared between the repeat LR and PT groups.

RESULTS

In the entire cohort, the 5-year OS was significantly better in the repeat LR group than in the PT group (75% vs. 48%; p = 0.0003), and the 5-year RFS was comparable in both groups (22% vs. 13%; p = 0.088). Propensity score matching created 34 pairs of patients; no significant differences in the 5-year OS (65% vs. 48%; p = 0.310) and RFS (21% vs. 8%; p = 0.271) were observed between the repeat LR and PT groups. The proportion of CTCAE grade ≥3 complications was 8.8% and 5.9% in the repeat LR and PT groups, respectively (p = 0.641).

CONCLUSIONS

After initial LR, the prognosis and treatment-related complications in patients with recurrent HCC were comparable between the repeat LR and PT groups in the matched cohort; therefore, PT may remain one of the multidisciplinary treatment options for recurrent HCC.

Carbon ion radiotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma provides excellent local control: The prospective phase I PROMETHEUS trial

Background & Aims

Inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be treated by stereotactic body radiotherapy. However, carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is more effective for sparing non-tumorous liver. High linear energy transfer could promote therapy efficacy. Japanese and Chinese studies on hypofractionated CIRT have yielded excellent results. Because of different radiobiological models and the different etiological spectrum of HCC, applicability of these results to European cohorts and centers remains questionable. The aim of this prospective study was to assess safety and efficacy and to determine the optimal dose of CIRT with active raster scanning based on the local effect model (LEM) I.

Methods

CIRT was performed every other day in four fractions with relative biological effectiveness (RBE)-weighted fraction doses of 8.1-10.5 Gy (total doses 32.4-42.0 Gy [RBE]). Dose escalation was performed in five dose levels with at least three patients each. The primary endpoint was acute toxicity after 4 weeks.

Results

Twenty patients received CIRT (median age 74.7 years, n = 16 with liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh scores [CP] A5 [n = 10], A6 [n = 4], B8 [n = 1], and B9 [n = 1]). Median follow up was 23 months. No dose-limiting toxicities and no toxicities exceeding grade II occurred, except one grade III gamma-glutamyltransferase elevation 12 months after CIRT, synchronous to out-of-field hepatic progression. During 12 months after CIRT, no CP elevation occurred. The highest dose level could be applied safely. No local recurrence developed during follow up. The objective response rate was 80%. Median overall survival was 30.8 months (1/2/3 years: 75%/64%/22%). Median progression-free survival was 20.9 months (1/2/3 years: 59%/43%/43%). Intrahepatic progression outside of the CIRT target volume was the most frequent pattern of progression.

Conclusions

CIRT of HCC yields excellent local control without dose-limiting toxicity.

Impact and implications

To date, safety and efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma have only been evaluated prospectively in Japanese and Chinese studies. The optimal dose and fractionation when using the local effect model for radiotherapy planning are unknown. The results are of particular interest for European and American particle therapy centers, but also of relevance for all specialists involved in the treatment and care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, as we present the first prospective data on carbon ion radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma outside of Asia. The excellent local control should encourage further use of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and design of randomized controlled trials.

Clinical Trials Registration

The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01167374).

Prognostic analysis of radiation-induced liver damage following carbon-ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced liver damage (RILD) occasionally occurs following carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for liver tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in patients with impaired liver function disease. However, the associated risk factors remain unknown. The present study aimed to determine the risk factors of RILD after CIRT.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 108 patients with HCC treated with CIRT at the Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center between December 2018 and December 2022. RILD was defined as a worsening of two or more points in the Child-Pugh score within 12 months following CIRT. The median age of the patients was 76 years (range 47-95 years), and the median tumor diameter was 41 mm (range 5-160 mm). Based on the pretreatment liver function, 98 and 10 patients were categorized as Child-Pugh class A and B, respectively. We analyzed patients who received a radiation dose of 60 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in four fractions. The median follow-up period was 9.7 months (range 2.3-41.1 months), and RILD was observed in 11 patients (10.1%).

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that pretreatment Child-Pugh score B (p = 0.003, hazard ratio [HR] = 6.90) and normal liver volume spared from < 30 Gy RBE (VS30 < 739 cm3) (p = 0.009, HR = 5.22) were significant risk factors for RILD. The one-year cumulative incidences of RILD stratified by Child-Pugh class A or B and VS30 < 739 cm3 or ≥ 739 cm3 were 10.3% or 51.8% and 39.6% or 9.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the pretreatment Child-Pugh score and VS30 of the liver are significant risk factors for RILD following CIRT for HCC.

Cost-Effectiveness Comparison of Carbon-Ion Radiation Therapy and Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Carbon-ion radiation therapy (CIRT) is a treatment option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that results in better outcomes with fewer side effects despite its high cost. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CIRT for HCC from medical and economic perspectives by comparing CIRT and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with localized HCC who were ineligible for surgery or radiofrequency ablation.

Methods and Materials

This study included 34 patients with HCC who underwent either CIRT or TACE at Gunma University between 2007 and 2016. Patient characteristics were employed to select each treatment group using the propensity score matching method. Life years were used as the outcome indicator. The CIRT technical fee was ¥3,140,000; however, a second CIRT treatment on the same organ within 2 years was performed for free.

Results

Our study showed that CIRT was dominant over TACE, as the CIRT group had a higher life year (point estimate, 2.75 vs 2.41) and lower total cost (mean, ¥4,974,278 vs ¥5,284,524). We conducted a sensitivity analysis to validate the results because of the higher variance in medical costs in the TACE group, which demonstrated that CIRT maintained its cost effectiveness with a high acceptability rate.

Conclusions

CIRT is a cost-effective treatment option for localized HCC cases unsuitable for surgical resection.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with major vascular invasion: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) significantly impacts survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), warranting systemic therapy over locoregional therapy. Despite novel approaches, HCC with MVI has a poor prognosis compared to early-to intermediate-stage HCC. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for HCC characterized by MVI.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study evaluated HCC patients with MVI treated using C-ion RT with a dose of 45.0-48.0 Gy/2 fractions or 52.8-60.0 Gy/4 fractions between 1995 and 2020 at our institution in Japan. We analyzed the prognostic factors and rates of local recurrence, survival, and adverse events. The local recurrence rate was determined using the cumulative incidence function, with death as a competing event. Survival rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test for univariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model for multivariate analysis were used to compare subgroups.

