Natural history of small untreated hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors of tumor growth rate and patient survival

Impact of disparity between imaging and pathological tumor size on cancer-specific prognosis among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The association between preoperative imaging and postoperative pathological tumor size disparity, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) among patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate this association and identify predictors of size disparity.

METHOD

Patients undergoing curative-intent hepatectomy for HCC (2000-2023) were identified from an international, multi-institutional database. Size ratio was defined as the ratio of pathological to imaging tumor size. Patients with a size ratio of 0.5-1.5 were classified as "without size disparity," while patients outside this range were considered "with size disparity." Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify predictors of CSS, while logistic regression was utilized to determine factors associated with size disparity. For variables identified as significant in multivariable analyses, further evaluation including cutoff determination, were performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Among 833 patients, median size ratio was 1.02, with a strong correlation between imaging and pathological tumor sizes (r = 0.87). Size disparity was present in 106 patients (12.7 %); in general, patients had smaller median imaging sizes (2.85 vs. 4.80 cm; p < 0.001) while size on pathology was noted to be larger(both 4.50 cm; p = 0.370). Patients with size disparity had worse 5-year CSS (60.1% vs. 79.0 %; p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression identified higher ALBI score (HR:2.56 [1.50-4.37]; p < 0.001), larger pathological tumor size (HR:1.09 [1.03-1.15]; p = 0.001), and size disparity (HR:2.53 [1.37-4.66]; p = 0.002) as independent predictors of CSS. Logistic regression demonstrated that cirrhosis (OR: 2.68 [1.43-5.02]; p = 0.002) and log alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (OR:1.11 [1.01-1.22]; p = 0.030) were associated with an increased likelihood of size disparity. Cirrhosis and log AFP could be used to stratify patients relative to probability of a size disparity (low-risk:9.9 %, medium-risk:12.2 %, high-risk:17.7 %). The optimal AFP cutoff value was 3928 ng/mL for non-cirrhotic (AUC:0.90) versus 28.9 ng/mL for cirrhotic (AUC:0.74) patients.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size disparity was associated with worse CSS among patients with HCC undergoing hepatectomy. Size disparity could be predicted preoperatively using cirrhosis status and AFP level, which may help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from more detailed imaging assessments.

Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This article reviews surveillance for the detection of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma, covering the rationale for surveillance, optimal selection of persons needing surveillance, methods and frequency of screening, strategies for addressing barriers to surveillance, and trends for future improvement in surveillance leading to more effective cancer control and improved patient outcomes. The importance of integrating liver cancer surveillance as a core component of national public health programs is emphasized. The impact of emerging technologies for identifying persons at risk, stratifying individual risk to improve the cost-effectiveness of surveillance programs, and improving the performance, accessibility, and convenience of surveillance are discussed.

Advanced Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of Current and Novel Techniques

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary carcinoma arising from the liver. Although HCC can arise de novo, the vast majority of cases develop in the setting of chronic liver disease. Hepatocarcinogenesis follows a well-studied process during which chronic inflammation and cellular damage precipitate cellular and genetic aberrations, with subsequent propagation of precancerous and cancerous lesions. Surveillance of individuals at high risk of HCC, early diagnosis, and individualized treatment are keys to reducing the mortality associated with this disease. Radiological imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis and management of these patients. HCC is a unique cancer in that it can be diagnosed with confidence by imaging that meets all radiologic criteria, obviating the risks associated with tissue sampling. This article discusses conventional and emerging imaging techniques for the evaluation of HCC.

CT- and MRI-based Factors Associated with Rapid Growth in Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background Prediction of the tumor growth rates is clinically important in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but previous studies have presented conflicting results and generally lacked radiologic evaluations. Purpose To evaluate the percentage of rapidly growing early-stage HCCs in each Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category and to identify prognostic factors associated with rapid growth. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of patients with risk factors for HCC and those with surgically proven early-stage HCC who underwent two or more preoperative multiphasic CT or MRI examinations between January 2016 and December 2020. LI-RADS categories were assigned according to the baseline CT or MRI results. The tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) was calculated from the tumor volumes measured at the two examinations. The growth rate was classified as rapid (TVDT < 3 months), intermediate (TVDT = 3-9 months), or indolent (TVDT > 9 months). The percentage of rapidly growing HCCs was compared among the LI-RADS categories, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with rapidly growing HCC. Results In 322 patients (mean age, 61 years ± 9 [SD]; 249 men) with 345 HCCs (30 LR-3, 64 LR-4, 221 LR-5, and 30 LR-M category), the median TVDT of HCC was 131 days (IQR, 87-233) and 27.0% of HCCs showed rapid growth. The growth rates differed among the LI-RADS categories, with a higher percentage of rapidly growing HCCs observed for LR-M HCCs than for LR-3 (70.0% vs 3.3%, P < .001), LR-4 (70.0% vs 12.5%, P < .001), or LR-5 (70.0% vs 28.5%, P < .001) HCCs. An α-fetoprotein level greater than 400 ng/mL (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% CI: 1.16, 5.54; P = .02), baseline tumor diameter (adjusted OR, 0.65; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.87; P = .004), and LR-M category (adjusted OR, 9.26; 95% CI: 3.70, 23.16; P < .001) were independently associated with higher odds of rapid growth. Conclusion Among early-stage HCCs, LR-M category was an independent factor for rapid growth, observed in 70% of HCCs. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Predicting Tumor Volume Doubling Time and Progression-Free Survival in Untreated Patients from Patient-Derived-Xenograft (PDX) Models: A Translational Model-Based Approach

Tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) has been shown to be a potential surrogate marker of biological tumor activity. However, its availability in clinics is strongly limited due to ethical and practical reasons, as its assessment requires at least two subsequent tumor volume measurements in untreated patients. Here, a translational modeling framework to predict TVDT distributions in untreated cancer patient populations from tumor growth data in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice is proposed. Eleven solid cancer types were considered. For each of them, a set of tumor growth studies in PDX mice was selected and analyzed through a mathematical model to characterize the distribution of the exponential tumor growth rate in mice. Then, assuming an exponential growth of the tumor mass in humans, the growth rates were scaled from PDX mice to humans through an allometric scaling approach and used to predict TVDTs in untreated patients. A very good agreement was found between model predicted and clinically observed TVDTs, with 91% of the predicted TVDT medians fell within 1.5-fold of observations. Further, exploiting the intrinsic relationship between tumor growth dynamics and progression free survival (PFS), the exponential growth rates in humans were used to generate the expected PFS curves in absence of anticancer treatment. Predicted curves were extremely close to published PFS data from studies involving patient cohorts treated with supportive care or low effective therapies. The proposed approach shows promise as a potential tool to increase knowledge about TVDT in humans without the need of directly measuring tumor dimensions in untreated patients, and to predict PFS curves in untreated patients, that could fill the absence of placebo-controlled arms against which to compare treaded arms during clinical trials. However, further validation and refinement are needed to fully assess its effectiveness in this regard.

Expanding the Boundaries for Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, which was the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide in 2020. Transplantation remains the preferred treatment for cure in otherwise unresectable HCC. There are several areas of active research that have led to expansion of eligibility criteria for transplantation including local-regional therapy for downstaging patients presenting outside of the Milan criteria and identification of tumor biomarkers aiding in the early diagnosis, determining prognosis and likelihood of recurrence after transplantation for HCC. New neoadjuvant therapies and post-transplant immunosuppression regimens may also result in expansion of transplant eligibility criteria for HCC.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Surgical Management and Evolving Therapies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer in women worldwide. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with 780,000 deaths in 2018. Seventy-two percent of HCC cases occur in Asia, 10% in Europe, 8% in Africa, 5% in North America, and 5% in Latin America (Singal et al. in J Hepatol 72(2):250-261, 2020 [1]).

EASL-ERN position paper on liver involvement in patients with Fontan-type circulation

Fontan-type surgery is the final step in the sequential palliative surgical treatment of infants born with a univentricular heart. The resulting long-term haemodynamic changes promote liver damage, leading to Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD), in virtually all patients with Fontan circulation. Owing to the lack of a uniform definition of FALD and the competitive risk of other complications developed by Fontan patients, the impact of FALD on the prognosis of these patients is currently debatable. However, based on the increasing number of adult Fontan patients and recent research interest, the European Association for The Study of the Liver and the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Diseases thought a position paper timely. The aims of the current paper are: (1) to provide a clear definition and description of FALD, including clinical, analytical, radiological, haemodynamic, and histological features; (2) to facilitate guidance for staging the liver disease; and (3) to provide evidence- and experience-based recommendations for the management of different clinical scenarios.

Polycomb repressive complex 2 binds and stabilizes NANOG to suppress differentiation-related genes to promote self-renewal

The synergistic effect of alcohol and HCV mediated through TLR4 signaling transactivates NANOG, a pluripotency transcription factor important for the stemness of tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs). NANOG together with the PRC2 complex suppresses expression of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes to generate TICs. The phosphodegron sequence PEST domain of NANOG binds EED to stabilize NANOG protein by blocking E3 ligase recruitment and proteasome-dependent degradation, while the tryptophan-rich domain of NANOG binds EZH2 and SUZ12. Human ARID1A gene loss results in the resistance to combined FAO and PRC2 inhibition therapies due to reduction of mitochondrial ROS levels. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated ARID1A knockout and/or constitutively active CTNNB1 driver mutations promoted tumor development in humanized FRG HCC mouse models, in which use of an interface inhibitor antagonizing PRC2-NANOG binding and/or FAO inhibitor blocked tumor growth. Together, the PRC2-NANOG interaction becomes a new drug target for HCC via inducing differentiation-related genes, destabilizing NANOG protein, and suppressing NANOG activity.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from a German real-world cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Phase III trials have established atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as the novel standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these trials raised concerns regarding treatment efficacy in non-viral HCC, and it remains unclear whether combination immunotherapy is safe and effective in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

METHODS

One hundred patients with unresectable HCC initiated therapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab at our centre between January 2020 and March 2022. The control cohort consisted of 80 patients with advanced HCC who received either sorafenib (n = 43) or lenvatinib (n = 37) as systemic treatment.

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly longer within the atezolizumab/bevacizumab group and comparable to phase III data. The benefits in terms of increased objective response rate (ORR), OS and PFS were consistent across subgroups, including non-viral HCC (58%). The ROC-optimised neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) cut-off of 3.20 was the strongest independent predictor of ORR and PFS. In patients with advanced cirrhosis Child-Pugh B, liver function was significantly better preserved with immunotherapy. Patients with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis showed similar ORR but shorter OS and PFS compared to patients with preserved liver function.

CONCLUSIONS

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab showed good efficacy and safety in patients with unresectable HCC and partially advanced liver cirrhosis in a real-world setting. Moreover, the NLR was able to predict response to atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatment and may guide patient selection.

The care cascade for hepatitis C virus and prognosis of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral agents in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND

Some studies have analyzed the frequency of HCV RNA testing and actual treatment among anti-HCV positive patients in Korea, which has a low prevalence of HCV infection. This study aimed to analyze the diagnosis process, treatment results, and prognosis according to care cascade in patients who are anti-HCV positive.

METHODS

Three thousand two hundred fifty-three anti-HCV positive patients presented to a tertiary hospital between January 2005 and December 2020. The number of patients who underwent HCV RNA testing, treatment, and proportion of sustained virologic response (SVR) according to the type of antivirals was investigated. We investigated the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis.

RESULTS

Of a total of 3,253 people, 1,177 (36.2%) underwent HCV RNA testing and 858 (72.9%) were positive for HCV RNA. 494 (57.6%) of HCV RNA positive patients received antiviral treatment, and 443 (89.7%) of initiated hepatitis C treatment experienced SVR. Of the 421 treated patients, 16 (14.2%) developed HCC. The cumulative incidence of HCC at 15 years was significantly different according to the presence of liver cirrhosis (10/83, 29.5% vs. 6/338, 10.8%, p < 0.001). The cumulative incidences of HCC or liver cirrhosis did not show significant differences according to the presence of SVR₁₂ (14/388, 13.2% vs. 2/33, 52.5%, p = 0.084, 21/319, 15.0%, vs. 3/22, 28.7%, p = 0.051).

