Role of transarterial chemoembolization in relation with sorafenib for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Efficacy of the Combination of Systemic Sequential Therapy and Locoregional Therapy in the Long-Term Survival of Patients with BCLC Stage C Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a combination of systemic sequential therapy and locoregional therapy on the long-term survival of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Sixty-four consecutive patients with intrahepatic target nodules who had initially received systemic therapy (lenvatinib and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab) were reviewed. The clinical impact of the combined use of systemic sequential therapy and locoregional therapy was evaluated by determining overall survival (OS). The combined use of systemic sequential therapy with more than two agents and locoregional treatment was defined as multidisciplinary combination therapy (MCT), while only systemic sequential therapy and repeated locoregional-treatment was defined as a single treatment procedure (STP).

RESULTS

R0 resection, MCT, and STP resulted in significantly better OS compared with no additional treatment (median OS, not reached vs. 18.2 months and 12.6 vs. 8.1 months, respectively; p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the use of R0 resection and MCT were associated with better OS (hazard ratio [HR]; 0.053, p = 0.006 and 0.189, p < 0.001, respectively) compared with that for STP (HR; 0.279, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

MCT is may effective in patients with BCLC stage C HCC and intrahepatic target nodules who have previously received systemic therapy-based treatment.

Well-preserved liver function enhances the clinical impact of curative-intent subsequent treatment during lenvatinib treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical impact of curative-intent subsequent treatment on overall prognosis in lenvatinib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODS

Eighty-three consecutive patients with intrahepatic target nodules who received lenvatinib were reviewed. The clinical impact of curative-intent subsequent treatments was investigated through analysis of overall survival (OS) according to pathological deterioration stratified by mALBI grade.

RESULTS

In patients with mALBI grade 1 and 2a liver function, R0 resection and lenvatinib-transarterial chemoembolization (lenvatinib-TACE) sequential therapy resulted in significantly better OS compared with other, non-curative-intent subsequent therapy and lack of additional treatment (median OS, 37.6 vs 29.0 months and 17.1 vs 8.9 months, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that use of R0 resection and lenvatinib-TACE sequential therapy were associated with better OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.021; P < 0.001 and 0.108; P < 0.001) compared with other, non-curative-intent subsequent treatment (HR 0.256; P = 0.010). In contrast, in patients with mALBI grade 2b liver function, multivariate analysis confirmed higher treatment efficacy for non-curative-intent subsequent treatment with respect to OS (HR 0.041; P < 0.001) compared with R0 resection and lenvatinib-TACE sequential therapy (HR 0.057; P = 0.027 and 0.063; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Curative-intent subsequent treatment is more useful for HCC patients with better liver function (mALBI grade 1 and 2a) and intrahepatic target nodules who have received lenvatini b-based treatment.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Delays in Chemoembolization on the Survival of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background and Aims

COVID-19 has led to potential delays in liver cancer treatment, which may have undesirable effects on the prognosis of patients. We aimed to quantify the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in patients with HCC who underwent TACE at a tertiary care center during the prelockdown (March to July 2019) and lockdown (March to July 2020) periods. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, functional status, and vital status were collected from the hospital medical records. The endpoints were TACE interval, treatment response, and survival after TACE. Cox proportional hazards regression determined the significant preoperative factors influencing survival.

Results

Compared to prelockdown, a significant delay occurred during the lockdown in repeated TACE treatments (76.7 vs. 63.5 days, P=0.007). The trend suggested a significant decrease in patients with HCC in the repeated TACE group (-33.3%). After screening, 145 patients were included (prelockdown (n = 87), lockdown (n = 58)). There was no significant difference in the 1-month objective response rate between the prelockdown and lockdown groups (65.5% vs. 64.4%, P=1.00). During follow-up, 56 (64.4%) and 34 (58.6%) deaths occurred in the prelockdown and lockdown groups, respectively (P=0.600). Multivariate analysis revealed no association between the lockdown group and decreased survival (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.57-1.35, P=0.555).