RESULTS

In total, 76 patients with a median age of 71 years (range, 45-86 years) were evaluated. Among them, 68 had Child-Pugh grade A while eight had grade B disease. In 17 patients, the vascular tumor thrombus reached the inferior vena cava or main trunk of the portal vein. Over a median follow-up period of 27.9 months (range, 1.5-180.4 months), the 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and local recurrence rates were 70.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57.7-79.4%), 32.7% (95% CI: 22.0-43.8%), and 8.9% (95% CI: 1.7-23.5%), respectively. A naïve tumor and a single lesion were significant prognostic factors for overall survival in the univariate analysis. Albumin-bilirubin grade 1 and a single lesion were independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Overall, four patients (5%) experienced grade 3 late adverse events, with no observed grade 4 or 5 acute or late adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

C-ion RT for HCC with MVI showed favorable local control and survival benefits with minimal toxicity.

Current perspectives on radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma management: a comprehensive review

This review examines the transformative role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), spotlighting the progression from traditional EBRT techniques to advanced modalities like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (RT), stereotactic body RT (SBRT), and innovative particle therapy, including proton beam therapy and carbon ion RT. These advancements have significantly improved the precision and efficacy of RT, marking a paradigm shift in the multimodal management of HCC, particularly in addressing complex cases and enhancing local tumor control. The review underscores the synergistic potential of integrating RT with other treatments like transarterial chemoembolization, systemic therapies such as sorafenib, and emerging immunotherapies, illustrating enhanced survival and disease control outcomes. The efficacy of RT is addressed for challenging conditions, including advanced HCC with macrovascular invasion, and RT modalities, like SBRT, are compared against traditional treatments like radiofrequency ablation for early-stage HCC. Additionally, the review accentuates the encouraging outcomes of particle therapy in enhancing local control and survival rates, minimizing treatment-related toxicity, and advocating for continued research and clinical trials. In conclusion, the integration of RT into multimodal HCC treatment strategies, coupled with the emergence of particle therapy, is crucial for advancing oncologic management, emphasizing the need for relentless innovation and personalized treatment approaches.

Laparoscopic liver resection for local recurrence after carbon‑ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

Numerous potentially curative treatments have become available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on the basis of the individual patient and tumor characteristics. Carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) is a novel treatment option to reduce the physical burden in patients with HCC. However, the long-term outcomes and the clinical and pathological features of locoregional recurrence after initial C-ion RT are unclear. The present study reports the case of a patient who underwent a curative laparoscopic liver resection for the local recurrence of HCC after C-ion RT. A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C and achieved a sustained virological response. During subsequent surveillance, a solitary HCC of 2.3 cm in diameter appeared in liver segment 7 (S7). While surgical resection was considered the best option, the patient chose C-ion RT as the initial HCC treatment. Although C-ion RT appeared to be successful for the primary lesion, enhanced computed tomography revealed that a hypervascular tumor had reappeared in the same area 16 months later. As HCC recurrence was suspected, several different examinations were performed. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the recurrent tumor had irregular margins, and communication was suspected with the intrahepatic portal vein. A laparoscopic partial liver resection of S7 was planned. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen revealed proliferation of viable moderately to poorly differentiated HCC, with marked invasive growth and numerous portal vein infiltrations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of surgery for locally recurrent HCC after C-ion RT. Oncological outcomes following C-ion RT for HCC remain unclear. Notably, there are cases of unusual recurrence with massive vascular invasion after C-ion RT. In the present case, the histological features were confirmed after C-ion RT for HCC. This case may raise concerns about the true efficacy of C-ion RT and warns against the easy choice of C-ion RT in spite of a resectable HCC.

Pencil Beam Scanning Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) has emerged as a promising treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, evidence of using the pencil beam scanning (PBS) technique to treat moving liver tumors remains lacking. The present study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of PBS CIRT in patients with HCC.

Methods

Between January 2016 and October 2021, 90 consecutive HCC patients treated with definitive CIRT in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-eight patients received relative biological effectiveness-weighted doses of 50-70 Gy in 10 fractions, and 32 received 60-67.5 Gy in 15 fractions, which were determined by the tumor location and normal tissue constraints. Active motion-management techniques and necessary strategies were adopted to mitigate interplay effects efficiently. Oncologic outcomes and toxicities were evaluated.

Results

The median follow-up time was 28.6 months (range 5.7-74.6 months). The objective response rate was 75.0% for all 90 patients with 100 treated lesions. The overall survival rates at 1-, 2- and 3-years were 97.8%, 83.3% and 75.4%, respectively. The local control rates at 1-, 2- and 3-years were 96.4%, 96.4% and 93.1%, respectively. Radiation-induced liver disease was not documented, and 4 patients (4.4%) had their Child-Pugh score elevated by 1 point after CIRT. No grade 3 or higher acute non-hematological toxicities were observed. Six patients (6.7%) experienced grade 3 or higher late toxicities.

Conclusion

The active scanning technique was clinically feasible to treat HCC by applying necessary mitigation measures for interplay effects. The desirable oncologic outcomes as well as favorable toxicity profiles presented in this study will be a valuable reference for other carbon-ion centers using the PBS technique and local effect model-based system, and add to a growing body of evidence about the role of CIRT in the management of HCC.