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, high SVR₁₂ was achieved, but the proportion of anti-HCV positive patients who received HCV RNA testing and treatment was not high. HCC surveillance after SVR₁₂ is recommended for chronic hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis.

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.

An Overview of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Focusing on Non-Cirrhotic NAFLD Patients: A Challenge for Physicians

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide and it ranges from simple steatosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC represents the first liver tumor and the third source of cancer death. In the next few years, the prevalence of NAFLD and consequently of HCC is estimated to increase, becoming a major public health problem. The NAFLD-HCC shows several differences compared to other causes of chronic liver disease (CLD), including the higher percentage of patients that develop HCC in the absence of liver cirrhosis. In HCC surveillance, the international guidelines suggest a six months abdominal ultrasound (US), with or without alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) evaluation, in patients with cirrhosis and in a subgroup of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. However, this screening program reveals several limitations, especially in NAFLD patients. Thus, new biomarkers and scores have been proposed to overcome the limits of HCC surveillance. In this narrative review we aimed to explore the differences in the HCC features between NAFLD and non-NAFLD patients, and those between NAFLD-HCC developed in the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver. Finally, we focused on the limits of tumor surveillance in NAFLD patients, and we explored the new biomarkers for the early diagnosis 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.

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.

HCV and tumor-initiating stem-like cells

Neoplasms contain tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) that are characterized by increased drug resistance. The incidence of many cancer types have trended downward except for few cancer types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore mechanism of HCC development and therapy resistance needs to be understood. These multiple hits by hepatitis C virus (HCV) eventually promotes transformation and TIC genesis, leading to HCC development. This review article describes links between HCV-associated HCC and TICs. This review discusses 1) how HCV promotes genesis of TICs and HCC development; 2) how this process avails itself as a novel therapeutic target for HCC treatment; and 3) ten hall marks of TIC oncogenesis and HCC development as targets for novel therapeutic modalities.

Implementation of a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening Program for At-risk Patients Safety-Net Hospital: A Model for National Dissemination

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening to achieve earlier diagnosis of patients with hepatitis C (HCV) cirrhosis in our Safety-Net population.

BACKGROUND

Adherence to HCC screening guidelines at Safety-Net hospitals is poor. Only 23% of patients with HCC at our health system had a screening exam within 1-year of diagnosis and 46% presented with stage IV disease. HCV-induced cirrhosis remains the most common etiology of HCC (75%) in our patients.

METHODS

In the setting of an established HCV treatment clinic, an HCC screening quality improvement initiative was initiated for patients with stage 3 fibrosis or cirrhosis by transient elastography. The program consisted of semiannual imaging. Navigators scheduled imaging appointments and tracked compliance.

RESULTS

From April 2018 to April 2021, 318 patients were enrolled (mean age 61 years, 81% Black race, 38% uninsured). Adherence to screening was higher than previously reported: 94%, 75%, and 74% of patients completed their first, second, and third imaging tests. Twenty-two patients (7%) were diagnosed with HCC; 55% stage I and 14% stage IV. All patients were referred and 13 (59%) received treatment. Median time to receipt of treatment was 77 days (range, 32-282). Median overall survival for treated patients was 32 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an HCC screening program at a safety-net hospital is feasible and facilitated earlier diagnosis in this study. Patient navigation and tracking completion of imaging tests were key components of the program's success. Next steps include expanding the program to additional at-risk populations.

Demographic and pathologic factor regression to a growth rate model of p16 ‐negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives

The current study aims to quantify the growth rate of p16‐negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, characterize causative relationships between demographic risk factors and tumor growth, and examine pathologic findings associated with the tumor growth rate at a tertiary care institution. It is hypothesized that causative relationships will be drawn between the individual sociodemographic and pathologic factors and oral cavity p16‐negative squamous cell carcinoma growth rate.

Methods

Prospectively recruited participants, receiving surgical intervention only, were followed from initial staging CT scan to surgical resection. Interval growth was calculated in cm³/week. Demographic information including age, sex, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, previous all‐type malignancy, previous chemotherapy treatment, previous head or neck radiation exposure, and time interval elapsed between diagnosis and surgery was collected from each participant, and regression analysis was applied to determine causality.

Results

Summary statistics revealed a mean growth rate for the study sample of 1.385cm³/week. Statistically significant regression correlations were detected between tumor growth and alcohol consumption, origination at the retromolar trigone, and clinical nodal stage.

Conclusions

Through a small prospective cohort sample, the current study suggests clinical associations between alcohol consumption, origination at the retromolar trigone, and clinical nodal stage with rate of tumor growth. Future work will validate these relationships in a larger patient cohort, and against stronger modeling techniques.

Level of Evidence

Prospective non‐random cohort design.

Risk factors and long-term prognosis of beyond-Milan recurrence after hepatectomy for BCLC stage 0/A hepatocellular carcinoma: A large-scale multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Data on recurrence are important to inform surveillance and improve long-term surgical outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We sought to identify risk factors and long-term prognosis among patients who experienced beyond-Milan recurrence after hepatectomy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Patients who underwent hepatectomy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A hepatocellular carcinoma were identified from a multi-institutional database. Predictors of beyond-Milan recurrence and risk factors associated with post-recurrence survival among patients with beyond-Milan recurrence were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Among 753 patients (median follow-up, 51.8 months), 138 (18.3%) developed beyond-Milan recurrence. Regular surveillance (interval follow-up ≤3 months within 1 year and ≤6 months in subsequent years after surgery) was not carried out for 53 (38.4%) patients who developed beyond-Milan recurrence. On multivariate analysis, increased risk of beyond-Milan recurrence was independently associated with preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level >400 ng/mL, tumor size >5.0 cm, multifocal disease, microvascular invasion, and no/irregular recurrence surveillance. Median post-recurrence survival among patients with beyond-Milan recurrence was only 8.4 months (95% confidence interval: 7.0-9.8 months). Among patients who developed beyond-Milan recurrence, Child-Pugh grade B/C, early recurrence within 1 year after surgery, macrovascular invasion/distant metastasis, and noncurative treatment of recurrence were independent risk factors associated with worse post-recurrence survival.

