Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma as a bridge to liver transplantation

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

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

Bridge Therapy before Liver Transplant for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver tumor. Orthotopic liver transplant is one of the best treatment options, but its waiting list has to be considered. Bridge therapies have been introduced in order to limit this issue. The aim of this study is to evaluate if bridge therapies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma can improve overall survival and reduce de-listing. We selected 185 articles. The search was limited to English articles involving only adult patients. These were deduplicated and articles with incomplete text or irrelevant conclusions were excluded. Sorafenib is the standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and increases overall survival without any significant drug toxicity. However, its survival benefit is limited. The combination of transarterial chemoembolization + sorafenib, instead, delays tumor progression, although its survival benefit is still uncertain. A few studies have shown that patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization + radiation therapy have similar or even better outcomes than those undergoing transarterial chemoembolization or sorafenib alone for rates of histopathologic complete response (89% had no residual in the explant). Also, the combined therapy of transarterial chemoembolization + radiotherapy + sorafenib was compared to the association of transarterial chemoembolization + radiotherapy and was associated with a better survival rate (24 vs. 17 months). Moreover, immunotherapy revealed new encouraging perspectives. Combination therapies showed the most encouraging results and could become the gold standard as a bridge to transplant for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Evolving Landscape in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Stage Migration to Immunotherapy Revolution

Liver transplantation (LT) represents the primary curative option for HCC. Despite the extension of transplantation criteria and conversion with down-staging loco-regional treatments, transplantation is not always possible. The introduction of new standards of care in advanced HCC including a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapies led to an improvement in response rates and could represent a promising strategy for down-staging the tumor burden. In this review, we identify reports and series, comprising a total of 43 patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors as bridging or down-staging therapies prior to LT. Overall, treated patients registered an objective response rate of 21%, and 14 patients were reduced within the Milan criteria. Graft rejection was reported in seven patients, resulting in the death of four patients; in the remaining cases, LT was performed safely after immunotherapy. Further investigations are required to define the duration of immune checkpoint inhibitors, their minimum washout period and the LT long-term safety of this strategy. Some randomized clinical trials including immunotherapy combinations, loco-regional treatment and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors are ongoing and will likely determine the appropriateness of immune checkpoint inhibitors' administration before LT.

Indian College of Radiology and Imaging Guidelines on Interventions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and a significant cause of cancer-related death. Treatment of HCC depends on the stage of the tumor. As many patients with HCC are not deemed fit for surgical resection or liver transplantation, locoregional therapies play an essential role in the management. Image-guided locoregional treatments include percutaneous ablative therapies and endovascular therapies. The choice of an individual or a combination of therapies is guided by the tumor and patient characteristics. As the outcomes of image-guided locoregional treatments depend on the ability to achieve necrosis of the entire tumor along with a safety margin around it, it is mandatory to follow standard guidelines. In this manuscript, we discuss in detail the various aspects of image-guided locoregional therapies to guide interventional radiologists involved in the care of patients with HCC.

Neoadjuvant Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by low resection and high postoperative recurrence rates, and conventional treatment strategies have failed to meet clinical needs. Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is widely employed in the routine management of several solid tumors because it increases resectability and reduces the rate of postoperative recurrence. However, a consensus has not been reached regarding the effects of NAT on HCC. As systemic therapy, particularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy, is given for HCC treatment, accumulating evidence shows that the "spring" of NAT for HCC is imminent. In the future, HCC researchers should focus on identifying biomarkers for treatment response, explore the mechanisms of resistance, and standardize the endpoints of NAT.

Radiofrequency ablation versus trans-arterial chemoembolization in patients with HCC awaiting liver transplant: an analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

PURPOSE

To evaluate differences in waitlist mortality/dropout for liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who undergo radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 2004-2013, 11,824 patients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) with HCC who underwent RFA or TACE. Patients were followed until December 31, 2019 or 5 years, whichever came first and stratified by Milan criteria. Competing risk and Cox regression analyses to compare waitlist mortality/dropout were performed with adjusted hazard ratios (asHR, reference group RFA). Regression models were adjusted for age, race, sex, calculated Model for End Stage Liver Disease (cMELD) score, tumor size, and number.

RESULTS

There was no difference in waitlist mortality/dropout for patients outside Milan criteria (N = 1,226) between TACE (19.2%) compared to RFA (19.0%) (asHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.79-1.03). There was also no difference for patients inside Milan criteria (N = 10,598) in waitlist mortality/dropout (TACE 13.4% vs. RFA 12.9%) (asHR 1.29; 95% CI 0.79-2.09). Subgroup analysis within Milan criteria demonstrated no evidence of difference in TACE compared to RFA in patients with single tumor ≤3 cm (asHR 0.92; 95% CI 0.77-1.10), single tumor > 3 cm (asHR 1.03; 95% CI 0.79-1.34), or with > 1 tumor (asHR 0.89; 95% CI 0.72-1.09).

CONCLUSION

Using national registry data, no difference was found in waitlist mortality/dropout for transplant candidates with HCC who received TACE vs. RFA.

Microwave ablation as bridging to liver transplant for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center retrospective analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave (MW) ablation as first-line locoregional therapy (LRT) for bridging patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to liver transplant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 88 patients who received percutaneous MW ablation for 141 tumors as first-line LRT for HCC and listed for liver transplantation at a single medical center between 2011 and 2019. Overall survival rate status-post liver transplant, waitlist retention and disease progression were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier techniques.

