Evolution of surgery in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma from the 1950s to the 1990s

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver resection: why deny this chance of cure?

INTRODUCTION

Liver transplantation (LT) after liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence may be associated with poor patient long-term results and higher perioperative patient morbidity and mortality. This study focused on short-term and long-term outcomes of LT recipients due to HCC recurrence after LR in a single-institution cohort, and in highly comparable case-matched subgroups.

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2009, 570 consecutive patients with documented HCC underwent LR (n=355, 62.2%) or LT (n=215, 37.8%) at our Institute. The case-matched analysis was between 2 groups: group A1, LT recipients who had already undergone LR (n=26); group B1, LT recipients who had not already undergone LR (n=26).

RESULTS

Patient morbidity was higher in the A1 group in terms of packed red blood cell units transfused, fresh frozen plasma units transfused, median operative time, postoperative bleeding, and postoperative reoperations. No differences were detected in terms of patient mortality, patient survival, and patient recurrence-free survival at the univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although LT among patients who have already undergone LR is associated with higher risk of patient morbidity, patient long-term survival and recurrence-free survival is not impaired. Therefore, there do not seem to be any valid reasons to deny the chance of LT to patients who have already undergone LR.

Survival in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after primary hepatectomy: comparative effectiveness of treatment modalities

BACKGROUND

Insufficient data are available on the survival of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after primary hepatectomy in patients receiving different treatments. We evaluated retrospectively the effects of treatment modalities on long-term survival.

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2007, 435 posthepatectomy hepatocellular carcinoma patients who developed recurrence were grouped by treatment modality into re-resection, radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and supportive treatment groups. Treatment strategies for both primary hepatocellular carcinoma and its recurrence were selected using the same criteria. Postrecurrence survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Cox proportional hazard model with adjusted independent prognostic factors. Survival rates after primary resection without recurrence were also compared.

RESULTS

In re-resection, radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and supportive treatment groups, the 2-year postrecurrence survival rates were 90%, 96%, 75%, and 20%, respectively, and the 5-year survival rates were 72%, 83%, 56%, and 0%, respectively. The adjusted hazard of death was less for the re-resection and radiofrequency ablation groups than for the transarterial chemoembolization group, and the adjusted hazard ratios for the re-resection and radiofrequency ablation groups were 0.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.98) and 0.25 (0.08-0.81), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of death for the radiofrequency ablation group compared to the re-resection group was 0.64 (0.19-2.19). Survival in the single resection group did not differ from that in the re-resection and radiofrequency ablation groups.

CONCLUSION

Postrecurrence survival in the re-resection and radiofrequency ablation groups was significantly better than that in the transarterial chemoembolization group and similar to that of patients in the primary resection without recurrence group.

Long-term outcomes after resection versus transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma within UCSF criteria

PURPOSE

We compared the long-term outcomes of resection and transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) while satisfying the University of California at San Francisco criteria.

METHODS

HCC patients who underwent liver resection (n = 746) and transplantation (n = 54) between 2001 and 2007 were reviewed. Overall and disease-free survival rates were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, and independent prognostic factors were determined using the Cox proportional regression model. The presence of cirrhosis was used to divide the patients into groups. The patients who received primary transplantation were further analyzed.

RESULTS

Nine years after surgery, the patients' overall survival was similar in the resection and transplantation groups (75.9 and 77.2%, respectively). Furthermore, the recurrence rate in the resection group was higher than that in the transplantation group (65 vs. 34.4%; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.27; range, 1.76-6.08), especially for cirrhosis patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.28; range, 2.14-8.56). The results suggested that noncirrhotic patients who underwent resection had a better survival advantage than primary liver transplant recipients did (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.46; range, 0.18-1.21). However, noncirrhotic patients had higher recurrence rates (59.2 vs. 15.8%; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.98; range, 1.26-12.58). Similar trends were noted in patients with hepatitis B virus infection and/or a single tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival rates after liver transplantation and resection were similar, but the latter was associated with a higher recurrence rate.