Creation, evolution, and future challenges of ion beam therapy from a medical physicist's viewpoint (Part 3): Chapter 3. Clinical research, Chapter 4. Future challenges, Chapter 5. Discussion, and Conclusion

Clinical studies of ion beam therapy have been performed at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), and Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), in addition to the development of equipment, biophysical models, and treatment planning systems. Although cancers, including brain tumors and pancreatic cancer, have been treated with the Bevalac's neon-ion beam at the LBL (where the first clinical research was conducted), insufficient results were obtained owing to the limited availability of neon-ion beams and immaturity of related technologies. However, the 184-Inch Cyclotron's helium-ion beam yielded promising results for chordomas and chondrosarcomas at the base of the skull. Using carbon-ion beams, NIRS has conducted clinical trials for the treatment of common cancers for which radiotherapy is indicated. Because better results than X-ray therapy results have been obtained for lung, liver, pancreas, and prostate cancers, as well as pelvic recurrences of rectal cancer, the Japanese government recently approved the use of public medical insurance for carbon-ion radiotherapy, except for lung cancer. GSI obtained better results than LBL for bone and soft tissue tumors, owing to dose enhancement enabled by scanning irradiation. In addition, DKFZ compared treatment results of proton and carbon-ion radiotherapy for these tumors. This article summarizes a series of articles (Parts 1-3) and describes future issues of immune ion beam therapy and linear energy transfer optimization.

Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) has emerged as a promising treatment modality for HCC due to its unique physical and biological properties. CIRT uses carbon ions to target and destroy cancer cells with a high precision and efficacy. The Bragg Peak phenomenon allows precise dose delivery to the tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. In addition, the high relative biological effectiveness of carbon ions can be shown against radioresistant and hypoxic tumor areas. CIRT also offers a shorter treatment schedule than conventional radiotherapy, which increases patient convenience and compliance. The clinical outcomes of CIRT for HCC have shown excellent local control rates with minimal side effects. Considering its physical and biological properties, CIRT may be a viable option for complex clinical scenarios such as patients with poor liver function, large tumors, re-irradiation cases, and tumors close to critical organs. Further research and larger studies are needed to establish definitive indications for CIRT and to compare its efficacy with that of other treatment modalities. Nevertheless, CIRT offers a potential breakthrough in HCC management, providing hope for improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced treatment-related toxicities.

Hepatic Resection vs Particle Therapy as an Initial Treatment for Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Bi-institutional Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND

Curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited to hepatic resection (HR), radiofrequency ablation, and liver transplantation, but the value of particle therapy (PT) as an initial treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of HR and PT for single HCC.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 554 patients with single HCC without vascular invasion were enrolled from January 2000 to December 2015. Patients underwent either HR (n = 279) or PT (n = 275) as initial treatments. A one-to-one propensity score-matching analysis was performed to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival after dividing patients according to liver function as assessed by the modified albumin-bilirubin grade.

RESULTS

The median OS (130 vs 85 months, p = 0.001) and progression-free survival (47 vs 30 months HR, p = 0.004) of HR were also significantly better than that of PT in the propensity score-matching cohort with modified albumin-bilirubin grade 1/2a (n = 145 per group). Meanwhile, in a propensity score-matching cohort with modified albumin-bilirubin grade 2b/3 (n = 53 per group), there were no significant differences in median OS and progression-free survival between HR and PT.

CONCLUSIONS

HR may be preferable as an initial treatment for patients with single HCC without vascular invasion, especially those with preserved liver function. PT can be an acceptable alternative to HR for patients without surgical indication and/or impaired liver function.

Advances in Radiation Therapy for Primary Liver Cancer

During the past 30 years, several advances have been made allowing for safer and more effective treatment of patients with liver cancer. This report reviews recent advances in radiation therapy for primary liver cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. First, studies focusing on liver stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) are reviewed focusing on lessons learned and knowledge gained from early pioneering trials. Then, new technologies to enhance SBRT treatments are explored including adaptive therapy and MRI-guided and biology-guided radiation therapy. Finally, treatment with Y-90 transarterial radioembolization is reviewed with a focus on novel approaches focused on personalized therapy.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Basic and translational research on carbon-ion radiobiology

Carbon-ion beam irradiation (IR) has evident advantages over the conventional photon beams in treating tumors. It releases enormous amount of energy in a well-defined range with insignificant scatter in surrounding tissues based on well-localized energy deposition. Over the past 28 years, more than 14,000 patients with various types of cancer have been treated by carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) with promising results at QST. I have provided an overview of the basic and translational research on carbon-ion radiobiology including mechanisms underlying high linear energy transfer (LET) carbon-ion IR-induced cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, senescence, mitotic catastrophe etc.) and high radiocurability produced by carbon-ion beams in combination with DNA damaging drugs or with molecular-targeted drugs, micro-RNA therapeutics and immunotherapy. Additionally, I have focused on the application of these treatment in human cancer cells, especially cancer stem cells (CSCs). Finally, I have summarized the current studies on the application of basic carbon-ion beam IR according to the cancer types and clinical outcomes.

Estimation of post-therapeutic liver reserve capacity using 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy prior to carbon-ion radiotherapy for liver tumors

BACKGROUND

There is currently no established imaging method for assessing liver reserve capacity prior to carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for liver tumors. In order to perform safe CIRT, it is essential to estimate the post-therapeutic residual reserve capacity of the liver.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the ability of pre-treatment 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) scintigraphy to accurately estimate the residual liver reserve capacity in patients treated with CIRT for liver tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated patients who were performed CIRT for liver tumors between December 2018 and September 2020 and underwent 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy before and 3 months after CIRT, and gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI within 1 month before CIRT were evaluated. The maximal removal rate of 99mTc-GSA (GSA-Rmax) was analyzed for the evaluation of pre-treatment liver reserve capacity. Then, the GSA-Rmax of the estimated residual liver (GSA-RL) was calculated using liver SPECT images fused with the Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. GSA-RL before CIRT and GSA-Rmax at 3 months after CIRT were compared using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 50 patients were included (mean age ± standard deviation, 73 years ± 11; range, 29-89 years, 35 men). The median GSA-RL was 0.393 [range, 0.057-0.729] mg/min, and the median GSA-Rmax after CIRT was 0.369 [range, 0.037-0.780] mg/min (P = .40). The linear regression equation representing the relationship between the GSA-RL and GSA-Rmax after CIRT was y = 0.05 + 0.84x (R2 = 0.67, P < .0001). There was a linear relationship between the estimated and actual post-treatment values for all patients, as well as in the group with impaired liver reserve capacity (y = - 0.02 + 1.09x (R2 = 0.62, P = .0005)).