RESULTS

Of 88 patients (72M, 16F, mean age 60 years, MELD=11.2) listed for transplant, median waitlist time was 9.4 months (IQR: 5.5 - 18.9). Seventy-one patients (80.7%) received transplant after median wait time of 8.5 months. Seventeen patients (19.3%) were removed from the waitlist, four (4.5%) due to tumors outside of the Milan criteria (HCC-specific dropout). No difference in tumor size or AFP was seen in transplanted vs. non-transplanted patients at time of ablation (2.1 vs. 2.1 cm and 34.4 vs. 34.7 ng/mL for transplanted vs. non-transplanted, respectively, p>0.05). Five of 88 patients (5.1%) experienced adverse events after ablation; however, all recovered. There were no cases of tract seeding. The local tumor progression (LTP) rate was 7.2%. The overall survival status-post liver transplant at 5-years was 76.7% and the disease-specific survival after LT was 89.6% with a median follow-up of 61 months for all patients.

CONCLUSION

MW ablation appears to be safe and effective for bridging patients with HCC to liver transplant without waitlist removal from seeding, adverse events, or local tumor progression.

Radiofrequency ablation in the management of primary hepatic and biliary tumors

In the United States, 80%-90% of primary hepatic tumors are hepatocellular carcinomas and 10%-15% are cholangiocarcinomas (CCA), both with high mortality rate, particularly CCA, which portends a worse prognosis. Traditional management with surgery has good outcomes in appropriately selected patients; however, novel ablative treatment options have emerged, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which can improve the prognosis of both hepatic and biliary tumors. RFA is aimed to generate an area of necrosis within the targeted tissue by applying thermal therapy via an electrode, with a goal to completely eradicate the tumor while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Role of RFA in management of hepatic and biliary tumors forms the focus of our current mini-review article.

Role of Pretransplant Treatments for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Waiting for Liver Transplantation

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in men worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death. Liver transplantation (LT) is one of the treatment options for patients with HCC. Recently, there have been many reports of the usefulness of locoregional therapy, such as transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation, for HCC as pretreatment before LT. In Western countries, locoregional therapy is used to bridge until transplantation to prevent drop-outs from the waiting list or for downstaging to treat patients with advanced HCC who initially exceed the criteria for LT. With the progress of locoregional therapy, new reports on the effects of bridging and downstaging locoregional therapy as pretransplant treatment are increasing in number.

Abstract

Recently, there have been many reports of the usefulness of locoregional therapy such as transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as pretreatment before liver transplantation (LT). Locoregional therapy is performed with curative intent in Japan, where living donor LT constitutes the majority of LT due to the critical shortage of deceased donors. However, in Western countries, where deceased donor LT is the main procedure, LT is indicated for early-stage HCC regardless of liver functional reserve, and locoregional therapy is used for bridging until transplantation to prevent drop-outs from the waiting list or for downstaging to treat patients with advanced HCC who initially exceed the criteria for LT. There are many reports of the effect of bridging and downstaging locoregional therapy before LT, and its indications and efficacy are becoming clear. Responses to locoregional therapy, such as changes in tumor markers, the avidity of FDG-PET, etc., are considered useful for successful bridging and downstaging. In this review, the effects of bridging and downstaging locoregional therapy as a pretransplant treatment on the results of transplantation are clarified, focusing on recent reports.

Locoregional Treatments for Bridging and Downstaging HCC to Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) is the first-line treatment for patients diagnosed with unresectable early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the setting of cirrhosis. It is well known that HCC patients within the Milan criteria (solitary tumour ≤ 5 cm or ≤3 tumours, each <3 cm) could undergo LT with excellent results. However, there is a growing tendency to enlarge inclusion criteria since the Milan criteria are nowadays considered too restrictive and may exclude patients who would benefit from LT. On the other hand, there is a persistent shortage of donor organs. In this scenario, there is consensus about the role of loco-regional therapy (LRT) during the waiting list to select patients who would benefit more from LT, reducing the risk of drop off from the waiting list as well as decreasing tumour dimension to meet acceptable criteria for LT. In this review, current evidence on the safety, efficacy and utility of LRTs as neoadjuvant therapies before LT are summarized.

Current epidemiology in hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world.

AREAS COVERED

This review will discuss risk factors, demographic differences, global trends, and the economic burden of HCC. Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, is the most common underlying liver disease leading to HCC in those with cirrhosis. Other important risk factors include alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, etc. With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C virus infection, routine vaccination against HBV, and increasing support for robust public screening programs, the incidence rates for HCC due to viral hepatitis is falling in many countries. Meanwhile, the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome are on the rise, as is NAFLD-related HCC incidence. Asia and Africa have the highest incidence rates of HCC. In multiethnic countries, racial and ethnic minorities experience disparities in HCC incidence as well as mortality, representing an essential area for improvement in terms of healthcare inequity.

EXPERT OPINION

Interventions to minimize the global burden of HCC aim to reduce rates of the most common risk factors and implement effective treatment of underlying etiology and comprehensive screening programs for HCC.

Clinical Outcomes of Ablation Compared with Resection for Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma Lesions, as a Primary Treatment or Bridging to Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Background

Ablative therapies (AT) are widely utilized as bridging treatment for liver transplantation (LT) candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are on the transplant waiting list to minimize dropout rate. We aimed to investigate whether AT could be considered a primary treatment modality for LT candidates with single, small HCC lesions.

Material/Methods

We retrospectively investigated the outcomes of patients with AT for single HCC lesions as primary treatment or bridging to LT between 2010 and 2017, compared with surgical resection (SR) during the same time period as control. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. Matched analysis, after propensity score matching (PSM), was performed to minimize the selection bias confounding effect on outcomes.

Results

Of 162 patients identified, 92 received AT and 70 had SR. PSM identified 38 paired matches in each group. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) before matching showed comparable outcomes for each treatment after 1, 3, and 5 years. Multivariate analysis using Cox regression models adjusting the study confounders showed lesion size (>30 mm), not treatment received, was associated with worse DFS (hazard ratio, 2.21 [95% confidence interval, 1.14–4.28]). In the matched groups, OS and DFS were equivalent and consistent with the whole-cohort survival outcomes. Explant histopathology of patients having AT as a bridge to LT showed complete pathological response in 85.7% of patients.