CONCLUSION

Nearly 1 in 5 patients developed beyond-Milan recurrence after hepatectomy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with beyond-Milan recurrence had a median survival of less than 1 year after diagnosis of the recurrence. Regular surveillance is an important and actionable measure to decrease beyond-Milan recurrence and, in turn, improve long-term survival among patients treated with hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Are MELD and MELDNa Still Reliable Tools to Predict Mortality on the Liver Transplant Waiting List?

Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease. Unfortunately, the scarcity of donor organs and the increasing pool of potential recipients limit access to this life-saving procedure. Allocation should account for medical and ethical factors, ensuring equal access to transplantation regardless of recipient's gender, race, religion, or income. Based on their short-term prognosis prediction, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and MELD sodium (MELDNa) have been widely used to prioritize patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation resulting in a significant decrease in waiting list mortality/removal. Recent concern has been raised regarding the prognostic accuracy of MELD and MELDNa due, in part, to changes in recipients' profile such as body mass index, comorbidities, and general condition, including nutritional status and cause of liver disease, among others. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current state of MELD and MELDNa advantages and limitations and promising alternatives. Finally, it will explore future options to increase the donor pool and improve donor-recipient matching.

Immunotherapy and Microbiota for Targeting of Liver Tumor-Initiating Stem-like Cells

Cancer contains tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) that are resistant to therapies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence has increased twice over the past few decades, while the incidence of other cancer types has trended downward globally. Therefore, an understanding of HCC development and therapy resistance mechanisms is needed for this incurable malignancy. This review article describes links between immunotherapies and microbiota in tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs), which have stem cell characteristics with self-renewal ability and express pluripotency transcription factors such as NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4. This review discusses (1) how immunotherapies fail and (2) how gut dysbiosis inhibits immunotherapy efficacy. Gut dysbiosis promotes resistance to immunotherapies by breaking gut immune tolerance and activating suppressor immune cells. Unfortunately, this leads to incurable recurrence/metastasis development. Personalized medicine approaches targeting these mechanisms of TIC/metastasis-initiating cells are emerging targets for HCC immunotherapy and microbiota modulation therapy.

The second Mexican consensus on hepatocellular carcinoma. Part I: Epidemiology and diagnosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is more frequently manifesting as one of the main complications of cirrhosis of the liver, its principal risk factor. There have been modifications in its incidence over the past decade, related to an epidemiologic transition in the etiology of cirrhosis, with a decrease in the prevalence of hepatitis C and an increase in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a cause, as well as the development of HCC in the non-cirrhotic liver due to NAFLD. Genetic markers associated with the disease have been identified, and surveillance and diagnosis have improved. Regarding treatment, surgical techniques, in both resection and transplantation, have advanced and radiologic techniques, at the curative stage of the disease, have enhanced survival in those patients. And finally, there have been radical changes in the systemic approach, with much more optimistic expectations, when compared with the options available a decade ago. Therefore, the Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología decided to carry out the Second Mexican Consensus on Hepatocellular Carcinoma, which is an updated review of the available national and international evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, to offer the Mexican physician current information on the different topics regarding hepatocellular carcinoma. In this first part of the document, the topics related to epidemiology and diagnosis are presented.

The egyptian clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of metabolic associated fatty liver disease

The landscape of chronic liver disease in Egypt has drastically changed over the past few decades. The prevalence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has risen to alarming levels. Despite the magnitude of the problem, no regional guidelines have been developed to tackle this disease. This document provides the clinical practice guidelines of the key Egyptian opinion leaders on MAFLD screening, diagnosis, and management, and covers various aspects in the management of MAFLD. The document considers our local situations and the burden of clinical management for the healthcare sector and is proposed for daily clinical practical use. Particular reference to special groups was done whenever necessary.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma growth rates and their clinical outcomes

Aim:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is projected to become the leading indication for liver transplantation. Previous studies indicate that tumor growth rates (TGR) may predict survival and were helpful in determining HCC surveillance intervals. Therefore, we aimed to determine its usefulness in predicting clinical outcomes and treatments.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective study of hepatitis B, C and NAFLD-HCC cases. TGR was measured using 2-consecutive pre-treatment contrast-enhanced imaging studies ≥ 25 days apart. A multivariate regression model was used to determine predictors of TGR. In addition, the Cox regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between TGR and overall survival.

Results:

From 2000–2019, the study cohort comprised 38, 60, and 47 HBV, HCV, and NAFLD patients, respectively, with TGRs. NAFLD-HCC tumor size was inversely correlated to the extent of liver disease as measured by Child-Pugh score (7.2 cm in non-cirrhosis; 3.7 cm, 2.6 cm, and 2.1 cm in Child A, B, and C, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the TGR per month was fastest in HBV (9.4%, 95%CI: 6.3%-12.5%) compared to HCV (4.9%, 95%CI: 2.8%-7%) and NAFLD patients (3.6%, 95%CI: 1.6%-6.7%). Predictors of TGR included elevated AFP, low albumin, and smaller tumor size. Fast TGR in viral etiologies had higher mortality [adj. hazard ratio (HR) = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.2–5.7, P = 0.02] than slow TGRs, independent of treatments. Fast TGR in NAFLD had a trend towards higher mortality (HR = 3.6, 95%CI: 0.95–13.3, P = 0.059).

Conclusion:

NAFLD-HCC patients have more indolent growths than viral-related HCC TGRs. The addition of TGR as a biomarker may assist in stratifying treatment options.