Conclusions

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on liver cancer care resulted in significant decreases and delays in repeated TACE treatments in 2020 compared to 2019. However, treatment delays did not seem to significantly impact survival.

Emerging Trends in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Radiological Perspective

This is a narrative review of various treatment modalities for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a focus on recent updates in radiological treatments, as well as novel treatment concepts related to immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies with locoregional treatments. Interventional radiologists have made efforts toward developing alternative and/or combination treatments for first-line systemic treatment of patients with advanced HCC. Locoregional treatments with or without systemic therapy may be considered in the selected patients. Various treatment modalities for advanced HCC are emerging, and several randomized controlled trials, including those of combination treatments with immunotherapy, are ongoing.

The combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolisation and sorafenib is the preferred palliative treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a meta-analysis

Background

To compare the efficacy of three types of palliative therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) monotherapy, sorafenib alone and their combination.

Methods

The databases of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were retrieved. The odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to investigate the binary variables, and the standardised mean difference (SMD) with its 95% CI was employed to evaluate the continuous variables. All statistical tests were performed by using Stata/SE, version 12.0.

Results

Thirty-one clinical studies, containing 5125 unique cases of patients with advanced HCC, were included. There were significant improvements in overall survival (OS) (pooled SMD = 2.54; 95% CI 1.74–3.34) and time to progression (TTP) (pooled SMD = 2.49; 95% CI 0.87–4.12) of the patients after receiving the combination therapy of TACE and sorafenib, compared to TACE monotherapy, and the OS in the combined treatment cohort was also longer than that in the sorafenib-alone cohort (pooled SMD = 2.92; 95% CI 1.72–4.13). The combination therapy group in comparison to the TACE group benefited a significantly increased overall response rate (ORR) (pooled OR = 2.61; 95% CI 1.43–4.77), 1-year (pooled OR = 2.96; 95% CI 1.71–5.14) and 2-year (pooled OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.18–2.28) survival rates and reduced disease progression rate (DPR) (pooled OR = 0.47; 95% CI 0.33–0.68); in parallel, the ORR in the group was also significantly higher than that in the sorafenib-alone group (pooled OR = 3.62; 95% CI 1.28–10.22), although without a difference in the DPR (pooled OR = 0.28; 95% CI 0.05–1.48). In addition, we discovered that the 1-year (pooled OR = 1.39; 95% CI 0.84–2.29) and 2-year (pooled OR = 1.70; 95% CI 0.69–4.18) survival rates in the TACE monotherapy cohort were not significantly different to those in the sorafenib-alone cohort.

Conclusion

The combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in improving the prognostic outcomes of patients with advanced HCC. Therefore, we recommend it as the preferred treatment intervention for those patients.

Role of locoregional therapies in the wake of systemic therapy

Multiple systemic agents have recently been approved in the first- and second-line setting for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), increasing the therapeutic options for patients and treating physicians. The randomised controlled trials that led to these approvals were predominantly conducted in a population comprised of patients with advanced HCC. However, these trials also included a subset of patients who had progressed after locoregional therapies (LRTs), mostly transarterial chemoembolisation. With a greater number of systemic agents available, the role of LRTs has become a topic of debate, specifically regarding when to transition to systemic therapy in unresectable HCC and the potential opportunities for combining locoregional and systemic therapies. Trials of immuno-oncology agents (notably T cell checkpoint inhibitors) are ongoing in the advanced disease setting and these agents also present opportunities for combination therapies, both with other systemic agents and with LRTs in earlier stage disease. This article will review strategies to guide patient selection for LRT as well as the development of locoregional-systemic combinations based on scientific rationale and the challenges of clinical trial design in this setting.