Conclusions

This study supports the use of AT with curative intent for single ≤3-cm HCCs, particularly in LT candidates, with salvage transplantation kept as a backup in case of recurrence.

A review on radiofrequency, microwave and high-intensity focused ultrasound ablations for hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis

Importance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually accompanied by liver cirrhosis, which makes treatment of this disease challenging. Liver transplantation theoretically provides an ultimate solution to the disease, but the maximal surgical stress and the scarcity of liver graft make this treatment option impossible for some patients. In an ideal situation, a treatment that is safe and effective should provide a better outcome for patients with the dilemma.

Objective

This article aims to give a comprehensive review of various types of loco-ablative treatment for HCC.

Evidence Review

Loco-ablative treatment bridges the gap between surgical resection and transarterial chemotherapy. Various types of ablative therapy have their unique ability, and evidence-based outcome analysis is the most important key to assisting clinicians to choose the most suitable treatment modality for their patients.

Findings

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has a relatively longer history and more evidence to support its effectiveness. Microwave ablation (MWA) is gaining momentum because of its shorter ablation time and consistent ablation zone. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation is a relatively new technology that provides non-invasive treatment for patients with HCC. It has been carried out at centers of excellence and it is a safe and effective treatment option for selected patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis.

Conclusion and Relevance

Selective use of different loco-ablative therapies will enhance clinicians' treatment options for treatment of HCC.

Preoperative immune landscape predisposes adverse outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with liver transplantation

Immune class in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been shown to possess immunogenic power; however, how preestablished immune landscapes in premalignant and early HCC stages impact the clinical outcomes of HCC patients remains unexplored. We sequenced bulk transcriptomes for 62 malignant tumor samples from a Korean HCC cohort in which 38 patients underwent total hepatectomy, as well as for 15 normal and 47 adjacent nontumor samples. Using in silico deconvolution of expression mixtures, 22 immune cell fractions for each sample were inferred, and validated with immune cell counting by immunohistochemistry. Cell type-specific immune signatures dynamically shifted from premalignant stages to the late HCC stage. Total hepatectomy patients displayed elevated immune infiltration and prolonged disease-free survival compared to the partial hepatectomy patients. However, patients who exhibited an infiltration of regulatory T cells (Tregs) during the pretransplantation period displayed a high risk of tumor relapse with suppressed immune responses, and pretreatment was a potential driver of Treg infiltration in the total hepatectomy group. Treg infiltration appeared to be independent of molecular classifications based on transcriptomic data. Our study provides not only comprehensive immune signatures in adjacent nontumor lesions and early malignant HCC stages but also clinical guidance for HCC patients who will undergo liver transplantation.

Evaluation of LI-RADS Version 2018 Treatment Response Algorithm for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Transplant Candidates: Intraindividual Comparison between CT and Hepatobiliary Agent-enhanced MRI

Background The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), version 2018, treatment response algorithm (TRA) is used to assess hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after local-regional therapy (LRT). However, its diagnostic performance has not yet been fully compared between CT and hepatobiliary agent (HBA)-enhanced MRI in patients who have undergone liver transplant (LT). Purpose To compare the diagnostic performance of LI-RADS TRA when using CT versus using HBA-enhanced MRI in an intraindividual manner according to pathologic results. Materials and Methods Between January 2011 and September 2019, 165 patients with 237 clinically suspected HCCs underwent LRT followed by LT and were retrospectively included. All patients underwent both CT and HBA-enhanced MRI after LRT and before LT. Three radiologists independently assessed tumor viability with both modalities by using LI-RADS TRA and reached a consensus. Pathologic tumor viability categorized as either completely (100%) or incompletely (<100%) necrotic obtained from the explanted liver served as the reference standard. Sensitivity and specificity of the LI-RADS TRA in the consensus reading were then compared between CT and HBA-enhanced MRI by using the ratio estimator approach. Interobserver agreements were calculated by using Fleiss κ statistics. Results There were 165 patients (mean age, 62 years ± 9 [standard deviation]; 135 men) with a total of 237 lesions, of which 107 were viable tumors (45.1%) at pathologic evaluation. With the LI-RADS TRA, sensitivity and specificity of the viable category for detection of viable HCCs at pathologic evaluation were 42.1% (45 of 107 lesions) and 95.4% (124 of 130 lesions) with CT and 52.3% (56 of 107 lesions) and 93.9% (122 of 130 lesions) with HBA-enhanced MRI, with a significant difference in sensitivity but not specificity (P = .009 and P = .42, respectively). Interobserver agreements for the LI-RADS TRA were substantial for both CT and HBA-enhanced MRI (κ, 0.69 for both). Conclusion In patients who underwent local-regional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplant, hepatobiliary agent-enhanced MRI was more sensitive than CT in evaluating tumor viability with the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, version 2018, treatment response algorithm. ©RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Bashir and Mendiratta-Lala in this issue.

Interreader Reliability of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

For a proper management strategy in patients with locoregionally treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is essential that the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) treatment response algorithm (LR-TR) has high interreader reliability. We aimed to systematically evaluate the interreader reliability of LR-TR and sources of any study heterogeneity.

METHODS

Original studies reporting the interreader reliability of LR-TR were identified in MEDLINE and EMBASE up to 20 September 2020. The pooled kappa coefficient (κ) was calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed according to imaging modality (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT)). Meta-regression analyses were performed to explore study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Eight studies with 851 HCCs were finally included. Pooled κ was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.58-0.82) for CT/MRI LR-TR, and those of MRI and CT were 0.71 (95% CI, 0.53-0.89) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65-0.78), respectively. Study design (p < 0.001) and type of treatment (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with substantial study heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

LR-TR showed substantial interreader reliability regardless of the imaging modality. Because of substantial study heterogeneity, which was significantly associated with study design and type of treatment, published values for the interreader reliability of LR-TR should be interpreted with care.