Surveillance Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Recent Advances and the Shifting Paradigm

Currently, international liver societies recommend screening at-risk individuals for HCC (patients with cirrhosis regardless of etiology, and/or chronic hepatitis B virus, and/or advanced liver fibrosis) with biannual abdominal ultrasound (USG) with or without alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The global acceptance of USG in surveillance relies on the absence of risks, non-invasiveness, and lower costs. However, the suboptimal performance of USG ± AFP in reaching direct and indirect goals of HCC surveillance highlights the need for alternative surveillance strategies. Several studies targeted contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, but the main barriers for their entrance to surveillance programs have been concerns about cost-effectivity and long scan times. Overall, the HCC risk stratification appears at hand by several validated multiple score systems, but their optimal performance is obtained only in populations who show highly homogenous clinical, pathological, epidemiologic, etiologic, and therapeutic characteristics, and this limitation poses a major drawback to their sustainable use in clinical practice. We need globally validated and molecular integrated risk stratification tools to shape the future tailored HCC surveillance decision algorithms. A dynamic process for HCC surveillance algorithms awaits us owing to the expected further prospective studies focusing on risk-stratified screening strategy.

Risk of HCC With Hepatitis B Viremia Among HIV/HBV-Coinfected Persons in North America

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic HBV is the predominant cause of HCC worldwide. Although HBV coinfection is common in HIV, the determinants of HCC in HIV/HBV coinfection are poorly characterized. We examined the predictors of HCC in a multicohort study of individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We included persons coinfected with HIV/HBV within 22 cohorts of the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (1995-2016). First occurrence of HCC was verified by medical record review and/or cancer registry. We used multivariable Cox regression to determine adjusted HRs (aHRs [95% CIs]) of factors assessed at cohort entry (age, sex, race, body mass index), ever during observation (heavy alcohol use, HCV), or time-updated (HIV RNA, CD4+ percentage, diabetes mellitus, HBV DNA). Among 8,354 individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV (median age, 43 years; 93% male; 52.4% non-White), 115 HCC cases were diagnosed over 65,392 person-years (incidence rate, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.5-2.1] events/1,000 person-years). Risk factors for HCC included age 40-49 years (aHR, 1.97 [1.22-3.17]), age ≥50 years (aHR, 2.55 [1.49-4.35]), HCV coinfection (aHR, 1.61 [1.07-2.40]), and heavy alcohol use (aHR, 1.52 [1.04-2.23]), while time-updated HIV RNA >500 copies/mL (aHR, 0.90 [0.56-1.43]) and time-updated CD4+ percentage <14% (aHR, 1.03 [0.56-1.90]) were not. The risk of HCC was increased with time-updated HBV DNA >200 IU/mL (aHR, 2.22 [1.42-3.47]) and was higher with each 1.0 log₁₀ IU/mL increase in time-updated HBV DNA (aHR, 1.18 [1.05-1.34]). HBV suppression with HBV-active antiretroviral therapy (ART) for ≥1 year significantly reduced HCC risk (aHR, 0.42 [0.24-0.73]).

CONCLUSION

Individuals coinfected with HIV/HBV on ART with detectable HBV viremia remain at risk for HCC. To gain maximal benefit from ART for HCC prevention, sustained HBV suppression is necessary.

The growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma is different with different TNM stages at diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progresses fast and has a poor prognosis, but the growth rate in different TNM stages is not clear. The present study was to estimate the growth rate of HCC with different TNM stages at diagnosis.

METHODS

Baseline demographics and tumor characteristics were analyzed for 10145 patients in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program-registered HCC. Multiple linear regression models were used for age adjustment with patient race, sex, marital status, and HCC grade.

RESULTS

The age at diagnosis was younger in Caucasians and males. The adjusted average age of patients with stage I HCC was 65.26 years. The adjusted age of patients with stage II, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC was -0.17, -0.25, -0.29, and -0.55 adjusted-year younger compared with patients with stage I HCC (all P < 0.001). The adjusted average age of patients with T1 was 65.26 years. The age adjustment was -0.17, -0.26, and -0.55 respectively (all P < 0.001) for T2, T3 or T4 tumors without distant metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrated that the more advanced the HCC stage at diagnosis, the younger the age at diagnosis and the faster the HCC growth from tumor occurrence.

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

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver neoplasm and one of the most common causes of death in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. In parallel, with recognition of the clinical relevance of this cancer, major new developments have recently appeared in its diagnosis, prognostic assessment and in particular, in its treatment. Therefore, the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH) has driven the need to update the clinical practice guidelines, once again inviting all the societies involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease to participate in the drafting and approval of the document: Spanish Society for Liver Transplantation (SETH), Spanish Society of Diagnostic Radiology (SERAM), Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI), Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC) and Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). The clinical practice guidelines published in 2016 and accepted as National Health System Clinical Practice Guidelines were taken as the reference documents, incorporating the most important recent advances. The scientific evidence and the strength of the recommendation is based on the GRADE system.

Epidemiological projections of viral-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in the perspective of WHO global hepatitis elimination

Hepatitis B is an eminent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, whereas hepatitis C is a key risk factor for HCC in Western Europe and North America. Increased awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis resulted, in May 2016, in the adoption of the first global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis by the World Health Assembly, which calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Although the incidence of liver cancer resulting from viral infections has increased since the 1990s, the implementation of public health interventions, such as hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral therapies might have reduced the global burdens of HCC. Hepatitis B immunization in infancy has been associated with a reduction in the risk of infant fulminant hepatitis, chronic liver disease, and HCC in Taiwan. Achieving viral hepatitis elimination by 2030 can be accelerated by improving the access to HCC screening programs. HCC surveillance programs in developed countries must be refined to increase an access to personalized surveillance program, whereas the limited access to surveillance and treatment of HCC in developing countries remains a significant public health issue.

