Comparison of chemoembolization with CalliSpheres® microspheres and conventional chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study

Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization and Repeated Partial Splenic Embolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Hypersplenism and Thrombocytopenia

Aim

Partial splenic embolization (PSE) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been reported in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhotic hypersplenism and thrombocytopenia. However, efficacy and safety of repeated PSE when required are unclear. This study aims to investigate post-procedural changes in peripheral blood cell and hepatic function, progression-free survival (PFS), and safety of HCC patients with hypersplenism received TACE and repeated PSE compared to those received TACE alone.

Methods

This retrospective study included 102 HCC patients with hypersplenism who received TACE (n = 73) or TACE+PSE (n = 29) from January 2014 to December 2021. Changes in peripheral blood cell and hepatic function were investigated at 1 week, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. TACE procedure sessions and adverse events were recorded. PFS and prognostic factors were analyzed.

Results

Despite response to initial PSE being limited, repeated PSE increased platelet (PLT) again, which peaked at 18 months. It also continued to improve red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin, which showed significant differences in changes from baseline between two groups until 24 months, as well as Child-Pugh scores at 12 and 18 months. Mean TACE procedure sessions were significantly higher in TACE+PSE group than that in TACE alone group (4.55 vs 3.26, P = 0.019). TACE+PSE group had longer median PFS (19.4 vs 9.5 months, P = 0.023) than TACE alone group, where PSE was an independent protective factor (HR, 0.508; P = 0.014). Initial and repeated PSE showed no significant differences in safety.

Conclusion

Repeated PSE is effective in increasing PLT again and improving RBC, hemoglobin and liver function. It contributed to performing serial TACE procedures thereafter. TACE combined with repeated PSE has significantly longer PFS than TACE alone, where PSE was an independent protective factor. Moreover, the safety of repeated PSE was comparable to initial PSE.

Clinical research progress of callisperes® of drug-loaded microsphere arterial chemoembolisation in the treatment of solid tumors

The incidence and mortality of cancer is ever-increasing, which poses a significant challengesto human health and a substantial economic burden to patients. At present, chemotherapy is still a primary treatment for various cancers. However, chemotherapy kills tumors but also induces the related side effects, whichadversely impacting patient quality of life and exacerbating suffering. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new and effective treatments that can control tumor growth while reducing the side effects for patients. Arterial chemoembolization has been attracted much attentionwhich attributed to the advantage of ability to embolize tumor vessels to block blood and nutrition supplies. Thus, to achieve local tumor control, it has become an effective means of local tumor control and has been widely used in clinical practice. Despite its efficacy, conventional arterial chemoembolization techniques, limited by embolization materials, have been associated with incomplete embolization and suboptimal drug delivery outcomes. Gradually, researchers have shifted their attention to a new type of embolic material called CalliSperes® drug-eluting embolic bead (DEB). DEB can not only load high doses of drugs, but also has strong sustained drug release ability and good biocompatibility. The integration of DEBs with traditional arterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) promises targeted vascular embolization, mitigated tumor ischemia and hypoxia, and direct intravascular chemotherapy delivery. It can prevent cancer cell differentiation and accelerate their death, meanwhile, directly injecting chemotherapy drugs into the target blood vessels reduced the blood concentration of the whole body, thus reduced the toxic and side effects of chemotherapy. Furthermore, DEB-TACE's sustained drug release capability elevates local drug concentrations at the tumor site, amplifying its antitumor efficacy. Therefore, DEB-TACE has become a hot spot in clinical research worldwide. This review introduces the pathogenesis of solid tumors, the background of research and biological characteristics of DEB, and the action mechanism of DEB-TACE, as well as its clinical research in various solid tumors and future prospects. This review aims to provide new ideas for the treatment of DEB-TACE in various solid tumors.