Axitinib in combination with radiotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase I clinical trial

BACKGROUND

To investigate maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of axitinib, a selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1-3 inhibitor, in combination with radiotherapy (RT) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

This phase I study followed the rule of traditional 3 + 3 design. Major eligibility included: (1) patients with advanced HCC unsuitable for surgery, radiofrequency ablation or transarterial chemoembolization, or who failed after prior local-regional treatment; (2) failure on sorafenib or no grant for sorafenib from health insurance system. Eligible patients with advanced HCC received axitinib for total 8 weeks during and after RT. Three cohorts with axitinib dose escalation were planned: 1 mg twice daily (level I), 2 mg twice daily (level II) and 3 mg twice daily (level III). The prescribed doses of RT ranged from 37.5 to 67.5 Gy in 15 fractions to liver tumor(s) and were determined based on an upper limit of mean liver dose of 18 Gy (intended isotoxic RT for normal liver). The primary endpoint was MTD of axitinib in combination with RT. The secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), RT in-field response rate, acute and late toxicities, overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Total nine eligible patients received axitinib dose levels of 1 mg twice daily (n = 3), 2 mg twice daily (n = 3) and 3 mg twice daily (n = 3). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) did not occur in the 3 cohorts; the MTD was defined as 3 mg twice daily in this study. ORR was 66.7%, including 3 complete responses and 3 partial responses, at 3 months after treatment initiation. With a median follow-up of 16.6 months, median OS was not reached, 1-year OS was 66.7%, and median PFS was 7.4 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Axitinib in combination with RT for advanced HCC was well tolerated with an axitinib MTD of 3 mg twice daily in this study. The outcome analysis should be interpreted with caution due to the small total cohort. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02814461), Registered June 27, 2016-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02814461.

Histological Correlation for Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation in the Local Control of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) before Liver Transplantation: A Comprehensive Review

Simple Summary

Liver cancer is a growing problem around the world. Drugs for liver cancer have limited effect, there are not enough donors for liver transplants and many patients are not candidates for surgery to remove the tumor. In many of these cases, hyperthermia can destroy the tumor in situ with minimally invasive methods such as radiofrequency or microwave ablation. In this paper we review the literature evaluating success rates for complete ablation as judged by actual examination of treated tumors that were removed when patients received a liver transplant. While notable successes can be achieved with ablation, the published studies indicate both that complete treatment is not as common as thought and that imaging methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance scans do not completely identify residual cancer. There is therefore an important opportunity for improvement in the treatment of this disease.

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are the most widely studied and applied ablation techniques for treating primary and secondary liver tumors. These techniques are considered curative for small hepatic tumors, with post-ablation outcomes most commonly assessed by an imaging follow up. However, there is increasing evidence of a discrepancy between radiological and pathological findings when ablated lesions are evaluated following liver resection or liver transplantation. A comprehensive review of the available literature reporting the complete pathological response (cPR) following RFA and MWA was performed to estimate the success rate and identify the factors associated with treatment failure. Following RFA, cPR is reported in 26–96% of tumors compared to 57–95% with MWA. Larger tumor size and vessels larger than 3 mm adjacent to the treated tumor are the most important factors identified by previous studies associated with viable residual tumors after RFA. Correlating post-ablation radiological studies with pathological findings shows that computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have low sensitivity but high specificity for detecting residual viable or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors. There are promising recent reports combining multiprobe ablation techniques with three-dimensional treatment planning software and stereotactic-aiming instrumentation to achieve more than 90% cPR in both small and large HCC tumors. In conclusion, the reported success for achieving cPR in HCC following RFA and MWA is highly variable in different studies and decreases with increasing lesion size and unfavorable tumor characteristics. Very few studies have reported a high rate of cPR. As these studies are single-center and retrospective, they need to be further validated and reproduced in other clinical settings.

Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Beyond the University of California San Francisco Criteria: A Single-center Experience

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant liver tumor. Currently, liver transplantation may be the optimal treatment for HCC in cirrhotic patients. Patient selection is currently based on tumor size. We developed a program to offer liver transplantation to selected patients with HCC outside of traditional criteria.

METHODS

Retrospective review for patients transplanted with HCC between April 2008 and June 2017. Patients were grouped by tumor size according to Milan, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), and outside UCSF criteria. Patient demographics, laboratory values, and outcomes were compared. Patients radiographically outside Milan criteria were selected based on tumor control with locoregional therapy (LRT) and 9 months of stability from LRT. α-fetoprotein values were not exclusionary.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty HCC patients were transplanted, 138 inside Milan, 23 inside UCSF, and 59 beyond UCSF criteria. Patient survival was equivalent at 1, 3, or 5 years despite pathologic tumor size. Waiting time to transplantation was not significantly different at an average of 344 days. In patients outside UCSF, tumor recurrence was equivalent to Milan and UCSF criteria recipients who waited >9 months from LRT. Although tumor recurrence was more likely in outside of UCSF patients (3% versus 9% versus 15%; P = 0.02), recurrence-free survival only trended toward significance among the groups (P = 0.053).

CONCLUSIONS

Selective patients outside of traditional size criteria can be effectively transplanted with equivalent survival to patients with smaller tumors, even when pathologic tumor burden is considered. Tumor stability over time can be used to help select patients for transplantation.

Outcomes After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy as a Bridging Modality to Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation (LT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a bridging treatment to ensure patients maintain priority status and eligibility per Milan criteria. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of SBRT in such situations.

