Preoperative computed tomography and serum α-fetoprotein to predict microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Preoperative evaluation of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma with a radiological feature-based nomogram: a bi-centre study

PURPOSE

To develop a nomogram for preoperative assessment of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the radiological features of enhanced CT and to verify two imaging techniques (CT and MRI) in an external centre.

METHOD

A total of 346 patients were retrospectively included (training, n = 185, CT images; external testing 1, n = 90, CT images; external testing 2, n = 71, MRI images), including 229 MVI-negative patients and 117 MVI-positive patients. The radiological features and clinical information of enhanced CT images were analysed, and the independent variables associated with MVI in HCC were determined by logistic regression analysis. Then, a nomogram prediction model was constructed. External validation was performed on CT (n = 90) and MRI (n = 71) images from another centre.

RESULTS

Among the 23 radiological and clinical features, size, arterial peritumoral enhancement (APE), tumour margin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were independent influencing factors for MVI in HCC. The nomogram integrating these risk factors had a good predictive effect, with AUC, specificity and sensitivity values of 0.834 (95% CI: 0.774-0.895), 75.0% and 83.5%, respectively. The AUC values of external verification based on CT and MRI image data were 0.794 (95% CI: 0.700-0.888) and 0.883 (95% CI: 0.807-0.959), respectively. No statistical difference in AUC values among training set and testing sets was found.

CONCLUSION

The proposed nomogram prediction model for MVI in HCC has high accuracy, can be used with different imaging techniques, and has good clinical applicability.

Preoperative prediction and risk assessment of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and highly lethal tumors worldwide. Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a significant risk factor for recurrence and poor prognosis after surgical resection for HCC patients. Accurately predicting the status of MVI preoperatively is critical for clinicians to select treatment modalities and improve overall survival. However, MVI can only be diagnosed by pathological analysis of postoperative specimens. Currently, numerous indicators in serology (including liquid biopsies) and imaging have been identified to effective in predicting the occurrence of MVI, and the multi-indicator model based on deep learning greatly improves accuracy of prediction. Moreover, several genes and proteins have been identified as risk factors that are strictly associated with the occurrence of MVI. Therefore, this review evaluates various predictors and risk factors, and provides guidance for subsequent efforts to explore more accurate predictive methods and to facilitate the conversion of risk factors into reliable predictors.

Novel Nomogram Based on Inflammatory Markers for the Preoperative Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Solitary Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

We aimed to develop and to validate a novel nomogram based on inflammatory markers to preoperatively predict microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with solitary primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients and Methods

Data from 658 patients with solitary primary HCC who underwent hepatectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2018 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into training (n=441) and validation (n=217) cohorts according to surgical data. Independent risk factors for MVI were identified via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses in the training cohort. A novel nomogram was developed based on the independent risk factors identified. Its accuracy was evaluated using a calibration curve and concordance index (C-index). The predictive value was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

Preoperative alpha-fetoprotein >969 µg/L (P<0.001), tumor size (P=0.002), neutrophil >1.8×10⁹/L (P=0.002), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio (GPR) >0.32 (P=0.001), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio (APR) >0.18 (P<0.001), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-albumin ratio (GAR) >2.30 (P=0.001), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-lymphocyte ratio >29.58 (P<0.001) were identified as preoperative independent risk factors for MVI and were used to establish the nomogram. The C-index of the training and validation cohorts were 0.788 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.744–0.831) and 0.735 (95% CI: 0.668–0.802), respectively. The calibration curve analysis revealed that the standard curve fit well with the predicted curve. ROC curve analysis demonstrated high efficiency of the nomogram. DCA verified that the nomogram had notable clinical value.

Conclusion

Preoperative GPR >0.32, APR >0.18, and GAR >2.30 were independent risk factors for MVI in patients with solitary primary HCC, suggesting their utility as preoperative predictors of MVI. The novel nomogram developed and validated in this study may aid in determining optimal therapeutic approaches for patients with solitary HCC at risk for MVI.

Living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria: outcome of expanded criteria in tumor size

Background

The Milan criteria are the universal standard of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Numerous expanded criteria have shown outcomes as good as the Milan criteria. In Taiwan, living donor liver transplant (LDLT) accounts for the majority of transplantations due to organ shortages.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 155 patients who underwent LDLT for HCC from July 2005 to June 2017 and were followed up for at least 2 years. Patients beyond the Milan criteria (n = 78) were grouped as recurrent or nonrecurrent, and we established new expanded criteria based on these data.