Safety and Efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Plus Radiotherapy Combined With Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Showing Macrovascular Invasion

The safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showing macrovascular invasion (MVI) remain controversial. The records of 63 patients with HCC showing MVI, who underwent IMRT plus TACE combined with (28 participants; Group A) or without (35 participants; Group B) sorafenib from 2015 to 2018, were retrospectively reviewed to assess the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-associated toxicity. The median PFS was longer in Group A (13.6 months) than in Group B (9.2 months), and still significant after propensity score matching (PSM). However, the median OS was similar in the two groups (19.0 vs. 15.2 months, P = 0.094 before PSM; P = 0.204 after PSM). The grade 3 hematologic and hepatic toxicity was present in 10 (15.9%) and 7 (11.1%) patients, respectively. The incidence of skin reaction, hand-foot syndrome, and diarrhea, all grade 1-2 adverse events, was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B. No patient experienced grade 4 or 5 toxicity, and radiation-induced liver disease was also not observed. TACE plus IMRT combined with sorafenib showed a good safety profile and clinical benefit in patients with HCC having MVI.

Progress in basic and clinical research on molecular targeted therapy for primary hepatic carcinoma

As the second most common cancer in the world, primary liver cancer has become one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in China, causing great pain and financial burden to patients and their families. Traditional treatment methods have not achieved satisfactory results so far, and people are gradually turning their attention to targeted drug therapy, which has many advantages, such as accuracy and little adverse reactions. Previous studies have shown that the introduction of targeted drug sorafenib can improve the survival of patients with primary liver cancer and open a new era of tumor targeted therapy. In recent years, molecular targeted therapy for liver cancer has become a research hotspot. A variety of new molecular targeted drugs have been found to be able to improve the prognosis of patients with advanced liver cancer. The purpose of this article is to review the progress in basic and clinical research on molecular targeted therapy for primary hepatic carcinoma.

Liver metastasis and Heng risk are prognostic factors in patients with non-nephrectomized synchronous metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with systemic therapy

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in non-nephrectomized patients with synchronous metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) receiving first-line vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

Methods

Of 70 patients, 57 (81.4%) were treated with targeted therapy, including 5 (7.1%) with previous immunotherapy and 13 (18.6%) with immunotherapy only. The medical records of patients were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed to determine factors of PFS and OS using the Cox proportional hazards model with a statistical significance p-value <0.05.

Results

The median treatment and follow-up periods were 3.9 and 30.9 months, respectively. Disease progression was reported in 90.0% of patients, with an objective response rate and clinical benefit rate of 26.1% and 76.8%, respectively. The lung (77.1%) was the most common site of metastasis. Multivariable analysis showed that poor Heng risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.37) and liver metastasis (HR: 2.34) were significant prognostic factors for PFS, and female sex (HR: 2.13), poor Heng risk (HR: 3.14), and liver metastasis (HR: 2.78) were significant prognostic factors for OS (p < 0.05). A subset analysis of risk factors among patients without previous history of immunotherapy also showed poor Heng risk (HR 2.92 and HR 4.24 for PFS) and liver metastasis (HR 2.87 and HR 4.81 for OS) as significant factors for both PFS and OS (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Poor Heng risk, sex, and liver metastasis were associated with survival outcomes after first-line systemic therapy in patients with non-nephrectomized synchronous mRCC.

Treatment strategies for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer ranks fifth in incidence and fourth in overall cancer-related mortality, with approximately 854,000 new cases and 810,000 deaths per year worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 90% of these cases, and, over time, both the incidence and mortality of this cancer have been rising in many regions. Several staging systems are used to assess the extent of primary tumor, presence of metastasis, and underlying liver disease, and thereby aid in the definition of treatment strategies and prognosis for these patients. The consequence of this heterogeneity in HCC staging is that no consensual definition of advanced disease exists, and there is still ongoing debate on the optimal treatment for these patients. Patients with advanced tumors can be candidates for multiple therapies, ranging from potentially curative options such as transplantation and resection-to locoregional and systemic treatments; these should be evaluated on an individual basis by a multidisciplinary team. This paper provides an overview of treatment options for advanced stage HCC, based on a review of the latest relevant literature and the personal experience of the authors.