Methods and Materials

A retrospective analysis was conducted of the outcomes of 27 patients treated with SBRT who were listed for LT at 1 institution. Among these, 20 patients with 26 tumors went on to LT and were the focus of this study. Operative reports and postoperative charts were evaluated for potential radiation-related complications. The explant pathology findings were correlated with equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions and tumor size.

Results

Median pretreatment tumor size was 3.05 cm. Median total dose of radiation was 50 Gy delivered in 5 fractions. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 16 tumors (62%). Median interval from end of SBRT to transplant was 287 days. Of the 21 tumors imaged before transplant, 16 or 76% demonstrated a clinical complete response based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. There was no significant correlation between pCR rate and increasing tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.595-1.53) or pCR rate and equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (OR, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.984-1.07.) No patients experienced radiation-related operative or postoperative complications. Of the 27 patients who were listed for transplant, the dropout rate was 22%. Two of the 5 patients with Child-Pugh score 10 died of liver failure.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that SBRT as a bridging modality is a feasible option, with a pCR rate comparable to that of other bridging modalities and no additional radiation-related operative or postoperative complications. There was no dose dependence nor size dependence for pCR rate, which may indicate that for the tumor sizes in this study, the radiation doses delivered were sufficiently high.

Comparison of Wait-List Mortality Between Cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Liver Transplant Candidates

Despite the divergent disease biology of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), wait-list prioritization is identical for both diagnoses. We compared wait-list and posttransplant outcomes between CCA and HCC liver transplantation patients with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease exceptions using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data. The 408 CCA candidates listed between 2003 and mid-2017 were matched to 2 HCC cohorts by listing date (±2 months, n = 816) and by Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) region and date (±6 months, n = 408). Cumulative incidence competing risk regression examined the effects of diagnosis, OPTN region, and center-level CCA listing volume on wait-list removal due to death/being too ill (dropout). Cox models evaluated the effects of diagnosis, OPTN region, center-level CCA volume, and waiting time on graft failure among deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients. After adjusting for OPTN region and CCA listing volume (all P ≥ 0.07), both HCC cohorts had a reduced likelihood of wait-list dropout compared with CCA candidates (HCC with period matching only: subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43-0.93; P = 0.02 and HCC with OPTN region and period matching: SHR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.41-0.87; P = 0.007). The cumulative incidence rates of wait-list dropout at 6 and 12 months were 13.2% (95% CI, 10.0%-17.0%) and 23.9% (95% CI, 20.0%-29.0%) for CCA candidates, 7.3% (95% CI, 5.0%-10.0%) and 12.7% (95% CI, 10.0%-17.0%) for HCC candidates with region and listing date matching, and 7.1% (95% CI, 5.0%-9.0%) and 12.6% (95% CI, 10.0%-15.0%) for HCC candidates with listing date matching only. Additionally, HCC DDLT recipients had a 57% reduced risk of graft failure compared with CCA recipients (P < 0.001). Waiting time was unrelated to graft failure (P = 0.57), and there was no waiting time by diagnosis cohort interaction effect (P = 0.47). When identically prioritized, LT candidates with CCA have increased wait-list dropout compared with those with HCC. More granular data are necessary to discern ways to mitigate this wait-list disadvantage and improve survival for patients with CCA.

Iodine-125 Brachytherapy Can Prolong Progression-Free Survival of Patients with Locoregional Recurrence and/or Residual Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited by locoregional recurrence and/or residual tumors caused by incomplete ablation. Iodine-125 brachytherapy can achieve a high local control rate in solid carcinoma, but few studies have assessed the efficacy of this treatment for locoregional recurrence and/or residual HCC after RFA. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of iodine-125 brachytherapy for treating locoregional recurrence and/or residual HCC in patients treated with RFA. Methods: Eligible study patients were those with locoregional recurrence and/or residual HCC on abdominal imaging performed 1 month after RFA at this institution between February 2009 and September 2014 retrospectively. Patients were divided into either the control group (no treatment until the tumor progressed) or the treatment group (underwent iodine-125 brachytherapy). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and complications of iodine-125 brachytherapy were evaluated. Results: A total of 42 patients were included in the final analysis, including 29 in the control group and 13 in the treatment group. A total of 457 iodine-125 particles were used (mean 32.8 ± 21.3 mCi per case). The median follow-up time was 25 months. Median PFS was 9 months in the control group and 18 months in the treatment group (p = 0.026). The median OS was 28 months in the control group and 33 months in the treatment group (p = 0.441). There were no major complications observed in patients treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy. Conclusion: Iodine-125 brachytherapy can prolong PFS in patients with locoregional recurrence and/or residual HCC after RFA.

Ablative therapies for hepatic and biliary tumors: endohepatology coming of age

Ablative therapies refer to minimally invasive procedures performed to destroy abnormal tissue that may arise with many conditions, and can be achieved clinically using chemical, thermal, and other techniques. In this review article, we explore the different ablative therapies used in the management of hepatic and biliary malignancies, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), with a particular focus on radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) techniques.

Validation of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response Criteria After Thermal Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors can be successfully eradicated with thermal ablation (TA). We assessed the validity of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response (LR-TR) criteria with a retrospective analysis of a single-center database of patients with small HCC tumors (<3 cm in diameter) who underwent both laparoscopic TA and liver transplantation (LT) from 2004 to 2018. Postablation MRIs were assigned LR-TR categories (nonviable, equivocal, and viable) for ablated lesions and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categories (probable or definite HCC) for untreated lesions. Interpretations were compared with the histopathology of the post-LT explanted liver. There were 45 patients with 81 tumors (59 ablated and 22 untreated; mean size, 2.2 cm), and 23 (39%) of the ablated tumors had viable HCC on histopathology. The sensitivity/specificity of LR-TR categories (nonviable/equivocal versus viable) of ablated tumors was 30%/99%, with a positive predictive value (PPV)/negative predictive value (NPV) of 93%/69%. The sensitivity varied with residual tumor size. The sensitivity/specificity of LI-RADS 4 and 5 diagnostic criteria at detecting new HCC was 65%/94%, respectively, with a PPV/NPV of 85%/84%. The interrater reliability (IRR) was high for LR-TR categories (90% agreement, Cohen's ĸ = 0.75) and for LI-RADS LR-4 and LR-5 diagnostic categories (91% agreement, Cohen's ĸ = 0.80). In patients with HCC <3 cm in diameter, LR-TR criteria after TA had high IRR but low sensitivity, suggesting that the LR-TR categories are precise but inaccurate. The low sensitivity may be secondary to TA's disruption in the local blood flow of the tissue, which could affect the arterial enhancement phase on MRI. Additional investigation and new technologies may be necessary to improve imaging after ablation.