The Use of Microspheres for Cancer Embolization Therapy: Recent Advancements and Prospective

Embolization therapy involving biomaterials has improved the therapeutic strategy for most liver cancer treatments. Developing biomaterials as embolic agents has significantly improved patients' survival rates. Various embolic agents are present in liquid agents, foam, particulates, and particles. Some of the most applied embolic agents are microparticles, such as microspheres (3D micrometer-sized spherical particles). Microspheres with added functionalities are currently being developed for effective therapeutic embolization. Their excellent properties of high surface area and capacity for being loaded with radionuclides and alternate active or therapeutic agents provide an additional advantage to overcome limitations from traditional cancer treatments. Microspheres (non-radioactive and radioactive) have been widely used and explored for localized cancer treatment. Non-radioactive microspheres exhibit improved clinical performance as drug delivery vehicles in chemotherapy due to their controlled and sustained drug release to the target site. They offer better flow properties and are beneficial for the ease of delivery via injection procedures. In addition, radioactive microspheres have also been exploited for use as an embolic platform in internal radiotherapy as an alternative to cancer treatment. This short review summarizes the progressive development of non-radioactive and radioactive embolic microspheres, emphasizing material characteristics. The use of embolic microspheres for various modalities of therapeutic arterial embolization and their impact on therapeutic performance are also discussed.

Safety and Effectiveness of Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Aged Greater versus Less Than 80 Years

Background

Population aging has emerged as a pressing global concern and a significant medical challenge. The use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been extensively employed for managing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is limited evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of TACE specifically in individuals aged 80 years and above.

Aim

To examine the safety and effectiveness of TACE in elderly patients (≥ 80 years) compared to younger patients (< 80 years) with HCC, and the potential risk factors that may impact the progression-free survival (PFS) for TACE were also identified.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a consecutive cohort of unresectable HCC patients who were initially treated with TACE. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the age at which they underwent TACE, and the efficacy and safety of the treatment were evaluated. The PFS was investigated, and the prognostic factors were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

A total of 198 patients were included in this study, with 44 patients aged 80 years or older and 154 patients younger than 80 years. The cumulative risk of PFS after TACE was similar between the two groups (P = 0.800). In the multivariate analysis, a lower ECOG score (P = 0.039) and an earlier BCLC stage (P = 0.004) were identified as independent predictors of better PFS. Patients in both groups tolerated the TACE treatment well.

Conclusion

The impact of aging on poor PFS is not significant. In patients with HCC, TACE therapy is both safe and effective for octogenarians, similar to younger patients. Furthermore, the better PFS is associated with a low ECOG score and an early BCLC stage.

Comparison of CalliSpheres® microspheres drug-eluting beads and conventional transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This trial aimed to compare the outcomes of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with CalliSpheres^® microspheres (CSM) and conventional transarterial chemoembolization cTACE in the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 90 patients were divided into DEB-TACE group (n = 45) and cTACE group (n = 45). The treatment response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and the safety were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The objective response rate (ORR) in the DEB-TACE group was significantly higher than that in cTACE group at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up (P = 0.031, P = 0.003, P = 0.002). The complete response (CR) in DEB-TACE group was significantly higher than that in cTACE group at 3 months (P = 0.036). Survival analysis revealed that, DEB-TACE group had better survival benefits than cTACE group (median OS: 534 days vs. 367 days, P = 0.027; median PFS: 352 days vs. 278 days P = 0.004). The degree of liver function injury was more serious in DEB-TACE group at 1 week, but was similar between the two groups at 1 month. DEB-TACE with CSM caused a high incidence of fever and a severe abdominal pain (P = 0.031, P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

DEB-TACE with CSM showed better treatment response and survival benefits than cTACE group. Although a transient more severe liver damage, high incidence of fever and a severe abdominal pain occurred in the DEB-TACE group, it could be resolved through symptomatic treatment.

Transarterial chemoembolization failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Incidence, manifestation and risk factors

BACKGROUND

To identify the incidence, manifestation and risk factors of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) failure defined as untreatable progression (UP) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on short-term observation.

METHODS

Patients from two hospitals with HCC treated with TACE were considered. According to the definition of UP, TACE failure was considered to be present in at least one of the following situations: situation I, failure to achieve objective response in the targeted tumor after at least two initial TACE treatments; situation II, failure to achieve objective response in local tumor progression or new intrahepatic tumor after another TACE session; situation III, presence of major progression; and situation IV, presence of impaired liver function or performance status that contraindicates TACE treatment. Patients were assessed for TACE failure on follow-up visits after two or three TACE sessions. Risk factors for TACE failure were evaluated with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 206 patients were included. TACE failure occurred in 42 (42/206, 20.4%) patients, of whom 21, 1, 4, 0 and 16 patients manifested as situation I, II, III, IV alone, and combination of situation I with the others, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor without complete capsule (P < .001) and non-smooth margin (P = .004) were independent predictors of the presence of TACE failure.