HIV RNA, CD4+ Percentage, and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Cirrhosis Status

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among HIV-infected patients, it remains unclear if HIV-related factors contribute to development of HCC. We examined if higher or prolonged HIV viremia and lower CD4+ cell percentage were associated with HCC.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of HIV-infected individuals who had HIV RNA, CD4+, and CD8+ cell counts and percentages assessed in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (1999-2015). HCC was ascertained using Veterans Health Administration cancer registries and electronic records. Cox regression was used to determine hazard ratios (HR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) of HCC associated with higher current HIV RNA, longer duration of detectable HIV viremia (≥500 copies/mL), and current CD4+ cell percentage less than 14%, adjusting for traditional HCC risk factors. Analyses were stratified by previously validated diagnoses of cirrhosis prior to start of follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 35 659 HIV-infected patients, 302 (0.8%) developed HCC over 281 441 person-years (incidence rate = 107.3 per 100 000 person-years). Among patients without baseline cirrhosis, higher HIV RNA (HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.40, per 1.0 log10 copies/mL) and 12 or more months of detectable HIV (HR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.02 to 2.11) were independently associated with higher risk of HCC. CD4+ percentage less than 14% was not associated with HCC in any model. Hepatitis C coinfection was a statistically significant predictor of HCC regardless of baseline cirrhosis status.

CONCLUSION

Among HIV-infected patients without baseline cirrhosis, higher HIV RNA and longer duration of HIV viremia increased risk of HCC, independent of traditional HCC risk factors. This is the strongest evidence to date that HIV viremia contributes to risk of HCC in this group.

Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients diagnosed under regular surveillance: potential implications for surveillance goal

AIMS

The goal of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is to diagnose cancer at an early stage when treatment is likely to provide the best outcome and thereby, reduce mortality. However, no specific criteria define the 'early stage' for tumors diagnosed under HCC surveillance. We aimed to analyze factors that determined the outcome of HCC patients diagnosed under regular surveillance, to find out how early it is necessary to detect tumors during surveillance.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of 874 HCC patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A) who were diagnosed under regular HCC surveillance at Samsung Medical Center from 2014 to 2016 and did not receive liver transplantation as an initial treatment were analyzed. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Tumor size, presence of vascular invasion, albumin-bilirubin grade, and initial treatment modality were independent factors for OS in multivariable analysis. When categorized according to the tumor size, the risk of mortality increased for tumors of > 3 cm, while tumors of 2-3 cm showed similar mortality risks as tumors of ≤2 cm. When categorized according to the tumor factors, curative-intent treatment (resection or ablation) can be applied to 84.5% with excellent outcomes (5-year OS rate, 93.4%), for tumors of ≤3 cm without vascular invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

When tumors of ≤3 cm were detected and had no vascular invasion, curative-intent treatment was applied for most patients and showed excellent OS. This finding suggests that to detect tumors of <3 cm without vascular invasion may be considered as the goal of HCC surveillance.

Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour volume doubling time: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Tumour growth patterns have important implications for surveillance intervals, prognostication and treatment decisions but have not been well described for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of our study was to characterise HCC doubling time and identify correlates for indolent and rapid growth patterns.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review of Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to December 2019 and national meeting abstracts from 2010 to 2018. We identified studies reporting HCC tumour growth or tumour volume doubling time (TVDT), without intervening treatment, and abstracted data to calculate TVDT and correlates of growth patterns (rapid defined as TVDT <3 months and indolent as TVDT >9 months). Pooled TVDT was calculated using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We identified 20 studies, including 1374 HCC lesions in 1334 patients. The pooled TVDT was 4.6 months (95% CI 3.9 to 5.3 months I²=94%), with 35% classified as rapid, 27.4% intermediate and 37.6% indolent growth. In subgroup analysis, studies from Asia reported shorter TVDT than studies elsewhere (4.1 vs 5.8 months). The most consistent correlates of rapid tumour growth included hepatitis B aetiology, smaller tumour size (continuous), alpha fetoprotein doubling time and poor tumour differentiation. Studies were limited by small sample sizes, measurement bias and selection bias.

CONCLUSION

TVDT of HCC is approximately 4-5 months; however, there is heterogeneity in tumour growth patterns, including more aggressive patterns in Asian hepatitis B-predominant populations. Identifying correlates of tumour growth patterns is important to better individualise HCC prognostication and treatment decisions.

HCC surveillance after SVR in patients with F3/F4 fibrosis

HCV eradication by antiviral treatment reduces but does not eliminate HCC risk. Patients with established cirrhosis require HCC surveillance "indefinitely" after sustained virologic response (SVR) because they appear to have a high risk of HCC even many years after SVR. Patients without established or known cirrhosis may still require surveillance after SVR if they have a sufficiently high HCC risk. In all patients who achieve SVR, the key question is how we can reliably estimate HCC risk, and the change in HCC risk over time, to determine whether the patient might benefit from HCC surveillance. HCC risk is one of the most important factors that should inform decisions of whether and how to screen for HCC. Promising strategies for estimating HCC risk include simplified scoring systems (such as fibrosis-4), liver elastography and multivariable HCC risk calculators. Such tools may enable risk stratification and individualised, risk-based surveillance strategies ("precision HCC screening") in the future.

Current status of image-based surveillance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Although the overall prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor, curative treatment may improve the survival of patients diagnosed at an early stage through surveillance. Accordingly, ultrasonography (US)-based HCC surveillance programs proposed in international society guidelines are now being implemented and regularly updated based on the latest evidence to improve their efficacy. Recently, other imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging have shown potential as alternative surveillance tools based on individualized risk stratification. In this review article, we describe the current status of US-based surveillance for HCC and summarize the supporting evidence. We also discuss alternative surveillance imaging modalities that are currently being studied to validate their diagnostic performance and cost-effectiveness.