CONCLUSIONS

99mTc-GSA scintigraphy has potential clinical utility for estimating the residual liver reserve capacity in patients undergoing carbon-ion radiotherapy for liver tumors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000038328, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043545 .

Carbon-ion radiotherapy versus radiofrequency ablation as initial treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) has shown potential as a curative treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no reports have compared the effectiveness of C-ion RT and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between C-ion RT and RFA for patients with early-stage HCC.

METHODS

Medical records of consecutive patients with HCC (single lesion ≤5 cm or two to three lesions ≤3 cm) who received either C-ion RT or RFA as initial treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for clinical factors between both groups.

RESULTS

A total of 560 patients were included, among whom 69 and 491 received C-ion RT and RFA, respectively. After PSM (C-ion RT, 54 patients; RFA, 95 patients), both groups were well balanced. Carbon-ion radiotherapy had significantly lower cumulative intrasubsegmental recurrence rate after PSM compared to RFA (p = 0.004) (2-year, 12.6% vs. 31.7%; 5-year, 15.5% vs. 49.6%, respectively). However, no significant difference in cumulative local recurrence rate, stage progression-free survival, or overall survival (OS) was observed between both groups. In the RFA group, 6 of 491 patients (1.2%) showed grade 3 adverse events, whereas no grade 3 or higher adverse events were observed in the C-ion RT group.

CONCLUSION

Carbon-ion radiotherapy provided a lower cumulative intrasubsegmental recurrence rate, but a comparable cumulative local recurrence rate, stage progression-free survival, and OS compared to RFA. Thus, C-ion RT appears to be one of the effective treatment options for early-stage HCC when RFA is deemed not indicated.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Changes in therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia

The incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is expected to increase, with most cases occurring in Asia. In some parts of Asia, the occurrence of HCC developing from metabolic-related liver disease has markedly increased in recent years, whereas the occurrence of HCC developing from viral-hepatitis-related liver disease has decreased. Advancements in the treatment of HCC over the past few decades has been remarkable, with most treatment strategies to remove or control liver tumours (hepatic resection, local ablation, radiation therapy, transarterial chemoembolisation, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy) primarily developing in Asia. In addition, recent progress in systemic therapies has prolonged the prognosis of advanced HCC. Nowadays, six regimens of systemic therapies have become available in most countries, according to phase III trials (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and ramucirumab). In a global randomised phase III trial (IMbrave 150 trial), the most effective of the latest drug designs was newly emerged combination immunotherapy (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab), which has shown significantly prolonged overall survival compared with sorafenib, which was the first-line systemic therapy for more than a decade. Now, the treatment dynamics for HCC are undergoing a major transition as a result of two important changes: the replacement of viral-related HCC by metabolic-related HCC and the emergence of combination immune therapy.

Long-term survivor of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with repeated carbon ion radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization: a case report

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often recurs in the liver and requires multiple rounds of treatment. Thus, less-invasive multidisciplinary approaches are essential for preserving liver function, especially in elderly patients. Here, we report a case of an 86 year-old Japanese male patient with HCC who was successfully treated with repeated carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The patient had alcoholic liver cirrhosis with a 60 mm HCC lesion and a satellite lesion in segment 6. The patient underwent initial C-ion RT but developed primary tumor recurrence (segment 6) and a new lesion (segment 2) 24 months later. The patient received TACE for each lesion, followed by an increased dose of C-ion RT for the recurrent primary tumor. Although the primary tumor lesion was well controlled, the patient subsequently developed new lesions, and TACE was repeated. The patient died of bacterial pneumonia 88 months after the initial treatment. His general condition and liver function were well preserved, and no severe adverse events were observed throughout the course of treatment. These results suggest that a less-invasive multidisciplinary approach involving repeated C-ion RT combined with TACE enables preservation of liver function, which may contribute to long-term survival in elderly patients with HCC.

Carbon Ion Radiotherapy Acts as the Optimal Treatment Strategy for Unresectable Liver Cancer During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Crisis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly disrupted the normal treatment of patients with liver cancer and increased their risk of death. The weight of therapeutic safety was significantly amplified for decision-making to minimize the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Herein, the safety and effectiveness of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for unresectable liver cancer (ULC) were evaluated, and Chinese experiences were shared to solve the predicament of ULC treatment caused by SARS-CoV-2. Worldwide studies were collected to evaluate CIRT for ULC as the world has become a community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We not only searched five international databases including the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus but also performed supplementary retrieval with other sources. Chinese experiences of fighting against COVID-19 were introduced based on the advancements of CIRT in China and a prospective clinical trial of CIRT for treating ULC. A total of 19 studies involving 813 patients with ULC were included in the systematic review. The qualitative synthetic evaluation showed that compared with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), CIRT could achieve superior overall survival, local control, and relative hepatic protection. The systematic results indicated that non-invasive CIRT could significantly minimize harms to patients with ULC and concurrently obtain superior anti-cancer effectiveness. According to the Chinese experience, CIRT allows telemedicine within the hospital (TMIH) to keep a sufficient person-to-person physical distance in the whole process of treatment for ULC, which is significant for cutting off the transmission route of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, CIRT could maximize the utilization rate of hospitalization and outpatient care (UHO). Collectively, CIRT for ULC patients not only allows TMIH and the maximized UHO but also has the compatible advantages of safety and effectiveness. Therefore, CIRT should be identified as the optimal strategy for treating appropriate ULC when we need to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to improve the capacity of medical service in the context of the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.

Evaluation of Threshold Dose of Damaged Hepatic Tissue After Carbon-Ion Radiation Therapy Using Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose

To evaluate the threshold dose and associated factors using signal-intensity changes in the irradiated area after carbon-ion radiation therapy (C-ion RT) for patients with liver cancer.