CONCLUSIONS

TACE failure was uncommon in patients with HCC, which manifested predominantly as failure of treatment response of the initial intrahepatic tumor. Non-smooth tumor margin and tumors without complete capsule were associated with the presence of TACE failure.

Treatment efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with arterioportal fistula

This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy and tolerance between drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with arterioportal fistula (APF). A total of 44 HCC patients with APF scheduled for DEB-TACE (N = 24, as DEB-TACE group) or cTACE (N = 20, as cTACE group) were recruited. Treatment response, hepatic function, and adverse events were assessed or recorded. Besides, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. Total treatment response was better in the DEB-TACE group compared with the cTACE group (P = .012). Meanwhile, the objective response rate (87.5% versus 60.0%) was higher (P = .013), while the disease control rate (95.8% versus 85.0%) was similar in the DEB-TACE group compared to the cTACE group (P = .213). Besides, PFS (mean value: 12.2 (95%CI: 9.9-14.6) months versus 7.8 (95%CI: 5.6-10.0) months) (P = .037), but not OS (mean value: 20.0 (95%CI: 18.1-21.9) months versus. 18.6 (95%CI: 15.4-21.8) months) (P = .341) was prolonged in DEB-TACE group compared with cTACE group. Regarding the safety, Child-Pugh stage, albumin level, and bilirubin level after treatment were all similar between the DEB-TACE group and cTACE group (all P > .05); moreover, no difference was found in the occurrence of adverse events during or after treatment between the two groups (all P > .05). Moreover, subsequent analyses found that embolic materials for APF (microspheres) in the DEB-TACE group did not affect the treatment efficacy (all P > .05). DEB-TACE promotes treatment response and PFS compared with cTACE and shows good safety in HCC patients with APF.

Callispheres drug-eluting bead transhepatic artery chemoembolization with oral delivery of sorafenib for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer

Objective

Liver cancer is a significant contributor to global burden of cancer. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard of care for patients with unresectable liver cancer, and CalliSpheres, as novel drug-eluting bead (DEB) microspheres, have been found to be associated with a high tumor response rate. However, the outcomes after DEB-TACE treatment are not always satisfactory with tumor recurrence. Herein, we attempt to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of DEB-TACE with sorafenib and conventional TACE in treating advanced liver cancer.

Methods

The study retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 96 patients with liver cancer, among which there were 48 cases receiving DEB-TACE with sorafenib and 48 cases receiving conventional TACE. The physical properties of Callispheres were evaluated in HepG2 cells and a B6/J mouse model.

Results

DEB-TACE with Callispheres were demonstrated to effectively maintain stability and prolong the half-life of epirubicin. Compared with the patients receiving conventional TACE, those receiving DEB-TACE with sorafenib exhibited better patient outcomes with increased survival rate, reduced tumor volume, and declined levels of tumor markers. Additionally, DEB-TACE with Callispheres could effectively protect liver function, as well as reduce the toxic effects of loaded epirubicin, and its combination with sorafenib would not increase the incidence of adverse reactions.

Conclusion

DEB-TACE using CalliSpheres combined with sorafenib could prevent the progression of liver cancer and bring a better prognosis.

CalliSpheres® microsphere transarterial chemoembolization combined with 125I brachytherapy for patients with non–small‐cell lung cancer liver metastases

Objective

Poor prognosis and limited treatments of liver metastases from non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radical surgery are critical issues. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CalliSpheres^® microsphere transarterial chemoembolization (CSM-TACE) plus ¹²⁵I brachytherapy in these patients.

Methods

A total of 23 patients with liver metastases from NSCLC after radical surgery were included. All patients received CSM-TACE 1–3 times, then ¹²⁵I brachytherapy was carried out following the last CSM-TACE. Complete response (CR), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), survival, and adverse events were evaluated.