Outcomes associated with the intention of loco-regional therapy prior to living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Loco-regional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the period awaiting liver transplantation (LT) appears to be a logical approach to reduce the risk of tumor progression and dropout in the waitlist. Living donor LT (LDLT) offers a flexible timing for transplantation providing timeframe for well preparation of transplantation.

AIM

To investigate outcomes in relation to the intention of pre-transplantation loco-regional therapy in LDLT for HCC patients.

METHODS

A total of 308 consecutive patients undergoing LDLTs for HCC between August 2004 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the intention of loco-regional therapy prior to LT, and outcomes of patients were analyzed and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 38 patients (12.3%) were detected with HCC recurrence during the follow-up period after LDLT. Patients who were radiologically beyond the University of California at San Francisco criteria and received loco-regional therapy as down-staging therapy had significant inferior outcomes to other groups for both recurrence-free survival (RFS, P < 0.0005) and overall survival (P = 0.046). Moreover, patients with defined profound tumor necrosis (TN) by loco-regional therapy had a superior RFS (5-year of 93.8%) as compared with others (P = 0.010).

CONCLUSION

LDLT features a flexible timely transplantation for patient with HCC. However, the loco-regional therapy prior to LDLT does not seem to provide benefit unless a certain effect in terms of profound TN is noted.

Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Histopathological Study in Explanted Livers

This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D)-navigated multiprobe radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with intraprocedural image fusion for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by histopathological examination. From 2009 to 2018, 97 patients (84 men, 13 women; median age, 60 years; range, 1-71) were transplanted after bridging therapy of 195 HCCs by stereotactic RFA (SRFA). The median interval between the first SRFA and transplantation was 6.8 months (range, 0-71). The rate of residual vital tissue (RVT) could be assessed in 188 of 195 lesions in 96 of 97 patients by histological examination of the explanted livers using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Tdt-mediated UTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) stains. Histopathological results were compared with the findings of the last computed tomography (CT) imaging before liver transplantation (LT). Median number and size of treated tumors were 1 (range, 1-8) and 2.5 cm (range, 1-8). Complete radiological response was achieved in 186 of 188 nodules (98.9%) and 94 of 96 patients (97.9%) and complete pathological response in the explanted liver specimen in 183 of 188 nodules (97.3%) and 91 of 96 patients (94.8%), respectively. In lesions ≥3 cm, complete tumor cell death was achieved in 50 of 52 nodules (96.2%). Residual tumor did not correlate with tumor size (P = 0.5). Conclusion: Multiprobe SRFA with intraprocedural image fusion represents an efficient, minimally invasive therapy for HCC, even with tumor sizes larger than 3 cm, and without the need of a combination with additional treatments. The results seem to justify the additional efforts related to the stereotactic approach.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related mortality for which liver resection is an important curative-intent treatment option. However, many patients present with advanced disease and with underlying chronic liver disease and/or cirrhosis, limiting the proportion of patients who are surgical candidates. In addition, the development of recurrent or de novo cancers following surgical resection is common. These issues have led investigators to evaluate the benefit of neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies aimed at improving resectability rates and decreasing recurrence rates. While high-level evidence to guide treatment decision making is lacking, recent advances in locoregional and systemic therapies, including antiviral treatment and immunotherapy, raise the prospect of novel approaches that may improve the outcomes of patients with HCC. In this review, we evaluate the evidence for various neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies and discuss opportunities for future clinical and translational research.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Where do we stand?

Hepatocellular carcinoma represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Liver transplantation is a key tool for the treatment of this disease in human therefore hepatocellular carcinoma is increasing as primary indication for grafting. Although liver transplantation represents an outstanding therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, due to organ shortage, the careful selection and management of patients who may have a major survival benefit after grafting remains a fundamental question. In fact, only some stages of the disease seem amenable of this therapeutic option, stimulating the debate on the appropriate criteria to select candidates. In this review we focused on current criteria to select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for liver transplantation as well as on the strategies (bridging) to avoid disease progression and exclusion from grafting during the stay on wait list. The treatments used to bring patients within acceptable criteria (down-staging), when their tumor burden exceeds the standard criteria for transplant, are also reported. Finally, we examined tumor reappearance following liver transplantation. This occurrence is estimated to be approximately 8%-20% in different studies. The possible approaches to prevent this outcome after transplant are reported with the corresponding results.

Treatment Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma ⁻ a Multidisciplinary Approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver and its mortality is third among all solid tumors, behind carcinomas of the lung and the colon. Despite continuous advancements in the management of this disease, the prognosis for HCC remains inferior compared to other tumor entities. While orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and surgical resection are the only two curative treatment options, OLT remains the best treatment strategy as it not only removes the tumor but cures the underlying liver disease. As the applicability of OLT is nowadays limited by organ shortage, major liver resections—even in patients with underlying chronic liver disease—are adopted increasingly into clinical practice. Against the background of the oftentimes present chronical liver disease, locoregional therapies have also gained increasing significance. These strategies range from radiofrequency ablation and trans-arterial chemoembolization to selective internal radiation therapy and are employed in both curative and palliative intent, individually, as a bridging to transplant or in combination with liver resection. The choice of the appropriate treatment, or combination of treatments, should consider the tumor stage, the function of the remaining liver parenchyma, the future liver remnant volume and the patient’s general condition. This review aims to address the topic of multimodal treatment strategies in HCC, highlighting a multidisciplinary treatment approach to further improve outcome in these patients.