Methods and Materials

Patients treated for the first time with C-ion RT for malignant liver tumors and followed up with 3-Tesla gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3 months after treatment completion were retrospectively enrolled. The volume of focal liver reaction (FLR), a low-intensity area in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA after treatment, was measured. Corrected FLR (cFLR) volume, defined as FLR corrected for changes in tumor volume from before to after treatment, was calculated, and the threshold dose was determined by applying the cFLR volume in the dose-volume histogram. To evaluate potential mismatch in fusion images of planning computed tomography and follow-up MRI, the concordance coefficient (CC) was measured, and patients with a CC < 0.7 were excluded. Sixty patients were included. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the threshold dose as the objective variable and the age, dose, number of fractionations, Child-Pugh score, pretreatment liver volume, and pretreatment tumor volume as explanatory variables. The Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used as required.

Results

The median threshold doses for each number of dose fractionations (4 fractions, 12 fractions, and overall) were 51.6, 51.9, and 51.8 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]), respectively, in patients categorized as Child-Pugh class A and 27.0, 28.8, and 27.0 Gy (RBE), respectively, in patients categorized as Child-Pugh class B. In the multiple-regression analysis, only the Child-Pugh score was significant (P < .001). The number of dose fractionations was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Although few patients in the study had decreased liver function, baseline liver function was the only factor significantly associated with the median threshold dose. These findings facilitate appropriate patient selection to receive C-ion RT for malignant hepatic tumors.

Efficacy and Safety of 4 Fractions of Carbon-Ion Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Prospective evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains lacking. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated C-ion RT in patients with HCC.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) pathologically or clinically diagnosed HCC; (2) measurable tumor and tumor size ≤10 cm; (3) absence of major vascular invasion; (4) no extrahepatic metastasis; (5) the alimentary tract was not adjacent to the target lesion (>1 cm); (6) not suitable for or refusal to undergo surgery or local ablative therapies; (7) an interval ≥4 weeks from previous therapy; (8) no other intrahepatic lesion or at least 2 years after the previous curative therapy; (9) performance status score, 0-2; and (10) Child-Pugh score, 5-9. The prescribed C-ion RT dose was 52.8 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) or 60.0 Gy (RBE) in 4 fractions.

RESULTS

In total, 35 patients with HCC were enrolled between October 2010 and May 2016. The median follow-up durations in the survivor group (n = 23) and in the whole cohort were 55.1 and 49.0 months, respectively. The 2-, 3-, and 4-year overall survival rates were 82.8%, 76.7%, and 69.4%, respectively. The 2-, 3-, and 4-year local control (LC) rates were 92.6%, 76.5%, and 76.5%, respectively. The median time-to-progression was 25.6 months (95% confidence interval, 13.7-37.5 months). Grade 4 or 5 toxicities were not observed. Grade 3 acute and late toxicities were observed in 2 patients. There was no significant deterioration in serum albumin, bilirubin, prothrombin time-international normalized ratio, platelet count, or Child-Pugh score after C-ion RT.

CONCLUSION

Four fractions of C-ion RT for HCC did not yield serious adverse events and showed promising LC, thus making it a safe and effective modality for this type of malignancy.

Extension of RBE-weighted 4D particle dose calculation for non-periodic motion

PURPOSE

Highly conformal scanned Carbon Ion Radiotherapy (CIRT) might permit dose escalation and improved local control in advanced stage thoracic tumors, but is challenged by target motion. Dose calculation algorithms typically assume a periodically repeating, regular motion. To assess the effect of realistic, irregular motion, new algorithms of validated accuracy are needed.

METHODS

We extended an in-house treatment planning system to calculate RBE-weighted dose distributions in CIRT on non-periodic CT image sequences. Dosimetric accuracy was validated experimentally on a moving, time-resolved ionization chamber array. Log-file based dose reconstructions were compared by gamma analysis and correlation to measurements at every intermediate detector frame during delivery. The impact of irregular motion on treatment quality was simulated on a virtual 4DCT thorax phantom. Periodic motion was compared to motion with varying amplitude and period ± baseline drift. Rescanning as a mitigation strategy was assessed on all scenarios.

RESULTS

In experimental validation, average gamma pass rates were 99.89+-0.30% for 3%/3 mm and 88.2+-2.2% for 2%/2 mm criteria. Average correlation for integral dose distributions was 0.990±0.002. Median correlation for single 200 ms frames was 0.947±0.006. In the simulations, irregular motion deteriorated V95 target coverage to 81.2%, 76.6% and 79.0% for regular, irregular motion and irregular motion with base-line drift, respectively. Rescanning restored V95 to >98% for both scenarios without baseline drift, but not with additional baseline drift at 83.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

The validated algorithm permits to study the effects of irregular motion and to develop and adapt appropriate motion mitigation techniques.

Indications of IMRT, PRT and CIRT for HCC from comparisons of dosimetry and normal tissue complication possibility

PURPOSE

To identify the indications for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) irradiated by intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), proton radiotherapy (PRT) or carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) by comparing of dosimetric parameters and incidences of classic radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).

METHODS

In all, 40 HCCs were divided into group A (tumors located > 1 cm away from gastrointestinal [GI] tract), and group B (tumors located < 1 cm away from GI tract). The prescribed curative doses were 60 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in 10 fractions for group A, and 67.5 Gy (RBE) in 15 fractions for group B. IMRT, PRT and CIRT plans were separately generated to reach the curative doses and coverage. Dosimetric parameters evaluated were mean dose to normal liver (MDTNL) and the volume of normal liver receiving more than 1 Gy (RBE) (V1). Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model was used to determine the incidences of classic RILD, and Power model of non-linear regression, to estimate the tumor volume that could be irradiated with the curative doses within dose constraint of MDTNL.

RESULTS

With comparable target doses, the MDTNL (Gy [RBE]) were 18.8 ± 3.7, 13.5 ± 3.1 and 12.8 ± 2.7 in group A and 24.9 ± 7.1, 18.2 ± 3.7 and 17.5 ± 3.7 in group B, respectively, for IMRT, PRT and CIRT. The classic RILD incidences (%) were 22.3 ± 30.0 in IMRT, 2.3 ± 4.9 in PRT and 1.2 ± 2.4 in CIRT. V1 (%) were 89.9 ± 8.8, 43.0 ± 10.2 and 45.9 ± 8.8, respectively, for IMRT, PRT and CIRT.