Phase II Studies with Refametinib or Refametinib plus Sorafenib in Patients with RAS-Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose: Refametinib, an oral MEK inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor activity in combination with sorafenib in patients with RAS-mutated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two phase II studies evaluated the efficacy of refametinib monotherapy and refametinib plus sorafenib in patients with RAS-mutant unresectable or metastatic HCC.Patients and Methods: Eligible patients with RAS mutations of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) determined by beads, emulsion, amplification, and magnetics technology received twice-daily refametinib 50 mg ± sorafenib 400 mg. Potential biomarkers were assessed in ctDNA via next-generation sequencing (NGS).Results: Of 1,318 patients screened, 59 (4.4%) had a RAS mutation, of whom 16 received refametinib and 16 received refametinib plus sorafenib. With refametinib monotherapy, the objective response rate (ORR) was 0%, the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.3%, overall survival (OS) was 5.8 months, and progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months. With refametinib plus sorafenib, the ORR was 6.3%, the DCR was 43.8%, OS was 12.7 months, and PFS was 1.5 months. In both studies, time to progression was 2.8 months. Treatment-emergent toxicities included fatigue, hypertension, and acneiform rash. Twenty-seven patients had ctDNA samples available for NGS. The most frequently detected mutations were in TERT (63.0%), TP53 (48.1%), and β-catenin (CTNNB1; 37.0%).Conclusions: Prospective testing for RAS family mutations using ctDNA was a feasible, noninvasive approach for large-scale mutational testing in patients with HCC. A median OS of 12.7 months with refametinib plus sorafenib in this small population of RAS-mutant patients may indicate a synergistic effect between sorafenib and refametinib-this preliminary finding should be further explored. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4650-61. ©2018 AACR.

Transarterial chemoembolization combined with computed tomography-guided 125iodine implantation enhances survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with computed tomography-guided 125iodine implantation (TACE-125iodine) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with type B portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). From medical records, we determined that 50 patients who received 125iodine implantation 4-7 days after the first TACE session showed better survival than 50 patients who received only TACE (median survival, 13.1 vs. 6.0 months; P<0.01). Moreover, the PVTT control rate was higher in the TACE-125iodine than TACE alone group (78% vs. 18%; P<0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the TACE-125iodine procedure was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. We also observed that bilirubin levels were increased at 4 weeks, indicating that 125iodine seeding in the PVTT beneficially impacted the small bile duct, which is proximal to the portal vein. No severe adverse events were observed in patients that received 125iodine seed implantation, and the mild adverse events were successfully treated. This study shows that TACE-125iodine therapy enhances patient survival with minimal adverse events. It is also more affordable than sorafenib, which is currently the recommended therapy for advanced HCC patients with PVTT.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Macrovascular Invasion: Defining the Optimal Treatment Strategy

BACKGROUND

Tumoral macrovascular invasion (MVI) of hepatic and/or portal vein branches is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with poorer prognosis when compared to HCC without MVI.

SUMMARY

Current international guidelines for the management of HCC recommend sorafenib as the only treatment option in case of MVI. Despite guideline recommendations, several alternative options have been tested to manage HCC with MVI: surgery, transarterial chemoembolization, external or internal radiation, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, percutaneous treatment, cryotherapy, or the combination of two or more of these strategies, with or without sorafenib. Here we will provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art review for the management of this challenging clinical entity based on the most recent available data.

KEY MESSAGES

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that alternative strategies to standard-of-care sorafenib might improve survival in patients with advanced HCC with MVI but the level of evidence remains weak. Randomized phase III trials are ongoing and will hopefully provide information leading towards a more personalized treatment algorithm.

Transarterial infusion of epirubicin and cisplatin combined with systemic infusion of 5-fluorouracil versus transarterial chemoembolization using doxorubicin for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: a retrospective analysis

Background:

More than one-third of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are diagnosed at advanced stage with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) or extrahepatic metastasis. However, the outcomes of current therapeutic approaches are unsatisfactory. As a novel therapeutic strategy for unresectable HCC with PVTT, we analyzed the outcomes of transarterial infusion of epirubicin and cisplatin combined with systemic infusion of 5-fluorouracil (TAC-ECF) and compared its therapeutic effects and toxicity with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using doxorubicin (DOX).

