1
|
Arvind A, Seif El Dahan K, Malhotra R, Daher D, Rich NE, Patel MS, VanWagner LB, Lieber SR, Cotter TG, Louissaint J, Mufti AR, Kulik L, Pillai A, Parikh ND, Singal AG. Association between bridging therapy and posttransplant outcomes in patients with HCC within Milan criteria: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:595-606. [PMID: 38466889 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Liver transplantation is the curative therapy of choice for patients with early-stage HCC. Locoregional therapies are often employed as a bridge to reduce the risk of waitlist dropout; however, their association with posttransplant outcomes is unclear. We conducted a systematic review using Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify studies published between database inception and August 2, 2023, which reported posttransplant recurrence-free survival and overall survival among patients transplanted for HCC within Milan criteria, stratified by receipt of bridging therapy. Pooled HRs were calculated for each outcome using the DerSimonian and Laird method for a random-effects model. We identified 38 studies, including 19,671 patients who received and 20,148 patients who did not receive bridging therapy. Bridging therapy was not associated with significant differences in recurrence-free survival (pooled HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.77-1.08; I2 =39%) or overall survival (pooled HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.95-1.24; I2 =47%). Results were relatively consistent across subgroups, including geographic location and study period. Studies were discordant regarding the differential strength of association by pretreatment tumor burden and pathologic response, but potential benefits of locoregional therapy were mitigated in those who received 3 or more treatments. Adverse events were reported in a minority of studies, but when reported occurred in 6%-15% of the patients. Few studies reported loss to follow-up and most had a risk of residual confounding. Bridging therapy is not associated with improvements in posttransplant recurrence-free or overall survival among patients with HCC within Milan criteria. The risk-benefit ratio of bridging therapy likely differs based on the risk of waitlist dropout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Arvind
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Riya Malhotra
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Madhukar S Patel
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa B VanWagner
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah R Lieber
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas G Cotter
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jeremy Louissaint
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Arjmand R Mufti
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Laura Kulik
- Department of Internal Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yin C, Armstrong S, Shin R, Geng X, Wang H, Satoskar RS, Fishbein T, Smith C, Banovac F, Kim AY, He AR. Bridging and downstaging with
TACE
in early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma: Predictors of receiving a liver transplant. Ann Gastroenterol Surg 2022; 7:295-305. [PMID: 36998293 PMCID: PMC10043769 DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims In patients with surgically unresectable early and intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), only liver transplant (LT) offers a cure. Locoregional therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), are widely used to bridge patients waiting for an LT or downstage tumors beyond Milan Criteria (MC). However, there are no formal guidelines on the number of TACE procedures patients should receive. Our study explores the extent to which repeated TACE might offer diminishing gains toward LT. Approach We retrospectively analyzed 324 patients with BCLC stage A and B HCC who had received TACE with the intention of disease downstaging or bridging to LT. In addition to baseline demographics, we collected data on LT status, survival, and the number of TACE procedures. Overall survival (OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and correlative studies were calculated using chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Results Out of 324 patients, 126 (39%) received an LT, 32 (25%) of whom had responded favorably to TACE. LT significantly improved OS: HR 0.174 (0.094-0.322, P < .001). However, the LT rate significantly decreased if patients received ≥3 vs < 3 TACE procedures (21.6% vs 48.6%, P < .001). If their cancer was beyond MC after the third TACE, the LT rate was 3.7%. Conclusions An increased number of TACE procedures may have diminishing returns in preparing patients for LT. Our study suggests that alternatives to LT, such as novel systemic therapies, should be considered for patients whose cancers are beyond MC after three TACE procedures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yin
- Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Samantha Armstrong
- Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Richard Shin
- Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Xue Geng
- Department of BiostatisticsGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Hongkun Wang
- Department of BiostatisticsGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Rohit S. Satoskar
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Thomas Fishbein
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Coleman Smith
- MedStar Georgetown Transplant InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Filip Banovac
- Department of RadiologyGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Alexander Y. Kim
- Department of RadiologyGeorgetown University Medical CenterWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Aiwu Ruth He
- Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xu L, Chen L, Zhang W. Neoadjuvant treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Surg 2021; 13:1550-1566. [PMID: 35070063 PMCID: PMC8727178 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i12.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains high globally. Surgical treatment is the best treatment for improving the prognosis of patients with HCC. Neoadjuvant therapy plays a key role in preventing tumor progression and even downstaging HCC. The liver transplantation rate and resectability rate have increased for neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy is effective in different stages of HCC. In this review, we summarized the definition, methods, effects, indications and contraindications of neoadjuvant therapy in HCC, which have significance for guiding treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| |
Collapse
|