CONCLUSIONS

PRT and CIRT could spare the liver more than IMRT. IMRT could deliver the curative doses to HCC up to a diameter of 7.9 cm; PRT, up to 13.2 cm; and CIRT, up to 14.8 cm.

Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Localized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is unresectable and non-transplantable can be treated by several liver-directed therapies. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is an increasingly accepted and widely utilized treatment modality in this setting. Accelerated charged particles such as proton beam therapy (PBT) and carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) offer technological advancements over conventional photon radiotherapy. In this review, we summarize the distinct advantages of CIRT use for HCC treatment, focusing on physical and biological attributes, and outline dosimetric and treatment planning caveats. Based on these considerations, we posit that HCC may be among the best indications for use of CIRT, as it allows for maximizing tumoricidal doses to the target volume while minimizing the dose to the organs at risk.

Application of Carbon Ion and Its Sensitizing Agent in Cancer Therapy: A Systematic Review

Carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) is the most advanced radiation therapy (RT) available and offers new opportunities to improve cancer treatment and research. CIRT has a unique physical and biological advantage that allow them to kill tumor cells more accurately and intensively. So far, CIRT has been used in almost all types of malignant tumors, and showed good feasibility, safety and acceptable toxicity, indicating that CIRT has a wide range of development and application prospects. In addition, in order to improve the biological effect of CIRT, scientists are also trying to investigate related sensitizing agents to enhance the killing ability of tumor cells, which has attracted extensive attention. In this review, we tried to systematically review the rationale, advantages and problems, the clinical applications and the sensitizing agents of the CIRT. At the same time, the prospects of the CIRT in were prospected. We hope that this review will help researchers interested in CIRT, sensitizing agents, and radiotherapy to understand their magic more systematically and faster, and provide data reference and support for bioanalysis, clinical medicine, radiotherapy, heavy ion therapy, and nanoparticle diagnostics.

Who Will Benefit from Charged-Particle Therapy?

Charged-particle therapy (CPT) such as proton beam therapy (PBT) and carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) exhibit substantial physical and biological advantages compared to conventional photon radiotherapy. As it can reduce the amount of radiation irradiated in the normal organ, CPT has been mainly applied to pediatric cancer and radioresistent tumors in the eloquent area. Although there is a possibility of greater benefits, high set-up cost and dearth of high level of clinical evidence hinder wide applications of CPT. This review aims to present recent clinical results of PBT and CIRT in selected diseases focusing on possible indications of CPT. We also discussed how clinical studies are conducted to increase the number of patients who can benefit from CPT despite its high cost.

Controlling Major Portal Vein Invasion Progression during Lenvatinib Treatment by Carbon-Ion Radiotherapy in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Macrovascular invasion (MVI), including portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While recommended standard treatment for patients with advanced HCC is systemic therapy, various treatment approaches, including resection, transarterial chemoembolization, and radiation, have been empirically suggested to improve prognosis by eliminating or controlling MVI. Herein, we report our experience of a case with advanced HCC where MVI was controlled by carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) while on systemic therapy, resulting in a prolonged survival. A female patient with HCC in her early 60s had multiple intrahepatic lesions (maximum 60 mm in diameter) with PVTT. The PVTT of this patient had reached the main trunk of the portal vein despite the use of lenvatinib. The other intrahepatic lesions of the patient, except PVTT, had been controlled by lenvatinib. Therefore, hoping to control PVTT, we attempted CIRT. The patient resumed lenvatinib therapy after the irradiation. During lenvatinib re-treatment, no evident progression of PVTT was observed in the patient.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy subsequent to balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic encephalopathy: a multidisciplinary approach

Radical treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can be often difficult due to poor liver function or disturbance of consciousness. An effective treatment requires a combinatorial approach incorporating a treatment for HE and radical therapy for HCC that does not compromise liver function. Here, we report a case of a 78-year-old Japanese male with HCC and HE caused by splenorenal shunt. Serum ammonia levels were high. He was not suitable for surgery, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, or transarterial chemoembolization due to the location of the tumor and poor liver function, which included HE. Thus, he underwent BRTO, with an immediate improvement in both HE and serum ammonia levels. After BRTO, he received C-ion RT as a radical treatment for HCC. After treatment, HCC was well controlled; however, at 35 months post-initiation of C-ion RT, he developed local recurrence without a further reduction in liver function status. Therefore, we repeated C-ion RT. The patient remains alive at 3 months post-treatment, with no evidence of local recurrence, distant metastasis, or toxicity. Although this is a single case report, it suggests that a combinatorial treatment consisting of BRTO and C-ion RT may increase survival rates of patients with HCC and HE.

Clinical impact of Hypofractionated carbon ion radiotherapy on locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involving a major branch of the portal or hepatic vein is in a locally advanced stage and remains difficult to cure. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) in locally advanced HCC (LAHCC).

Methods

The data of 11 consecutive patients with LAHCC who received C-ion RT were analyzed. The C-ion RT doses of 52.8 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) and 60.0 Gy (RBE) were delivered in 4 fractions for standard cases, and the 60.0 Gy dose was delivered in 12 fractions for close-to-gastrointestinal-tract cases. Survival and local control probabilities were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The median follow-up duration after C-ion RT was 36.4 months. The median age at the time of registration for C-ion RT was 76 years. The median tumor size was 53 mm. The numbers of treatment-naive and recurrent HCC patients were 1 and 10, respectively. Direct invasion of the major branch of the portal vein, hepatic vein, or both portal and hepatic veins was observed in three, five, and three patients, respectively. The 3-year overall survival, local control, and progression-free survival rates were 64, 78, and 18%, respectively. No patient developed radiation-induced liver diseases or grade 3 or higher toxicities in the acute and late phases.