Selection criteria for hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma classified as Child-Pugh class B

BACKGROUND

The appropriate surgical approach for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients of Child-Pugh class B is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic factors after hepatectomy in Child-Pugh class B patients and to delineate the selection criteria for hepatectomy.

METHODS

One hundred fifty patients of Child-Pugh class B who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled in this retrospective study (Hx group). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. The prognosis was compared with that of 23 patients of Child-Pugh class B who underwent liver transplantation (LT group).

RESULTS

The overall survival rate of the Hx group was significantly worse than that of the LT group (5-year survival: 36.0 vs. 78.3%, p = 0.001). In multivariate analyses, diabetes mellitus (p = 0.011), preoperative total bilirubin level ≥ 1.5 mg/dl (p = 0.038), and Child-Pugh score of 8 or 9 (p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors. Although the overall 5-year survival rate of patients with none of the three adverse prognostic factors was only 50.3%, that of patients with one or more adverse prognostic factors was only 27.2% (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatectomy may be the optimal initial treatment for HCC patients classified as Child-Pugh class B and without any adverse prognostic factors.

Complications of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive treatment modality that induces complete coagulative necrosis of a deep tumor through the intact skin. This study was conducted to analyze and evaluate the complications of HIFU for the treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 59 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, with a total of 72 lessions were enrolled in this study. Tumor size ranged from 2.5 to 14.0 cm in diameter, with a mean diameter of 7.6 cm. All patients had accepted HIFU treatment, and the median number of HIFU sessions was 1.32 per patient. Results: The common complications from HIFU therapy were skin burns of various grades (eight cases of grade 1 skin burns, 48 of grade 2, three cases of 3), and pain in the treatment regions (15 cases of mild pain, 37 cases of moderate pain, 7 cased of severe pain). Other systemic complications were relatively rare and included fever (5 cases), hypertension (8 cases), supraventricular tachycardia (3 cases), mild impairment of hepatic function (48 cases), and mild mpairment of renal function (2 cases). Local damage consisted of acute cholecystitis (2 cases), hematuria (6 cases), cholangiectasis (5 cases), light pericardial effusion (2 cases), impairment of peripheral nerves (10 cases), pleural effusion in the right thorax (3 cases), and impairment of vertebral column (1 case). No gastric or intestinal tract perforation, big vessel rupture, or hepatic rupture occurred. Conclusions: HIFU is a minimally invasive treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; however, there are some systemic and local complications that should be taken into consideration in evaluating HIFU for therapeutic use.

Adriamycin, cisplatin, ifosfamide and paclitaxel combination as front-line chemotherapy for locally advanced and metastatic angiosarcoma. Analysis of three case reports and review of the literature

Angiosarcoma represents 1 to 2% of soft tissue tumors. It originates from endothelial cells of small blood vessels and may affect a variety of organs, including the retroperitoneum, skeletal muscle, subcutis, liver, heart and breast. The outcome of angiosarcoma is poor for those patients in whom aggressive surgery cannot be considered. Chemotherapy, generally consisting of the combination of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, has little, but consistent effect. We report three cases of angiosarcoma in which first-line chemotherapy with adriamycin 40 mg/m2 day 1, ifosfamide 3 g/m2 day 1-2, cisplatin 35 mg/m2 day 1-2 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 day 3 led to clinically meaningful responses. The clinical relevance of incorporating paclitaxel in conventional soft tissue chemotherapy schedules in the light of both literature data and our experience is discussed. We emphasize the need for designing trials specifically dedicated to angiosarcomas, as this rare and severe condition may be a target for new antiangiogenic drugs.

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term outcome and prognostic factors

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the prognostic factors for post-RFA survival rate.

METHODS

From 1999 to 2006, 266 patients with 392 HCCs underwent ultrasound guided RFA treatment. They were 216 males and 50 females, average age 59.4+/-15.4 years (24-87 years). The HCC were 1.2-6.7 cm in diameters (average 3.9+1.3 cm). There were 158 patients with single tumor, and the rest had multiple (2-5) tumors. Univariate and multivariate analysis with 19 potential variables were examined to identify prognostic factors for post-RFA survival rate.