Results

Patients beyond the Milan criteria with recurrence (n = 31) had a significantly larger maximal tumor diameter (4.13 ± 1.96 cm versus 6.10 ± 3.41 cm, p = 0.006) and total tumor diameter (7.19 ± 4.13 cm versus 10.21 ± 5.01 cm, p = 0.005). Therefore, we established expanded criteria involving maximal tumor diameter ≤ 6 cm and total tumor diameter < 10 cm. The 5-year survival rate of patients who met these criteria (n = 134) was 77.3%, and the 5-year recurrence rate was 20.5%; both showed no significant differences from those of the Milan criteria. Under the expanded criteria, the pool of eligible recipients was 35% larger than that of the Milan criteria.

Conclusion

Currently, patients with HCC who undergo LDLT can achieve good outcomes even when they are beyond the Milan criteria. Under the new expanded criteria, patients can achieve outcomes as good as those with the Milan criteria and more patients can benefit.

Microvascular invasion may be the determining factor in selecting TACE as the initial treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting tumor necrosis with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Factors associated with early hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after curative hepatectomy were also evaluated.Data of 51 patients who underwent surgery after a single session of TACE at a single university hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Factors that might affect tumor necrosis were determined by evaluating the TACE approach and by analyzing computed tomography and TACE findings, pathologic reports, and laboratory findings.In univariate analysis, microvascular invasion (MVI), radiological capsule appearance on the computed tomography, chronic hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus and serum albumin, MVI were significantly associated with tumor necrosis by TACE (P < .02). In multivariate analysis, MVI was the only statistically significant factor in TACE-induced tumor necrosis (P = .001). In univariate and multivariate analysis, MVI was the strongest factor for recurrence-free survival rate within 2 years (P = .008, P = .002).MVI could be a crucial factor in determining TACE as an initial treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. MVI is also a strong indicator of recurrence within 2 years after curative hepatic resection.

Potential application of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound in predicting microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical value of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (D-CEUS) in predicting the microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 16 patients with surgery and histopathologically proved HCC lesions were included. Patients were classified according to the presence of MVI: MVI positive group (n = 6) and MVI negative group (n = 10). Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations were performed within a week before surgery. Dynamic analysis was performed by VueBox® software (Bracco, Italy). Three regions of interests (ROIs) were set in the center of HCC lesions, at the margin of HCC lesions and in the surrounding liver parenchyma accordingly. Time intensity curves (TICs) were generated and quantitative perfusion parameters including WiR (wash-in rate), WoR (wash-out rate), WiAUC (wash-in area under the curve), WoAUC (wash-out area under the curve) and WiPi (wash-in perfusion index) were obtained and analyzed.

RESULTS

All of HCC lesions showed arterial hyperenhancement (100 %) and at the late phase as hypoenhancement (75%) in CEUS. Among all CEUS quantitative parameters, the WiAUC and WoAUC were higher in MVI positive group than in MVI negative group in the center HCC lesions (P < 0.05), WiAUC, WoAUC and WiPI were higher in MVI positive group than in MVI negative group at the margin of HCC lesions. WiR and WoR were significant higher in MVI positive group.

CONCLUSIONS

D-CEUS with quantitative perfusion analysis has potential clinical value in predicting the existence of MVI in HCC lesions.

Preoperative MR imaging for predicting early recurrence of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma without microvascular invasion

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify preoperative MR imaging features for predicting early recurrence after curative resection of solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without microvascular invasion (MVI).

METHODS

124 patients with MVI-negative HCC who underwent preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced 1.5-T MR imaging before surgical resection were included. Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS v2018) imaging features and three non-LI-RADS MR imaging features for predicting early recurrence (intrahepatic recurrence<2 years) were identified by univariable and multivariable analyses. A nomogram was constructed for individualized risk estimation, and its predictive accuracy and discriminative ability were identified by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve.

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, tumor size (p = 0.045), nonsmooth tumor margin (p = 0.013), and presence of mosaic architecture (p = 0.035) were independent significant variables associated with early recurrence. These were all incorporated to establish the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.743 (95 % CI: 0.697-0.788).