Methods:

A total of 540 consecutive HCC patients who received TACE at the Catholic Medical Center between January 2007 and November 2013 were enrolled. Of these patients, we retrospectively analyzed 129 Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage C HCC patients with PVTT who received either TAC-ECF or TACE using DOX.

Results:

The objective tumor response rate was higher in the TAC-ECF group, with 31.3% objective response rate after TAC-ECF compared to 10% after DOX treatment (p = 0.004). Median follow-up period was 7 months (range, 1–57 months). The overall survival rate was also significantly higher in the TAC-ECF group compared to the DOX group (median 9.3 versus 4.6 months, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that TAC-ECF and extrahepatic metastasis were independent predictive factors for overall survival (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002 respectively). No serious adverse effects developed in both groups.

Conclusions:

TAC-ECF therapy was tolerable and showed higher overall survival rate and tumor response compared to the conventional TACE DOX in advanced stage HCC patients with PVTT. Therefore, TAC-ECF may be considered as an effective treatment option for patients with unresectable HCC.

Clinical study of radiofrequency ablation combined with TACE in the treatment of breast cancer with liver metastasis

We studied the clinical effects of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) combined with trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of breast cancer with liver metastasis. Eighty-eight patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer with liver metastasis for the first time and patients with liver metastasis after radical mastectomy were consecutively selected. The subjects were divided according to the different treatment methods. They were divided either into the control group of 50 cases or the observation group of 38 cases. Breast cancer patients underwent radical mastectomy with conventional systemic venous chemotherapy. The liver metastasis control group used TACE, while the observation group combined RFCA with TACE. The two groups were followed up for a median time of 20 months, and the clinical effects were compared. The effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group; differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no differences in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). The progression free survival, median survival time and survival rate of the observation group were increased; differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Therefore, RFCA combined with TACE in the treatment of breast cancer with liver metastasis is safe and effective.

Update on Embolization Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of the review is to summarize the latest applications for embolotherapy in the management of patients with HCC according to BCLC stage.

RECENT FINDINGS

While traditionally reserved for patients with unresectable HCC and stage B disease, there is an important role for embolization therapies in earlier stage patients as an adjunct to ablation, bridging, or downstaging therapy, as a means to improve safety of resection, and potentially as an arterial ablative option in the case of radioembolization. Newer applications of radioembolization such as radiation segmentectomy have the potential to provide cure in localized unifocal disease, and transarterial chemoembolization-portal vein embolization and radiation lobectomy may provide a combination of treatment and future liver remnant hypertrophy for planned hepatic resection. There is also an increasing role for embolization in the treatment of stage C disease, and recent data suggest it can be used in combination with sorafenib with the potential for survival benefit over sorafenib alone, even in the case of portal vein tumor thrombus. Embolization therapies play an increasingly important role in patients with BCLC stage A-C hepatocellular carcinoma. While different therapies may be offered on a patient-specific basis, there are limited prospective RCT data to support superiority of one technique over another.

Advances in Hypoxia-Mediated Mechanisms in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common and the third most deadly malignant tumor worldwide. Hypoxia and related oxidative stress are heavily involved in the process of HCC development and its therapies. However, direct and accurate measurement of oxygen concentration and evaluation of hypoxic effects in HCC prove difficult. Moreover, the hypoxia-mediated mechanisms in HCC remain elusive. Here, we summarize recent major evidence of hypoxia in HCC lesions shown by measuring partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂), the clinical importance of hypoxic markers in HCC, and recent advances in hypoxia-related mechanisms and therapies in HCC. For the mechanisms, we focus mainly on the roles of oxygen-sensing proteins (i.e., hypoxia-inducible factor and neuroglobin) and hypoxia-induced signaling proteins (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, high mobility group box 1, Beclin 1, glucose metabolism enzymes, and vascular endothelial growth factor). With respect to therapies, we discuss mainly YQ23, sorafenib, 2-methoxyestradiol, and celastrol. This review focuses primarily on the results of clinical and animal studies.