RESULTS

The overall post-RFA survival rates at 1st, 3rd, and 5th year were 82.9%, 57.9% and 42.9%, respectively. In the 60 patients with stage I HCC (AJCC staging), the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rate were 94.8%, 76.4% and 71.6%, significantly higher than the 148 patients with stage II-IV tumors (81.8%, 57.6% and 41.2%, P=0.006). For the 58 patients with post-surgery recurrent HCC, the survival rates were 73.2%, 41.9% and 38.2% at the 1st, 3rd, and 5th year, which were significantly lower than those of stage I HCC (P=0.005). Nine potential factors were found with significant effects on survival rate, and they were number of tumors, location of tumors, pre-RFA liver function enzymes, Child-Pugh classification, AJCC staging, primary or recurrent HCC, tumor pathological grading, using mathematical protocol in RFA procedure and tumor necrosis 1 month after RFA. After multivariate analysis, three factors were identified as independent prognostic factors for survival rate, and they were Child-Pugh classification, AJCC staging and using mathematical protocol.

CONCLUSION

Identifying prognostic factors provides important information for HCC patient management before, during and after RFA. This long-term follow-up study on a large group of HCC patients confirmed that RFA could not only achieve favorable outcome on stage I HCC, but also be an effective therapy for stage II-IV or recurrent HCC.

Long-term follow-up outcome of patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

The long-term outcome of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. This study was performed to evaluate the long-term survival of patients with unresectable HCC after RFA and to identify possible factors that might affect survival. In this prospective study, 65 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent RFA were followed. A total of 84 RFA operations were performed percutaneously (n = 49), laparoscopically (n = 20), or by open surgery (n = 15), to ablate 191 tumors. Twenty-two patients died within 16 months; otherwise, the follow-up period was at least 16 months, up to 71 months, with median 20.0 months and mean (+/- standard deviation) 24.8 +/- 18.4 months for all patients. Local tumor recurrence developed in 12 of 191 tumors (6.3%) in 11 of 84 operations (13.1%), or 11 of 65 patients (16.9%). New liver and/or extrahepatic recurrence developed in 48 operations (57.1%). The overall median, mean, and 5-year survivals were 40.0 months, 33.7 +/- 2.9 months, and 39.9%. The disease-free survivals were 16.0 month, 32.9 +/- 3.0 months, and 27.9%. Factors that had a significant effect on survival outcome after RFA were TNM cancer stage and the operative approach method employed for RFA. Age, gender, race, etiology, alpha-fetoprotein, previous or subsequent treatment, and liver function (Child-Pugh class) did not affect survival. For patients with unresectable HCC, RFA is an effective and repeatable local treatment that can afford long-term survival, although often with disease recurrence.

Liver resection as a bridge to transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis: a reasonable strategy?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the viability of a strategy of primary resection with secondary liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on cirrhosis.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

LT is the optimal treatment of HCC with cirrhosis. Owing to organ shortage, liver resection is considered as a reasonable first-line treatment of patients with small HCC and good liver function, with secondary LT as a perspective in case of recurrence. The viability of such strategy, positively explored in theoretical models, is not documented in clinical practice.

METHODS

Among 358 consecutive patients with HCC on cirrhosis treated by liver resection (n = 163; 98 of whom were transplantable) or transplantation (n = 195), the feasibility and outcome of secondary transplantation was evaluated in a 2-step fashion. First, secondary LT for tumor recurrence after resection (n = 17) was compared with primary LT (n = 195), to assess the risk and the outcome of secondary LT in patients who effectively succeeded to be treated by this approach. Second, primary resection in transplantable patients (n = 98) was compared with that of primary LT (n = 195) on an intention-to-treat basis, to assess the outcome of each treatment strategy and to determine the proportion of resected patients likely to be switched for secondary LT. Transplantability of resected patients was retrospectively determined according to selection criteria of LT for HCC.

