Clinical significance of and future perspectives for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Meta-Analysis of Hepatic Arterial Infusion for Liver Metastases From Colorectal Cancer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential benefits of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in the management of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were comprehensively searched from inception to November 2020. Prospective randomized trials with HAIC vs. systemic chemotherapy (SC) were selected. The overall survival (OS), tumor response rates (RRs), progression-free survival (PFS), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed in the meta-analysis. Subsequently, the heterogeneity between studies, sensitivity, publication bias, and meta-regression analyses were performed. Finally, 18 studies, which contained 1,766 participants (922 in the HAIC group and 844 in the SC group) were included. There was a significantly higher OS rate in the HAIC as palliative treatment group (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.08–0.26; P = 0.000) and HAIC as adjuvant treatment group compared with SC group (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.38–0.87; P = 0.000). The complete and partial tumor RRs were also increased significantly in the HAIC as palliative treatment group (RR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.36–3.22; P = 0.001) and as adjuvant treatment group compared with SC group (RR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.40–3.26; P = 0.000). However, PFS did not differ significantly between the HAIC and SC groups (P > 0.05). Meta-regression analysis showed potential covariates did not influence on the association between HAIC and OS outcomes (P > 0.05). The results of the present study suggested that HAIC may be a potential therapeutic regimen that may improve the outcomes of patients with CRLM. The present meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD 42019145719).

Effects of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The potential benefits and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis of evaluate the efficacy and safety of HAIC in the treatment of HCC.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library to identify eligible studies that compared HAIC with other therapies for patients with HCC. The main outcomes of our interest, including overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and adverse events, were calculated using the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates were expressed with hazard ratio (HR) with 95%confidence intervals (95%CIs) or risk ratio (RR) with 95%CIs.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled estimates showed that, HAIC was associated with significantly improved OS (HR = 0.61, 95%CI: 0.48, 0.77; P < .001) and DFS (HR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.84; P = .001) as compared with other therapies. The ORR (RR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.77, 2.94; P < .001) and DCR (RR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.23, 1.77; P < .001) were also significantly higher in HAIC group than in control group. Most of the common adverse events were comparably occurred in the 2 groups, except for nausea/vomiting, hypoalbuminemia, pain, anemia and hepatic toxicity. Subgroup analysis suggested that, the improved OS and DFS associated with HAIC were only observed in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), or advanced HCC, but not in those with unresectable HCC or pancreatic liver metastases.

CONCLUSION

Based on the present data, HAIC showed benefit effect in HCC patients, with pronged OS and DFS, as well as increased ORR and DCR. These benefit effects were more obvious in CRLM or advanced HCC patients. However, considering the potential limitations, more large-scale, randomized trials are needed to verify our findings.

STORE-gastrointestinal functions and gastrointestinal hormones in patients with liver failure

This study aims to investigate the gastrointestinal functions of patients with liver failure (LF) based on gastrointestinal dysfunction (GD) scores and serum gastrointestinal hormone levels.The GD in LF patients was scored using the gastrointestinal dysfunction scoring criteria. Serum gastrin (GAS), cholecystokinin (CCK), and motilin (MTL) levels were determined in LF patients. In addition, liver function and prothrombin activity were detected, and ultrasonography was performed.The GD score was significantly higher in the LF groups than in the control group. Compared with the control group, serum GAS, CCK, and MTL levels significantly increased in the LF groups, and was positively correlated with the severity of LF. Furthermore, in the LF groups, GD was positively correlated with the severity of LF. However, the GD score and serum GAS, CCK, and MTL levels in the acute LF group were not statistically different, when compared with those in the subacute LF group, acute-on-chronic LF group and chronic LF group.LF plays a key role in the development of GD, and may be the main cause of obvious gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting and anorexia, in LF patients. The severity of GD is not associated with LF type, but is positively correlated with the severity of LF, suggesting that GD in LF patients may have complicated mechanisms.

Pharmacokinetics of Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin and 5-Fluorouracil During Hepatic Artery Chronomodulated Infusion: A Translational European OPTILIV Study

The combination of hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin with intravenous cetuximab has safely achieved prolonged survival in colorectal cancer patients with extensive liver metastases and prior treatment. Systemic exposure to the drugs or their main metabolites was determined during the first course of chronomodulated triplet HAI in 11 patients and related to toxicities after one or three courses. Consistent trends were found between the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) values of irinotecan, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38; a bioactive metabolite), total oxaliplatin and platinum ultrafiltrate (P-UF), on the one hand, and subsequent leukopenia severity, on the other hand. Moreover, the maximum plasma concentration (C _max) and the AUC of P-UF significantly predicted grades of diarrhoea (p = 0.004 and 0.017, respectively) and anaemia (p = 0.001 and 0.008, respectively) after the first course. Systemic drug exposure helps explain both the adverse events and the low rate of extrahepatic progression-a usual drawback of HAI chemotherapy-thus supporting upfront testing of the regimen. Systems optimization of chronomodulated HAI delivery could further reduce adverse events.