Conclusions

C-ion RT showed favorable clinical outcomes with a high rate of local control and minimal toxicities in LAHCC. Our findings suggest that C-ion RT is a promising multidisciplinary treatment option in LAHCC.

Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Cancer Survivors with Other Types of Primary Tumors

BACKGROUND

The clinical characteristics and outcomes of secondary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cancer survivors with other prior malignancies remain poorly understood. We aimed to depict the features of HCC patients with other prior cancer and to examine the prognostic effect of prior cancer in those patients.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with HCC between 2004 and 2014 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were conducted to determine survival differences and impact of prior cancer history.

RESULTS

In total, 32,343 eligible patients with HCC were included in the current study, and 2830 (8.7%) of those patients had prior cancer. Patients who had prior cancer were older and more frequently at localized or regional stages of HCC compared to those without a history of cancer. No differences in overall or cancer-specific survival rates were observed among patients with or without prior cancer, as revealed by the Kaplan-Meier curves. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, a history of cancer was not a prognostic factor for worse overall (HR = 0.99, 95%CI 0.94-1.03, P = 0.577) or HCC-specific (HR = 1.01, 95%CI 0.96-1.06, P = 0.802) survival after adjustment for various covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Subsequent HCC in cancer survivors has several different clinical characteristics compared with primary HCC. A history of prior cancer did not significantly contribute to a worse prognosis for subsequent HCC.

Preoperative Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy to Portal Vein Tumour Thrombus in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical and Pathological Analysis

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumour thrombus (PVTT) is poor. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tri-modality therapy, including preoperative stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and surgery, followed by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in HCC patients with PVTT. In this report, we investigated the pathology of the irradiated PVTT specimen in resected cases and SBRT-related acute toxicity. A total of 8 HCC patients with PVTT received preoperative SBRT targeting the PVTT at a dose of 48 Gy in 4 fractions at our institute from 2012 to 2016. Of the eight patients, six underwent surgery, while the remaining two did not because of disease progression. At the pathological examination, all patients’ irradiated PVTT specimens showed necrotic tissue, and three of six patients showed complete pathological response. Two patients showed 30% necrosis with high degeneration and one patient, with 30% necrosis without degeneration, was the only recurrent case found during the follow-up period (median: 22.5, range: 5.9–49.6 months). No SBRT-related acute toxicity worse than grade 2 was observed from SBRT to surgery. In conclusion, the preoperative SBRT for HCC was pathologically effective and the acute toxicities were tolerable.

The Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC is also is a tumor with a distinct ability to invade and grow within the hepatic vasculature. Approximately 20% of patients with HCC have macrovascular invasion (MVI) at the time of diagnosis. MVI is associated with dismal prognosis, with median survival ranging from 2 to 5 months. Current staging systems designate MVI as advanced disease. Recent advances in multimodal approaches, including systemic therapies, radiation therapy, liver-directed therapies, and surgical approaches, in the treatment of HCC with MVI have rendered this disease process more treatable with improved outcomes and are discussed here.

Carbon Ion Therapy: A Modern Review of an Emerging Technology

Radiation therapy is one of the most widely used therapies for malignancies. The therapeutic use of heavy ions, such as carbon, has gained significant interest due to advantageous physical and radiobiologic properties compared to photon based therapy. By taking advantage of these unique properties, carbon ion radiotherapy may allow dose escalation to tumors while reducing radiation dose to adjacent normal tissues. There are currently 13 centers treating with carbon ion radiotherapy, with many of these centers publishing promising safety and efficacy data from the first cohorts of patients treated. To date, carbon ion radiotherapy has been studied for almost every type of malignancy, including intracranial malignancies, head and neck malignancies, primary and metastatic lung cancers, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, prostate and genitourinary cancers, sarcomas, cutaneous malignancies, breast cancer, gynecologic malignancies, and pediatric cancers. Additionally, carbon ion radiotherapy has been studied extensively in the setting of recurrent disease. We aim to provide a comprehensive review of the studies of each of these disease sites, with a focus on the current trials using carbon ion radiotherapy.

Heavy charged particles for gastrointestinal cancers

Carbon ion beams constitute the primary delivery method of heavy ion radiotherapy. It offers improved dose distribution, and enables concentration of dose within target volumes with minimal extraneous exposure of normal tissue, while delivering superior biological effect in comparison with photon and proton technologies. Here, we review the application of this technology to various gastrointestinal cancers.

A phase 2 multicenter study of stereotactic body radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND

Although several prospective studies have reported the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), treatment-related toxicity varies and has not been determined. Therefore, the authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of SBRT for patients with HCC in a hepatitis B virus-endemic area.

METHODS

This multicenter phase 2 trial enrolled patients with unresectable HCC. Patients received SBRT with 45 to 60 Gy in 3 fractions. To evaluate gastroduodenal toxicity, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed before and 2 months after SBRT. The primary endpoint was treatment-related severe toxicity at 1 year after SBRT. The secondary endpoints were the 2-year local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates.

RESULTS

In total, 74 patients were enrolled between January 2012 and April 2015, and 65 eligible patients were analyzed. One patient experienced radiation-induced liver disease with acute grade ≥3 toxicity 1 month after SBRT. In addition, 1 patient had a grade 3 esophageal ulcer with stenosis 5 months after SBRT. The actuarial rate of treatment-related severe toxicity at 1 year was 3%. The pre-SBRT and post-SBRT EGD findings were not significantly different among the 57 evaluable patients who underwent EGD. The 2-year and 3-year local control rates were 97% and 95%, respectively. The progression-free and overall survival rates were 48% and 84% at 2 years, respectively, and 36% and 76% at 3 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

With a median follow-up of 41 months, this prospective multicenter study demonstrated that SBRT for patients with HCC is well tolerated and is an effective treatment modality.

Current status of stereotactic body radiotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an advanced form of radiotherapy (RT) with a growing interest on its application in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It can deliver ablative radiation doses to tumors in a few fractions without excessive doses to normal tissues, with the help of advanced modern RT and imaging technologies. Currently, SBRT is recommended as an alternative to curative treatments, such as surgery and radiofrequency ablation. This review discusses the current status of SBRT to aid in the decision making on how it is incorporated into the HCC management.