RESULTS

Operative mortality (< or =2 months) of secondary LT was significantly higher than that of primary LT (28.6% versus 2.1%; P = 0.0008) as was intraoperative bleeding (mean transfused blood units, 20.7 versus 10.5; P = 0.0001). Tumor recurrence occurred more frequently after secondary than after primary LT (54% versus 18%; P = 0.001). Posttransplant 5-year overall survival was 41% versus 61% (P = 0.03), and disease-free survival was 29% versus 58% (P = 0.003) for secondary and primary LT, respectively. Of 98 patients treated by resection while initially eligible for transplantation, only 20 (20%) were secondarily transplanted, 17 of whom (17%) for tumor recurrence and 3 (3%) for hepatic decompensation. Transplantability of tumoral recurrence was 25% (17 of 69 recurrences). Compared with primarily transplanted patients, transplantable resected patients had a decreased 5-year overall survival (50% versus 61%; P = 0.05) and disease-free survival (18% versus 58%; P < 0.0001), despite the use of secondary LT. On a multivariate analysis including 271 patients eligible for transplantation and treated by either liver resection or primary LT, liver resection alone (P < 0.0001; risk ratio [RR] = 3.27) or liver resection with secondary LT (P < 0.05; RR= 1.87) emerged as negative independent factors of disease-free survival as compared with primary LT. A number of nodules > 3 (P = 0.002; RR= 2.02) and a maximum tumor size exceeding 30 mm (P < 0.0001; RR=1.93) were also predictive of lower disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

LT after liver resection is associated with a higher operative mortality, an increased risk of recurrence, and a poorer outcome than primary LT. In addition, liver resection as a bridge to LT impairs the patient transplantability and the chance of long-term survival of cirrhotic patients with HCC. Primary LT should therefore remain the ideal choice of treatment of a cirrhotic patient with HCC, even when the tumor is resectable.

Review article: liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Despite recent advances in techniques of in situ tumour ablation, surgical therapy remains at present the mainstay treatment for primary hepatic malignancies. After an initial endeavour in the establishment of liver transplantation as a treatment option, in particular for unresectable liver tumours, only a few indications, for example early hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis, are currently agreed upon. Other indications, such as peripheral cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in noncirrhotics have largely been abandoned or are still under debate, as is the case with fibrolamellar carcinoma. The selection of patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis for liver transplantation is still based on tumour size and node number, because the current state of diagnostic imaging fails to reliably predict the most important prognostic parameter: vascular infiltration. Other selection criteria are under investigation. Studies on multimodal therapy are also underway but have not yet demonstrated a clear benefit.

Surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma: resection and ablation

In this article, the author reviews the recent advances in the surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Partial hepatic resection or, in some instances, liver transplantation provides the best chance for cure. Risk of perioperative mortality after partial hepatectomy is less than 5% in most experienced centers. Careful preoperative assessment of hepatic function is important to reduce the risk of postoperative liver failure after liver resection. Long-term outcomes after resection are comparable to those with liver transplantation, with reported 5-year survival rates of 25%-50%. Although limited controlled comparative studies exist, surgical and nonsurgical local ablative therapies, including ethanol and radiofrequency ablation, may result in survival benefit.

Intention-to-treat analysis of surgical treatment for early hepatocellular carcinoma: resection versus transplantation