Role of pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer in the era of modern multidisciplinary therapy

PURPOSE

To clarify the role of pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal cancer in the era of modern multidisciplinary therapy.

METHODS

The characteristics and outcomes of the patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer through 2002 (n = 26) and from 2003 (n = 68) were compared.

RESULTS

The patients treated from 2003 had a smaller tumor size and more frequently had a history of extra-pulmonary relapses than did those treated through 2002. There was a significant improvement in the 5-year overall survival (42.0% vs. 73.1%, p = 0.03) but not the 5-year relapse-free survival (41.4% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.85) after pulmonary metastasectomy from 2003. The rate of patients who received local therapy with curative intent after the first pulmonary metastasectomy was significantly higher in patients treated from 2003 than in those treated through 2002 [4/13, (31%) vs. 25/39 (64%), p = 0.04]. The survival after relapse after the first pulmonary metastasectomy was significantly longer in patients treated from 2003 than in those treated through 2002 (median survival time: 14 vs. 47 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer remains an important treatment option in the sense that it can achieve a good relapse-free survival.

A systematic review and meta-analysis to reappraise the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion for colorectal cancer liver metastases

OBJECTIVE

The potential benefit of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion remains unknown for patients with colorectal liver metastases after radical hepatic resection. The principle aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion.

METHODS

Eligible trials were identified from Embase, PubMed, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane library since their inception to June 1, 2014. Patients with colorectal liver metastases, who underwent radical hepatic resection and received adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion, were enrolled. The study outcomes included 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate, respectively. Hazard ratio with a 95 % confidence interval was used to measure the pooled effect according to a random effects model or fixed effects model, depending on the heterogeneity between the included studies. The statistical heterogeneity between trials was detected by I (2) test. Sensitivity analyses were also carried out.

RESULTS

A total of nine studies containing 1057 patients were included. The comparison indicated that the overall pooled hazard ratio for 5-year overall survival was 0.75 (95 % CI: 0.56-0.99, p = 0.048). The hazard ratio for 5-year disease-free survival rate was 0.61 (95 % CI: 0.48-0.79, p = 0.001). When compared with systemic chemotherapy alone, adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion plus systemic chemotherapy also improved the long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion improved the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate, respectively. It should be recommended for patients with a high risk of recurrence, but these findings require prospective confirmation.

Hepatic arterial infusion plus systemic chemotherapy as third-line or later treatment in colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUNDS

The present study aimed to evaluate benefit of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI) combined with systemic chemotherapy (SCT) for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) in a palliative setting.

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-center study including 43 consecutive patients with CLM after failure of standard SCT. Among them, 20 (47 %) patients underwent HAI combined with SCT (Group A) and 23 historical control patients who had received SCT with or without targeted agent treatment (Group B).

RESULTS

The two groups had similar characteristics. Compared with SCT alone, HAI combined with SCT prolonged survival (median 19.8 vs. 9.0 months; P = 0.045). Median hepatic progression-free survival was significantly longer for HAI combined with SCT vs. SCT alone (median 8.1 vs. 4.7 months; P = 0.027), as were response rates (25 and 0 %; P = 0.038) and progression-free survival (median 5.7 vs. 3.0 months; P = 0.02). Three patients (15 %) achieved conversion to potentially curative surgery. Grade 3/4 toxicities for Group A and Group B were neutropenia (5 and 8.7 %, respectively), anemia (5 and 0 %, respectively), and hyperbilirubinemia (0 and 4.3 %, respectively). Other complications were mostly grade 1 or 2.

CONCLUSIONS

HAI combined with SCT treatment can improve overall survival compared with SCT alone in highly advanced CLM refractory to intravenous chemotherapy.

Advances and directions in chemotherapy using implantable port systems for colorectal cancer: a historical review

With the recent advances in chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, the prognosis for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has been significantly improved. The development of the implantable port system has also enabled patients to receive multiagent chemotherapy with a more satisfactory quality of life. Historically, chemotherapy using implantable port systems was begun to obtain an oncological benefit in the treatment of locoregional cancer. In the 1950s, there was an increasing interest in perfusion techniques for the application of chemotherapeutic agents, such as nitrogen mustard, in the locoregional treatment of metastatic cancer. Among them, the treatment of liver metastasis has interested oncologists for many years. On the other hand, implantable devices were developed during the intervening decades that have enabled patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases to be treated effectively using hepatic arterial infusion; which became more common in the 1980s. The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer increasingly requires a multimodal approach and multiple treatment options based not on convenience, but in terms of personalization and efficacy. Therefore, it is important to optimize the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents. Implantable port systems for colorectal cancer patients have been essential for oncological practice, and the importance of these systems will remain unchanged in the near future.