Results

CR, ORR and DCR were 43.5%, 87.0%, and 100%, respectively, at three months; furthermore, they were 78.3%, 100%, and 100% accordingly at six months. Moreover, most European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) subscales of functions (including physical and emotional function) and symptoms (including pain, nausea, and vomiting) were generally improved at three months (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.4–17.6] months, with a 1-year PFS rate of 62.9%, but the 2-year PFS rate was not reached. Moreover, the median overall survival (OS) was 22.0 (95% CI: 16.8–27.2) months, with a 1-year OS rate of 91.3% and a 2-year OS rate of 43.5%. Additionally, the main adverse events included fever (100%), pain (65.2%), liver function impairment (65.2%), fatigue (56.5%), and nausea and vomiting (52.2%), which were all categorized as grade 1–2.

Conclusion

CSM-TACE plus ¹²⁵I brachytherapy is effective and safe in patients with liver metastases from NSCLC after radical surgery, providing a potentially optimal option in these patients.

Tumor Response and Nomogram-Based Prognostic Stratification for Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization

Purpose

To explore the tumor response and propose a nomogram-based prognostic stratification for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE).

Patients and Methods

From the database of two centers, patients who received DEB-TACE as an initial treatment were enrolled and divided into the training and validation sets. The tumor response after DEB-TACE was estimated according to the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Using the independent survival predictors in the training set, a nomogram was constructed and validated internally and externally by measuring concordance index (C-index) and calibration. A prognostic stratification based on the nomogram was established.

Results

A total of 335 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Alkaline phosphatase level, tumor maximum diameter, tumor capsule and portal vein invasion were interrelated with the achievement of complete release after DEB-TACE. Alpha-fetoprotein level, Child-Pugh class, tumor maximum diameter, tumor number, tumor extent and portal vein invasion were integrated into the nomogram. The nomogram demonstrated good calibration and discrimination, with C-indexes of 0.735 and 0.854 and higher area under the curve (AUC) than BCLC and CNLC staging systems in the internal and external validation sets. The prognostic stratification classified patients into three different risk groups, which had significant differences in survival, complete release and objective response rate between any two groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The nomogram-based prognostic stratification has a good distinction and may help to identify the patients benefiting from DEB-TACE.

Comparison of DEB-TACE and cTACE for the initial treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma beyond up-to-seven criteria: A single-center propensity score matching analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical outcomes of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with CalliSpheres microspheres and conventional TACE (cTACE) as the initial treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond up-to-seven criteria.

METHODS

The study retrospectively assessed the medical records of HCC patients beyond up-to-seven criteria who received the initial treatment of DEB-TACE or cTACE from June 2016 to December 2019 in our institution. To reduce the patient selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used. The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. In addition, prognostic factors affecting PFS and OS were analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods.

RESULTS

A total of 312 eligible HCC patients were included in the study, including 140 patients in the DEB-TACE group and 172 patients in the cTACE group. 110 patients were chosen in each group after PSM analysis and there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics (P > 0.05). Before PSM analysis, DEB-TACE had better ORR and DCR compared to cTACE group (P < 0.05). After PSM analysis, the ORR for DEB-TACE group was still higher than that for cTACE group, while no significant difference in the DCR between the two groups. In addition, DEB-TACE group had better survival benefits than cTACE group before PSM analysis (mPFS: 11.5 months vs 9.0 months, P < 0.001; mOS: 24.0 months vs 19.2 months, P = 0.045). Similarly, after PSM analysis, the median PFS and OS in the DEB-TACE group were still higher than that in the cTACE group (mPFS: 11.1 months vs 9.0 months, P = 0.015; mOS: 25.0 months vs 19.0 months, P = 0.030). Further, the univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that DEB-TACE treatment was a positive prognostic factor for PFS and OS.

CONCLUSION

DEB-TACE with CalliSpheres microspheres might be an effective and safe treatment for patients with unresectable HCC beyond up-to-seven criteria.

Treatment response, survival and safety profile of transarterial chemoembolization using different sizes of drug-eluting beads in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus

BACKGROUND

Different sized microspheres may affect the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), but related data are lacking. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the treatment response, survival and safety of DEB-TACE using different sized microspheres in HCC patients with or without PVTT.