Liver transplantation is proposed as the best therapy for early hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. However, the confrontation with the results obtained by surgical resection has never been done on an intention-to-treat basis. Between 1989 and 1997, 164 out of 1,265 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were evaluated for surgery. Seventy-seven (48 men, mean 61 years of age, 74 Child-Pugh class A, size 33 +/- 18 mm) were resected (first line option) and 87 (65 men, mean 55 years of age, 50 Child-Pugh class B/C, size 24 +/- 14 mm) were selected for transplantation. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year "intention-to-treat" survival was 85%, 62%, and 51% for resection and 84%, 69%, and 69% for transplantation (8 drop-outs on waiting list). Bilirubin and clinically relevant portal hypertension were independent survival predictors after resection. Thereby, the 5-year survival of the best candidates (absence of clinically relevant portal hypertension, n = 35) was 74%, whereas it was 25% for the worst candidates (portal hypertension and bilirubin >/=1 mg/dL, n = 27) (P <.00001). The variable "drop-out on waiting list" was the sole survival predictor after transplantation. The 2-year survival rate of patients evaluated for transplantation was 84% in the 1989 to 1995 period (mean waiting time, 62 days; no drop-outs) and 54% during 1996 to 1997 (mean waiting time, 162 days; 8 drop-outs)(P <.003). This outcome was significantly lower than that of the best candidates for resection (P =.002). In conclusion, a proper selection of candidates for resection promotes better results than transplantation, in which the results are significantly hampered by the growing incidence of drop-outs because of the increasing waiting time.

Cryotherapy for primary liver cancer

Between November 1973 and December 1996, the in situ freezing of tumor, i.e., cryotherapy, was performed with liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) on 235 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). There were no operative mortalities or severe complications. The 5-year survival was 39.8% for the 235 PLC patients, and 55.4% for the 80 patients with small PLC (< or = 5 cm). When analyzed with respect to treatment modalities without considering the size of the tumor, the 5-year survival was 26.9% for 78 PLC patients treated by cryotherapy alone; 39.6% for 58 PLC patients treated by cryotherapy plus hepatic artery ligation and perfusion; 46.0% for 27 PLC patients treated by cryotherapy for residual tumor plus resection of the main tumor; and 60.4% for 72 PLC patients treated by cryotherapy followed by resection of the frozen tumor. These results indicate that cryotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for PLC.

High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of experimental liver tumour

This project aimed to determine the adequacy and accuracy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for ablating experimental liver tumour, and to assess imaging methods for monitoring the therapeutic results. The rabbit liver pseudotumour model was established by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant into the liver; the animals then received HIFU therapy via laparotomy at the focal point of the beam (1.1 MHz, 500 W/cm2, 20 s). The rabbits were sacrificed at scheduled times after treatment and liver tumours were examined histologically. Sequential imaging of the liver tumour was performed before and after HIFU treatment. HIFU accurately destroyed the rabbit liver tumour and induced coagulation necrosis 24 h later. Sonographic imaging studies revealed that characteristic changes occurred. A hyperechoic mass turned to a hypoechoic lesion with no Doppler signal, and a high echogenic rim appeared 24 h after HIFU treatment, correlating well with the pathological changes of a sonoablated lesion. These results verify that HIFU has the power to ablate liver tumour quite adequately and accurately, and that sonography is useful for monitoring sonoablated liver tumour.

High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of experimental liver tumour

This project aimed to determine the adequacy and accuracy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for ablating experimental liver tumour, and to assess imaging methods for monitoring the therapeutic results. The rabbit liver pseudotumour model was established by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant into the liver; the animals then received HIFU therapy via laparotomy at the focal point of the beam (1.1 MHz, 500 W/cm2, 20 s). The rabbits were sacrificed at scheduled times after treatment and liver tumours were examined histologically. Sequential imaging of the liver tumour was performed before and after HIFU treatment. HIFU accurately destroyed the rabbit liver tumour and induced coagulation necrosis 24 h later. Sonographic imaging studies revealed that characteristic changes occurred. A hyperechoic mass turned to a hypoechoic lesion with no Doppler signal, and a high echogenic rim appeared 24 h after HIFU treatment, correlating well with the pathological changes of a sonoablated lesion. These results verify that HIFU has the power to ablate liver tumour quite adequately and accurately, and that sonography is useful for monitoring sonoablated liver tumour.