Assessment of Radiofrequency Ablation Efficacy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Histology and Pretransplant Radiology

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represents a potentially curative option for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims at evaluating the histologic response after RFA of small HCCs arising in cirrhosis. Data were reviewed from 78 patients with de novo HCCs who were treated with RFA and subsequently transplanted. The last radiological assessment before liver transplantation (LT) was used for comparison between modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) and histological findings. A total of 125 de novo HCCs (median diameter, 20 mm) were treated with RFA only in 92 sessions. There were 98 nodules that did not show local recurrence during follow-up (78.4%), and the remaining were retreated, except 1 because of subsequent LT. On explanted livers, complete pathological response (CPR) was observed in 61.6%, being 76.9% when <2 cm, 55.0% when 2-3 cm, and 30.8% when >3 cm. Tumors near hepatic vessels had CPR in 50% of patients versus 69.3% for tumors distant from vessels (P = 0.039). Of the 125 HCCs, 114 had available radiological assessment within a median of 3 months before LT. Complete radiological response, according to mRECIST, was observed in 77.2% of nodules before LT. The Cohen κ was 0.48 (moderate agreement). The overall accuracy was 78.1%. A total of 18 complications were recorded with only 1 graded as major. In conclusion, RFA can provide high CPR for HCC, especially in smaller tumors distant from hepatic veins or portal branches. The agreement between mRECIST and histology is only moderate. Further refinements in radiological assessment are essential to accurately assess the true effectiveness of RFA.

Irreversible Electroporation as a Bridge to Liver Transplantation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in proximity to major hepatic vasculature poses a risk for invasion, which would contraindicate liver transplantation, yet, is difficult to treat with thermal ablation. This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of irreversible electroporation (IRE) as a bridge to transplantation for high-risk tumors. All patients with HCC in proximity to major hepatic vasculature treated with laparoscopic IRE as bridge to transplantation were studied. Patient and tumor characteristics, length of stay, and treatment-related complications were recorded. Tumor response was assessed with CT and explant pathology. Five patients with a median Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) of 13 (7–21) underwent IRE. The median tumor size was 2.7 cm (1.5–3.7 cm). Adjacent structures included the right portal vein, hepatic veins/inferior vena cava (IVC) and left portal vein. Length of stay was one day for all patients. One patient suffered portal vein thrombosis. The transplant occurred at a median of 142 days (47–264) after IRE. Pathologic necrosis ranged from 30 to 100 per cent, without any vascular invasion. Four patients remain alive with no evidence of disease with median follow-up of 403 (227–623) days. The remaining patients died because of transplant-related complications onpost IRE day 297. IRE shows promise as a bridge to liver transplant for high risk HCC in a preliminary series, justifying further prospective evaluation.

Regional therapies for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic tumors: A disease-based review of techniques and critical appraisal of current evidence

The practice of hepatic surgery has become increasingly complex as additional therapeutic options emerge to treat both primary and metastatic tumors of the liver. Liver-directed therapy options include selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy, chemoembolization, bland embolization, hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), and ablative techniques such as microwave or radiofrequency ablation. Hepatocellular carcinoma has been treated with many of these therapies for palliation of symptoms, definitive treatment, and as a bridge to transplantation. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, particularly patients with unresectable disease, have demonstrated clinical responses to both SIRT as well as HAIC. Colorectal liver metastases have been treated with all of these techniques with varying degrees of success depending on the clinical scenario. A detailed understanding of these technologies and the evidence supporting their use is essential for the modern hepatic surgeon to properly sequence therapies and provide salvage options when first-line treatment has failed. This review describes these techniques and their appropriate usage based on the disease of interest and the respective evidence currently available.

Feasibility and outcomes of percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in a transplanted allograft

PURPOSE

To examine the safety, feasibility, and oncologic control following percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a transplanted allograft.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective review was performed to identify patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCC and subsequently underwent percutaneous hepatic thermal ablation for recurrent HCC within the allograft between January 1st, 2000-September 1st, 2016. Eleven patients with hepatic allograft HCC underwent twelve percutaneous thermal ablation procedures to treat 16 lesions. Patient, procedural characteristics, and local oncologic efficacy were reviewed. Complications were characterized via the Common Terminology for Clinically Adverse Events nomenclature [CTCAE] v4.03).

RESULTS

Eleven transplant recipients underwent treatment of 16 HCC tumors in their allografts during 12 ablation sessions. Mean follow-up time was 25 months (range 2-96 months). Local oncologic control was achieved in 10 of 11 tumors (91%) with imaging follow-up. One patient (8%) with Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction developed a major complication with hepatic abscess.

CONCLUSION

Thermal ablation of recurrent HCC in transplanted allografts can be accomplished safely with acceptable rates of local control for patients with duct-to-duct biliary reconstruction. Due to the high number of patients deemed surgically unresectable, the morbidity of surgical resection, the side effects of targeted therapies, and significant mortality associated with recurrences in the transplanted allograft, patients may benefit from percutaneous thermal ablative treatments. Further study is needed to assess the role of thermal ablation in allograft HCC recurrences as primary therapy or in a multimodality approach with emerging systemic therapies.

