Hepatogastric Fistula following Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Gastrointestinal Involvement: A Systematic Review

In this paper, we aimed to evaluate clinical and imagistic features, and also to provide a diagnostic algorithm for patients presenting with gastrointestinal involvement from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a systematic search on the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases to identify and collect papers oncases of HCC with gastrointestinal involvement. This search was last updated on 29 April 2022. One hundred and twenty-three articles were included, corresponding to 197 patients. The majority of the patients were male (87.30%), with a mean age of 61.21 years old. The analysis showed large HCCs located mainly in the right hepatic lobe, and highly elevated alfa-fetoprotein (mean = 15,366.18 ng/mL). The most frequent etiological factor was hepatitis B virus (38.57%). Portal vein thrombosis was present in 27.91% of cases. HCC was previously treated in most cases by transarterial chemoembolization (32.99%) and surgical resection (28.93%). Gastrointestinal lesions, developed mainly through direct invasion and hematogenous routes, were predominantly detected in the stomach and duodenum in equal measure—27.91%. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common presentation (49.74%). The main diagnostic tools were esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and computed tomography. The mean survival time was 7.30 months. Gastrointestinal involvement in HCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with underlying HCC and gastrointestinal manifestations or pathological findings in EGD.

Resolution of a hepatoduodenal fistula after nivolumab treatment in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma: challenges in immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with limited treatment options for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Beyond standard systemic therapy with multikinase inhibitors, recent studies demonstrate the potential for a robust and durable response with immune checkpoint inhibition in subsets of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.We present a case of an 83-year-old male patient with the diagnosis of a multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma. A hepatoduodenal fistula developed under treatment with sorafenib which necessitated treatment interruption. Therefore, a switch to second line therapy with immunotherapy nivolumab was made and supportive enteral nutrition was started. This led to a spectacular oncological response, with complete resolution of the hepatoduodenal fistula. To our knowledge this is the first case which describes the involution of a fistula in a hepatocellular carcinoma under treatment with nivolumab.

Malignant hepatogastric fistula with associated secondary liver abscess: a rare complication of an occult gastric adenocarcinoma

A 73-year-old woman presented with fever and right flank pain. The admission was complicated by sepsis, myocardial ischaemia and an upper gastrointestinal bleed. A gastroscopy eventually demonstrated a large antral adenocarcinoma. Further imaging showed no evidence of metastasis, but demonstrated a large segment 3 hepatic abscess. At laparotomy, a hepatogastric fistula (HGF) was noted and a synchronous subtotal gastrectomy and left lateral liver sectionectomy was performed. Final histology showed complete resection of the gastric cancer (T4bN2) and confirmed the presence of the fistula. The patient was discharged 10 days later. She passed away 6 months later with local recurrence, hepatic and pulmonary metastasis. We include a review summarising the other causes of HGF in the literature.

Effect of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Argon-Helium Cryosurgery System on the Changes of NK Cells and T Cell Subsets in Peripheral Blood of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive tumors in humans. T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells are the body's first line of defense to prevent tumor cell growth. Previous studies have demonstrated that transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with argon-helium cryosurgery system (AHCS) can effectively treat liver cancer. However, the mechanism of the treatment is unclear yet. In the current study, we investigated the effects of TACE combined with AHCS on the changes of T cell subsets and NK cells in peripheral blood of HCC. Our data show that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in peripheral blood were significantly up-regulated in HCC patients before treatment when compared with healthy people and reduced after TACE combined with AHCS treatment (P < 0.01). In addition, we found that CD4+ cells and NK cells decreased (P < 0.05) and CD8+ cells increased (P < 0.05) in HCC patients when compared with healthy people. After treatment, the CD4+ cells, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and NK cells were dramatically increased in HCC patients (P < 0.05). In contrast, CD8+ cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). TACE combined with AHCS treatment significantly prolonged 1-year survival rate of HCC patients and did not show significant side effects. Taken together, our data indicate that TACE combined with AHCS treatment improves patients' immune system. It is a feasible and effective therapeutic method for HCC patients.