Cytoreduction and sequential resection for surgically verified unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation with analysis of 72 patients

The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was partly a result of the majority of unresectable HCCs in clinical patients. Fortunately, with the progress of regional cancer therapies and multimodality treatment, some of the localized unresectable HCCs were converted to resectable ones. During the period 1960-1994, 72 of the 663 patients with surgically verified unresectable HCCs have been converted to resectable. Successful cytoreduction with median diameter reduced from 10 cm to 5 cm was mainly a result of the triple or double combination treatment with hepatic artery ligation, hepatic artery cannulation with infusion, radioimmunotherapy, and fractionated regional radiotherapy. The interval between the first operation and the sequential resection was 5 months. The operative mortality was 1.4% for sequential resection, and the 5-year survival was 62.1%. Analysis of factor influencing sequential resection rate revealed HCCs that were single nodule, well encapsulated, situated at right lobe or hepatic hilum, associated with micronodular cirrhosis, and treated with triple or double combination modalities had higher sequential resection rate as compared to their counterparts. Analysis of factors influencing survival after sequential resection revealed that HCCs with a solitary tumor confined in one lobe, without tumor embolus, and without residual cancer in specimen of sequential resection, had longer survival. It is suggested that localized unresectable, solitary, well encapsulated, right lobe or hilar HCC, associated with micronodular cirrhosis, will be good candidates for cytoreduction and sequential resection; and HCCs with unilateral involvement, without tumor embolus, and with complete necrosis of tumor after multimodality treatment favored better prognosis.

Secondary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

Two decades have gone by since the earlier trials of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were conducted in Africa and China. It is accepted that early detection, diagnosis and treatment of HCC remains an important target to be achieved before a breakthrough appears on the primary prevention of HCC. In the present study, screening investigations were performed in a high risk population of HCC, defined as persons who had hepatitis, blood transfusions, a family history of HCC, and were hepatitis B virus carriers. Ultrasonography combined with AFP serosurvey was accepted as an effective screening procedure to detect small HCC. Early diagnosis of HCC was not difficult if tumour markers and medical imaging were combined. Early resection has been proven to prolong survival of patients with small HCC. Repeated intralesional ethanol injection is an alternative treatment to surgery, while transcatheter arterial embolization is a less effective alternative. Re-resection of subclinical recurrence after curative resection has proven of merit in prolonging survival even further. Resection of small HCC remains an important approach in getting long-term HCC survival and to improving 5-year survival rates. It is more effective than treatment of large HCC. Studies on the secondary prevention of HCC have stimulated research into tumour markers, the natural history and cellular origin of HCC and oncogenes. However, the issue of 'cost-effectiveness' remains to be evaluated.

Treatment of unresectable primary liver cancer: with reference to cytoreduction and sequential resection

Unquestionably, progress has been made in the early detection and early treatment of primary liver cancers (PLCs), although most remain unresectable, mainly because the cancer is advanced and coexists with liver cirrhosis, particularly in Oriental patients. Thanks to the progress of regional cancer therapy, a multidisciplinary approach, and changing concepts about surgical oncology, it has been proved that some unresectable but not far advanced PLCs are potentially convertible to being resectable, particularly those cancers confined to the right lobe of a cirrhotic liver. A retrospective analysis of 571 unresectable PLCs revealed the following: (1) There was an increase in 5-year survivals in the series, from 0% during the 1960s (n = 61), to 4.8% during the 1970s (n = 163), to 21.2% during the 1980s (n = 347). It might be a result of the increase in double- or triple-modality treatments in these series (from 9.8%, to 19.6%, to 70.3%, respectively) and in the sequential resection rate after cytoreduction (from 0%, to 2.5%, to 14.7%). (2) The combination of hepatic artery ligation, hepatic artery cannulation and infusion, and intrahepatic arterial radioimmunotherapy has resulted in better shrinkage of the tumor, a higher sequential resection rate, and a higher 5-year survival (28.2%). (3) Of the 55 patients who had initially unresectable PLCs and yielded "cytoreduction and sequential resection," the 5-year survival was 58.5%. It is concluded that cytoreduction and sequential resection might be an important approach to improving the prognosis of patients with unresectable PLCs.