CONCLUSION

At dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging, tumor size, nonsmooth tumor margin, and presence of mosaic architecture may be helpful to predict early recurrence of solitary HCC without MVI after curative resection.

Incomplete tumor capsule on preoperative imaging reveals microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Microvascular invasion (MVI), which is difficult to diagnose before surgery, is a major factor affecting postoperative recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The relationship between the radiological tumor capsule and MVI is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the tumor capsule and MVI.

METHODS

We searched Medline (by PubMed) and Embase (by OvidSP). Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts, selected studies about MVI prediction with radiologic tumor capsule and studies with enough data for extracted, assessed the methodological quality and collected data. Summary results were presented as the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), sensitivity, specificity, and 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies with 2038 patients were included; fourteen studies, including 1331 patients, with no significant heterogeneity indicated no relationship between absent tumor capsule and MVI [DOR = 0.90 (0.64, 1.26)]. Six studies, including 541 patients, with no significant heterogeneity showed incomplete capsule could be used to predict MVI of HCC preoperatively [DOR = 1.85 (1.13, 3.04)]. The overall sensitivity and specificity estimate were 0.50 (0.37, 0.64) and 0.64 (0.53, 0.74), respectively. Eight studies, including 1349 patients, with highly significant heterogeneity revealed that complete capsule could be a protective factor for MVI [DOR = 1.97 (1.01, 3.86)].

CONCLUSIONS

For MVI of HCC, incomplete tumor capsule is a risk factor, while a complete tumor capsule might be a protective factor. However, absent capsule doesn't show significant relationship with MVI. This might be due to combination of the risk and protective effects of present capsule in MVI.

Clinical significance of glypican-3-positive circulating tumor cells of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: A prospective study

The utility of glypican-3 (GPC3) expression for the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to identify associations between the presence of GPC3-positive CTCs and clinicopathological factors of these patients, furthermore, to evaluate whether CTC can predict microscopic portal vein invasion (mPVI). This study was done on 85 patients who underwent hepatectomy as the first-line treatment and whose preoperative imaging showed no evidence of macroscopic PVI and distant metastases. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients immediately before surgery. Cells were purified initially by density gradient centrifugation followed by immunomagnetic positive enrichment based upon the expression of GPC3. The numbers of CTCs contained in the enriched samples were enumerated via flow cytometry. Protocol validation using HepG2 cells spiked into 8.0 mL of blood from a healthy volunteer indicated that we were able to recover 12.1% of the tumor cells. A median number of 3 CTCs (range: 0-27) was detected in the 8.0 mL of peripheral blood of the 85 analyzed HCC patients. Thirty-three patients had CTCs ≥5, and these patients had a higher incidence of mPVI (p < 0.001), a lower disease-free survival (p = 0.015), and a lower overall survival (p = 0.047) than those with CTCs <5. Multivariate analysis identified CTCs ≥5 as an independent predictor of mPVI (p < 0.001). In conclusion, preoperative GPC3-positive CTCs ≥5 was a risk factor of mPVI and poor prognosis, and therefore may be a useful biomarker for HCC patient outcomes.

Prognostic value of preoperative computed tomography in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection

Background: Preoperative treatments are considered for patients with worse outcome to improve overall survival and reduce tumor relapse. This study developed a prognostic risk estimation for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related solitary hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection, including preoperative computed tomography (CT) signatures. Methods: Preoperative multiphasic CTs for 166 patients with operable HCC were performed in our hospital from 15 November 2013 through 15 May 2015. Follow-up information, until 5 June 2017, included: CT, pathological and clinical characteristics, and recurrence and metastases of HCC confirmed by pathological or radiological diagnosis. The parameters were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: In multivariate analyses, overall survival was not significantly associated with any of the analyzed prognostic risk factors, but did show that the following were significant prognostic risk factors for disease-free survival: larger tumor size, positive radiogenomic venous invasion, non-smooth tumor margin, and histological microvascular invasion. These were all incorporated into the nomogram. The calibration curves for predicting the probability of disease-free survival between the nomogram and actual observation showed good conformity. Conclusion: In patients with HBV-related HCC, CT signatures were a noninvasive significant indicator of disease-free survival. Thus, consideration of CT signatures may optimize preoperative treatment strategies for the individual patient.