The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the principal worldwide cause of liver disease and affects nearly a quarter of the global population. The objective of this work was to present the clinical practice guidelines of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) on MAFLD. The guidelines cover various aspects of MAFLD including its epidemiology, diagnosis, screening, assessment, and treatment. The document is intended for practical use and for setting the stage for advancing clinical practice, knowledge, and research of MAFLD in adults, with specific reference to special groups as necessary. The guidelines also seek to improve patient care and awareness of the disease and assist stakeholders in the decision-making process by providing evidence-based data. The guidelines take into consideration the burden of clinical management for the healthcare sector.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Demonstrates Heterogeneous Growth Patterns in a Multicenter Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There are limited data on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth patterns, particularly in Western cohorts, despite implications for surveillance, prognosis, and treatment. Our study's aim was to quantify tumor doubling time (TDT) and identify correlates associated with indolent and rapid growth.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with cirrhosis diagnosed with HCC from 2008 to 2017 at six US and European health systems with two or more contrast-enhanced imaging studies performed ≥ 30 days apart prior to HCC treatment. Radiologists independently measured tumors in three dimensions to calculate TDT and specific growth rate (SGR). We used multivariable ordinal logistic regression to identify factors associated with indolent (TDT > 365 days) and rapid (TDT < 90 days) tumor growth. In the primary cohort (n = 242 patients from four centers), median TDT was 229 days (interquartile range [IQR], 89-627) and median SGR was 0.3% per day (IQR, 0.1%-0.8%). Over one-third (38%) of HCCs had indolent growth, 36.8% intermediate growth, and 25.2% rapid growth. In multivariable analysis, indolent growth was associated with larger tumor diameter (odds ratio [OR], 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.30) and alpha-fetoprotein < 20 ng/mL (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.12-3.21). Indolent growth was more common in nonviral than viral cirrhosis (50.9% versus 32.1%), particularly in patients with T1 HCC (OR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.08-10.80). Median TDT (169 days; IQR 74-408 days) and SGR (0.4% per day) were similar in an independent cohort (n = 176 patients from two centers).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large Western cohort of patients with HCC, we found heterogeneous tumor growth patterns, with one-fourth exhibiting rapid growth and over one-third having indolent growth. Better understanding different tumor growth patterns may facilitate a precision approach to prognostication and treatment.

Natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma after stereotactic body radiation therapy

PURPOSE

To determine the long-term natural history of size change in SBRT-treated HCC to identify an imaging biomarker to help assess treatment response.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive HCCs treated with SBRT from January 2008 to December 2016 with either 2 years post-treatment MRI follow-up or post-treatment resection histology. Size, major features for HCC, and mRECIST and LI-RADS v.2018 treatment response criteria were assessed at each post-treatment MRI. Local progression, distant progression, and survival were modeled with Kaplan Meier analyses.

RESULTS

56 HCCs met inclusion criteria. Mean baseline HCC diameter was 30 mm (range: 9-105 mm). At 3 months, 76% (N = 43) of treated HCCs decreased in size (mean reduction: 8 mm, range: 5-99 mm) and 0% (N = 0) increased in size. By 24 months, 11% (N = 5) had increased in size and were considered local progression. APHE remained in 77% (43/56) at 3 months, 38% (19/50) at 12 months, and 23% (11/47) at 24 months. mRECIST-defined viable disease was observed in 77% (43/56) at 3 months and 20% (9/47) at 24 months. LI-RADS v.2018 criteria identified viable or equivocal disease in 0% at 3 months and 10% (5/47) at 24 months.

CONCLUSION

Gradual loss of APHE and slow decrease in size are normal findings in HCCs treated with SBRT, and persistent APHE does not indicate viable disease. mRECIST is not accurate in the assessment of HCC after SBRT due to an overreliance on APHE to define viable disease. Increasing mass size or new nodular APHE at the treatment site may indicate local progression.

Outcome of LR-3 and LR-4 observations without arterial phase hyperenhancement at Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI follow-up

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcome of LR-3 and LR-4 without arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), and identify which features could predict LR-5 progression on serial Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI follow-up.

METHODS

Forty-nine cirrhotic patients with 55 LR-3 and 19 LR-4 without APHE were evaluated. Observations were classified as decreased, stable or increased in category at follow-up. Observation size and LI-RADS major and ancillary features were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventeen/fifty-five (31%) LR-3 and 8/19 (42%) LR-4 progressed to LR-5 at follow-up. Baseline LI-RADS major and ancillary features were not significantly different among LR-3 and LR-4. A diameter ≥ 10 mm significantly increased LR-5 progression risk of LR-3 (OR = 6.07; 95% CI: 0.12; 60.28]; P < .001). LR-4 with a diameter ≥ 10 mm more likely become LR-5 at follow-up (OR = 8.95; 95% CI: 0.73; 111.8; P = .083]).

CONCLUSION

LR-3 and LR-4 without APHE were often downgraded or remained stable in category on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI follow-up.

HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATIENTS ARE ADVANTAGED IN THE CURRENT BRAZILIAN LIVER TRANSPLANT ALLOCATION SYSTEM. A COMPETING RISK ANALYSIS

BACKGROUND

In Brazil, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is used to prioritize patients for deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receive standardized MELD exception points to account for their cancer risk of mortality, which is not reflected by their MELD score.

OBJECTIVE

To compare DDLT rates between patients with and without HCC in Rio Grande do Sul, the Southernmost state of Brazil.

METHODS

- We retrospectively studied 825 patients on the liver-transplant waiting list from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016, in a transplant center located in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, to compare DDLT rates between those with and without HCC. The time-varying hazard of waiting list/DDLT was estimated, reporting the subhazard ratio (SHR) of waiting list/DDLT/dropout with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The final competing risk model was adjusted for age, MELD score, exception points, and ABO group.

RESULTS

Patients with HCC underwent a transplant almost three times faster than patients with a calculated MELD score (SHR 2.64; 95% CI 2.10-3.31; P<0.001). The DDLT rate per 100 person-months was 11.86 for HCC patients vs 3.38 for non-HCC patients. The median time on the waiting list was 5.6 months for patients with HCC and 25 months for patients without HCC.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that, in our center, patients on the waiting list with HCC have a clear advantage over candidates listed with a calculated MELD score.