Long-Term Results of High-Dose 2-Fraction Carbon Ion Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Carbon ion beams have several physical and biological advantages compared with conventional radiation for cancer therapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of 2-fraction carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods and Materials

Between December 2008 and March 2013, 57 patients with localized HCC were treated with CIRT at a total dose of 45 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 2 fractions and retrospectively analyzed after long-term observation. The main endpoints of this study were treatment-related toxicity and local tumor control. Toxicity was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Changes in the Child-Pugh score from before to after CIRT were also examined to evaluate hepatic toxicity. Local control was defined as no progression of the irradiated lesion according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.

Results

The median age of the patients was 75 years (range, 49-89 years). Of these patients, 41 had a newly diagnosed lesion, and 16 had residual or recurrent lesions after previous treatments. The median follow-up duration was 54 months (range, 7-103 months). All surviving patients were followed for more than 51 months. Two patients experienced grade 3 acute skin reactions, but no other grade 3 or higher toxicities were observed in any organ. No patient exhibited an increase in the Child-Pugh score of 2 or more points after CIRT. The local tumor control rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 98%, 91%, and 91% after CIRT, respectively. All lesions that failed to respond to previous treatments were successfully controlled by CIRT. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 97%, 67%, and 45%, respectively.

Conclusions

Two-fraction CIRT was a well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with HCC.

Rupture of Hepatic Pseudoaneurysm Formed Nine Years after Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

An 83-year-old man with a history of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma nine years ago presented to a primary care hospital with a fever and abdominal pain. He underwent computed tomography, which revealed the rupture of a hepatic pseudoaneurysm close to the fiducial marker for carbon ion radiotherapy and bleeding into the bile duct. He was successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization. Thereafter, re-rupture occurred from a site proximal to the first rupture, and this was treated similarly. It is necessary to be alert for not only tumor recurrence but also pseudoaneurysm occurrence after carbon ion radiotherapy.

A comparison of carbon ion radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization treatment outcomes for single hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND

We compared clinical outcomes of carbon ion radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Data of 477 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who had undergone carbon ion radiotherapy or transarterial chemoembolization between April 2007 and September 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment naïve patients with single HCC, who underwent carbon ion radiotherapy or transarterial chemoembolization as a primary treatment were included. Clinical outcomes of the treatments were compared after utilizing propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Of 124 patients who received carbon ion radiotherapy and 353 patients who received transarterial chemoembolization, 31 and 23 patients met our inclusion criteria, respectively. After utilizing propensity score matching, 17 matched pairs of patients from each treatment group were analyzed. The median follow-up durations after carbon ion radiotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization were 43 and 32 months, respectively. The 3-year overall survival, local control, and progression-free survival rates in the carbon ion radiotherapy versus transarterial chemoembolization groups were 88% versus 58% (p < 0.05), 80% versus 26% (p < 0.01), and 51% versus 15% (p < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Carbon ion radiotherapy showed more favorable clinical outcomes than did transarterial chemoembolization for patients with single hepatocellular carcinoma after matching patient characteristics utilizing propensity score matching. Further studies with larger patient numbers are required to confirm our results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000036455 : date of registration 22 March 2019, retrospectively registered.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: a multi-institutional study by and the Japan carbon-ion radiation oncology study group (J-CROS)

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for cholangiocarcinoma via a multicenter retrospective study. Clinical data were collected from patients with cholangiocarcinoma who had received CIRT at one of four treating institutions in Japan. Of 56 eligible patients, none received surgery for cholangiocarcinoma before or after CIRT. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Based on the tumor site, the 56 cases were categorized as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) (n=27) or perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) (n=29). In all patients, the median tumor size was 37 (range, 15‒110) mm, and the most commonly prescribed dose was 76 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 20 fractions. The median survival was 14.8 (range, 2.1-129.2) months, and the 1- and 2-year OS rates were 69.7% and 40.9%, respectively. The median survival times of the patients with IHC and those with PHC were 23.8 and 12.6 months, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that cholangitis pre-CIRT and Child‒Pugh class B were significant prognostic factors for an unfavorable OS. Of four patients who died of liver failure, one with IHC was suspected to have radiation-induced liver disease because of newly developed ascites, and died at 4.3 months post-CIRT. Grade 3 CIRT-related bile duct stenosis was observed in one IHC case. No other CIRT-related severe adverse events, including gastrointestinal events, were observed. These results suggest that CIRT yields relatively favorable treatment outcomes, especially for patients with IHC, and acceptable toxicities were observed in patients with cholangiocarcinoma who did not receive surgery.

2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer globally and the fourth most common cancer in men in Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle-aged and elderly patients. These practice guidelines will provide useful and constructive advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 44 experts in hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology in the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2014 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions.

Radiotherapy for HCC: Ready for prime time?

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has an evolving role in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), largely due to recent advances in imaging technology. Often utilized in situations where other locoregional therapies are not feasible, SBRT has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment that confers high rates of durable local control. However, there is limited evidence to firmly establish its place in the treatment paradigm for HCC. In this article, we review the current evidence and highlight specific considerations in the multiple settings where SBRT may be used, including for primary HCC treatment and bridging/downstaging, as well as exploring the potential for SBRT in the treatment of extrahepatic oligo-metastatic HCC.

2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer globally and the fourth most common cancer in men in Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle-aged and elderly patients. These practice guidelines will provide useful and constructive advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 44 experts in hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology and radiation oncology in the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2014 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current State and Future Opportunities

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a rising cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA and around the world. Surgical resection and liver transplantation are the preferred management strategies; however, less than 30% of patients are eligible for surgery. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a promising local treatment option for non-surgical candidates. Local control rates between 95 and 100% have been reported at 1-2 years post-treatment, and classical radiation-induced liver disease described with conventional radiation is an unlikely complication from stereotactic radiotherapy. Enrollment in randomized trials will be essential in establishing the role of stereotactic radiation in treatment paradigms for hepatocellular carcinoma.