Chinese Herbal Medicine, Jian Pi Li Gan Decoction, Improved Survival of Nonresectable Hepatocellular Cancer After Radiofrequency Ablation: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Jian Pi Li Gan Decoction (JPLGD) on long-term survival of nonresectable hepatocellular cancer (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

METHODS

Between January 2010 and February 2013, 95 patients with nonresectable HCC treated by RFA in our hospital were enrolled, of whom 47 patients received JPLGD accompanying RFA (JPLGD group), and 48 patients received RFA alone (control group). Medical records of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Long-term survival, complication, and treatment event were compared.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics did not differ between the 2 groups. No significant adverse effects or toxicities related to herbal medicine were found. The JPLGD group had significantly less liver failure (3/47 vs 10/48, P = .0405) and a higher treatment success rate than the control group (44/47 vs 37/48, P = .0230). The 3-year overall survival probability was significantly higher in the JPLGD group ( P = .0175).

CONCLUSION

JPLGD has the potential to effectively and safely improve long-term survival of nonresectable HCC by increasing treatment success of RFA.

Liver targeted therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma prior to transplant: contemporary management strategies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive neoplastic disease that has been rapidly increasing in incidence. It usually occurs in the background of liver disease, and cirrhosis. Definitive therapy requires surgical resection. However, in majority of cases surgical resection is not tolerated, especially in the presence of portal hypertension and cirrhosis. Orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in well selected candidates has been accepted as a viable option. Due to a relative scarcity of donors compared to the number of listed recipients, long waiting times are anticipated. To prevent patients with HCC from dropping out from the transplant list due to progression of their disease, most centers utilize loco-regional therapies. These loco-regional therapies(LRT) include minimally invasive treatments like percutaneous thermal ablation, trans-arterial chemoembolization, trans-arterial radio-embolization or a combination thereof. The type of therapy or combination used is determined by the size and location of the HCC and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification. The data regarding the efficacy of LRT in reducing post-transplant recurrence or disease-free survival is limited. This article reviews the available therapies, their strengths, limitations, and current use in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting transplant.

Percutaneous Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to discuss the use, comparative efficacy, and general technical considerations of percutaneous ablation, alone or in combination with other therapies, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous ablation is a mainstay treatment for early-stage HCC, offering survival comparable to that of surgical resection for small lesions. It can act as a primary curative therapy or bridge therapy for patients waiting to undergo liver transplant. New ablation modalities and combining tumor ablation with other therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization, can improve clinical outcomes and allow treatment of larger lesions. Combining thermal ablation with systemic chemotherapy, including immunotherapy, is an area of future development.

Current and Future Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. The principal treatment is surgical resection or liver transplantation, depending on whether the patient is a suitable transplant candidate. However, in most patients with HCC the diagnosis is often late, thereby excluding the patients from definitive surgical resection. Medical treatment includes sorafenib, which is the most commonly used systemic therapy; although, it has been shown to only minimally impact patient survival by several months. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are generally ineffective. Due to the poor prognosis of patients with HCC, newer treatments are needed with several being in development, either in pre-clinical or clinical studies. In this review article, we provide an update on the current and future medical and surgical management of HCC.

Bridging therapies to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: A bridge to nowhere?

Backgrounds/Aims

Liver Transplantation (LT) is a recognized treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The role of Bridging Therapies (BT) remains controversial.

Methods

From January 2001 to October 2012, 192 patients were referred to the National University Hospital, Singapore for consideration of LT for HCC. Sixty-five patients (33.8%) were found suitable for transplant and were placed on the waitlist. Analysis was performed in these patients.

Results

The most common etiology of HCC was Hepatitis B (n=28, 43.1%). Thirty-six patients (55.4%) received BT. Seventeen patients (47.2%) received TACE only, while 10 patients (27.8%) received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) only. The remaining patients received a combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and RFA. Baseline tumor and patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The overall dropout rate was 44.4% and 31.0% in the BT and non-BT groups, respectively (p=0.269). The dropout rate due to disease progression beyond criteria was 6.9% (n=2) in the non-bridged group and 22.2% (n=8) in the bridged group (p=0.089). Thirty-nine patients (60%) underwent LT, of which all patients who underwent Living Donor LT did not receive BT (n=4, 21.1%, p=0.030). The median time to LT was 180 days (range, 20–558 days) in the non-BT group and 291 days (range, 17–844 days) in the BT group (p=0.214). There was no difference in survival or recurrence between the BT and non-BT groups (p=0.862).

Conclusions

BT does not influence the dropout rate or survival after LT but it should be considered in patients who are on the waitlist for more than 6 months.

Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Treatment with Yttrium-90 and Subsequent Surgical Resection

We describe a 52-year-old female patient who presented with a 9.5-cm fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FL-HCC). The patient was initially unsuitable for surgical resection and therefore underwent transarterial chemoembolization followed by selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Yttrium-90 to downsize the tumour. Following SIRT, the tumour decreased in volume from 350 to 20 cm³ allowing curative (R0) resection with an extended left hepatectomy and reconstruction of IVC. This is the first reported case of FL-HCC treated with SIRT in which, due to the good SIRT response, the patient was downsized to allow curative resection.

Pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio: useful prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Liver resection (LR) and liver transplantation (LT) are the only curative modalities for HCC. Despite recent advances and the adoption of the Milan and University of California, San Francisco, criteria, HCC recurrence after LR and LT remains a challenge. Several markers and prognostic scores have been proposed to predict tumor aggressiveness and supplement radiological data; among them, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently gained significant interest. An elevated NLR is thought to predispose to HCC recurrence by creating a protumorigenic microenvironment through both relative neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia. In the present review, we attempted to summarize the published work on the role of pretreatment NLR as a prognostic marker for HCC following LR and LT. A total of 13 LT and 18 LR studies were included from 2008 to 2015. Pretransplant NLR was most often predictive of HCC recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival. NLR was, however, more variably and less clearly associated with worse outcomes following LR.