Follow-up of percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation of hepatic lesion: predictive value of CT at 24-h compared with CT at 1 month

To retrospectively assess the predictive value of the CT performed at 24 h, compared with the CT performed at 1 month, in the evaluation of the technical success of microwave (MW) ablation of hepatic lesions. In a single center, 50 patients with HCC underwent percutaneous MW ablation between November 2016 and March 2019. Each patient underwent a contrast-enhanced CT exam at 24 h and at 1 month after the procedure. For each patient, was assessed the presence or absence of residual disease, the appearance of a new lesion, complications, and the involvement of the hepatic capsule, both at 24-h and at 1 month. Overall correlation between residual disease, appearance of a new nodule and complications was also assessed. A total of 50 hepatic lesions were treated with US-guided MW ablation. Patients' mean age was 70.9 years (range 28-87 years). Mean nodule diameter was 17.6 mm (range 7-35 mm). Contingency tables and the χ² test showed a strong association when looking at capsule involvement (accuracy: 100%), residual disease (accuracy: 90%; p-value 0.003), and the appearance of a new HCC nodule (accuracy: 88%; p-value 0.007); regarding complications, the accuracy was 78% (p-value 0.014). Optimal correlation was reached in 62% of cases, moderate correlation in 26%, minimum correlation in 10% of cases; no cases of zero correlation were recorded. CT at 24 h and 1 month showed comparable efficacy in evaluating residual disease after MW thermal ablation of liver lesions. However, further studies are needed to assess which factors may cause false-negative results at the 24-h CT.

Annual contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is highly effective in the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma among cirrhotic patients

OBJECTIVES

Biannual ultrasonography, a globally accepted surveillance method, has low sensitivity in detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a surveillance strategy using annual contrast-enhanced MRI to detect HCCs at early-stage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the data of 294 patients with consistent annual contrast-enhanced MRI and biannual alpha fetoprotein (AFP) surveillance between 2008 and 2017. Patients were stratified for HCC risk as low-intermediate-high risk group using Toronto risk score. HCCs were classified according to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system.

RESULTS

Thirty-five (11.9%) HCCs were detected with annual surveillance MRI. Of those, 30 (85.8%) were early-stage and 15 (42.9%) were very early-stage. The majority of patients (82.9%) with surveillance detected HCC were high risk at the entry. MRI had sensitivity of 83.3 and 80% with a specificity of 95.4 and 91.4%, for detecting early and very early-stage HCC, respectively. Addition of AFP to MRI displayed similar sensitivity and specificity rates to detect early and very early HCCs. The area under the curve of MRI alone and combination with AFP was not statistically different (Any-HCC: 0.905 vs. 0.924; Early-HCC: 0.853 vs. 0.885; Very early-HCC: 0.838 vs. 0.885, respectively, all P values >0.2).

CONCLUSION

Annual MRI strategy demonstrated a satisfactory performance in the surveillance of HCC, in terms of detecting most of the lesions in earlier curable stages and indicating high sensitivity with no additional benefit of biannual AFP. New risk stratified screening algorithms may further increase the yield of HCC surveillance among cirrhotic patients.

BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF HEPATOLOGY UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) published in 2015 its first recommendations about the management of HCC. Since then, new data have emerged in the literature, prompting the governing board of SBH to sponsor a single-topic meeting in August 2018 in São Paulo. All the invited experts were asked to make a systematic review of the literature reviewing the management of HCC in subjects with cirrhosis. After the meeting, all panelists gathered together for the discussion of the topics and the elaboration of updated recommendations. The text was subsequently submitted for suggestions and approval of all members of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology through its homepage. The present manuscript is the final version of the reviewed manuscript containing the recommendations of SBH.

Epidemiology and surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma: New trends

The burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highest in East Asia and Africa, although its incidence and mortality are rapidly rising in the United States and Europe. With the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis C treatment programmes worldwide, the epidemiology of HCC is shifting away from a disease predominated by viral hepatitis - an increasing proportion of cases are now attributable to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Surveillance using ultrasound, with or without alpha-fetoprotein, every 6 months has been associated with improved early detection and improved overall survival; however, limitations in implementation lead to a high proportion of HCC being detected at late stages in clinical practice. Herein, we review the current state of HCC surveillance and highlight areas for future research, including improved risk stratification of at-risk patients, surveillance tools with higher sensitivity and specificity for early HCC, and interventions to increase surveillance utilisation.

Influence of pretreatment tumor growth rate on objective response of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The study aims to assess the influence of pretreatment tumor growth rate (TGR) on modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) objective response (OR) after a first session of selective transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

One hundred fifteen patients (101 men [88%], mean 65.1 ± 10.5 years [range 26-87]) with 169 tumors (mean 34.2 ± 29.3 mm [10-160]), undergoing a first session of selective TACE for the treatment of HCC between 2011 and 2016, were included. TGR was calculated as the percentage change in tumor volume per month (%/month) on imaging before treatment. TGR cut-off for prediction of OR was identified by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

Overall 88/189 (52%) and 46/189 (27%) tumors showed complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) (OR rate 79%), while 32/189 (19%) showed stable disease (SD), and 3/189 (2%) were progressive disease (PD) on computed tomography at 1-month post-TACE. The mean pretreatment TGR was 12.0 ± 15.4 (-3.2-90.4) %/month. TGR of tumors showing CR, PR, SD, and PD was a mean 13.2 ± 16.4%, 12.1 ± 15.1%, 5.3 ± 4.5%, and 44.8 ± 20.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). The three tumors showing PD had TGR values > 20%/month. TGR was significantly higher in tumors with OR (12.8 ± 15.9% vs 5.3 ± 4.5% in SD, P = 0.009). A cut-off value of 6.5%/month had the highest predictive value of OR (AUROC 0.65 ± 0.05, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment TGR is highly variable in HCC before TACE with a U-shaped distribution for the prediction of tumor response. It provides insight into tumor biology that may be used during pretreatment workup to help stratify patients.