METHODS

Totally 90 HCC patients underwent DEB-TACE treatment were retrospectively enrolled (30 cases with PVTT and 60 cases without PVTT). According to the sizes of microspheres, patients were divided into 100-300 μm, 300-500 μm and 500-700 μm groups, respectively.

RESULTS

Disease control rate (DCR) was highest in 300-500 μm group (81.3%), followed by 500-700 μm group (50.0%), then the lowest in 100-300 μm group (12.5%) (P = 0.004); while objective response rate (ORR) was similar among three groups (P = 0.177) in patients with PVTT. Furthermore, overall survival (OS) (P = 0.513) and adverse events (all P>0.05) were similar among three groups in patients with PVTT. Besides, in patients without PVTT: ORR (P = 0.694), DCR (P = 0.591), OS (P = 0.816) were of no difference among three groups; but the fever incidence was highest in 300-500 μm group (65.0%), second high in 500-700 μm group (50.0%), then lowest in 100-300 μm group (25.0%) (P = 0.008), except for this, no difference of other adverse events among three groups was found (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

DEB-TACE using 300-500 μm microspheres (versus 100-300 μm or 500-700 μm microspheres) exhibits best treatment response without additional adverse events, indicating it might be the optimal choice for HCC patients with PVTT.

CalliSpheres® microspheres drug-eluting bead transhepatic artery chemoembolization with or without sorafenib for the treatment of large liver cancer: a multi-center retrospective study

PURPOSE

To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of CalliSpheres^® microspheres drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) combined with sorafenib in the treatment of large liver cancer.

METHOD

The study retrospectively analyzed 90 patients with large liver cancer. 42 patients who received DEB-TACE and sorafenib were included in the experimental group and 48 patients who received only DEB-TACE were included in the control group. The efficacy, TTP, OS and ARs were evaluated and further analysis was conducted on factors which might affect the prognosis.

RESULTS

As of June 2020. The median OS of the experimental group was significantly longer than that of the control group (18.6 months vs. 12.7 months), and the TTP was also longer in the experimental group (8.3 months vs. 6.9 months). Three months after the intervention, the ORR and DCR of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The main ARs of the experimental group taking sorafenib included hand-foot syndrome, skin rash, diarrhea, fatigue, hypertension, and anorexia. And they could be alleviated through treatment of the symptoms. TACE-related ARs for both groups were fever, pain, nausea, and vomiting, and there was no significant difference. Logistic regression analysis showed that the combined sorafenib treatment was a protective factor improving the prognosis of patients with large liver cancer, and risk factors were the number of tumors and vascular invasion.

CONCLUSION

DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib is safe and well tolerated in the treatment of large liver cancer. It can improve the tumor control rate and prolong the survival time.

Conventional versus drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization: A better option for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure involving intra-arterial catheter-based chemotherapy to selectively administer high doses of cytotoxic drugs to the tumor bed along with ischemic necrosis induced by arterial embolization. Chemoembolization forms the essential core of management in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not suitable for curative therapies such as transplantation, resection, or percutaneous ablation. TACE of hepatic cancer(s) has proven to be helpful in achieving local tumor control, and has supported the ability to prevent tumor progression, prolong patient life, and manage patient symptoms. Recent data have demonstrated that, in patients with single-nodule HCC ≤3 ​cm without vascular invasion, the 5-year overall survival with TACE was found to be comparable with hepatic resection and radiofrequency ablation. Used for several years, Lipiodol continues to play a vital role as a tumor-seeking and radiopaque drug delivery vector in interventional oncology. Efforts have been made to enhance the administration of chemotherapeutic agents to tumors. Compared with conventional TACE, drug-eluting bead TACE is a fairly new drug delivery embolization technique that permits fixed dosing and has the ability to provide sustained release of anticancer agents over a period of time. The present review discusses the basic procedure of TACE and its properties, and the effectiveness of conventional and drug-eluting bead chemoembolization systems currently available or presently undergoing clinical evaluation.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization is an effective downstaging option for subsequent radical treatments in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the potential of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) as downstaging therapy for subsequent radical treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Totally, 32 patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled, then they received DEB-TACE for down-staging therapy followed by radical treatments (surgery, radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation). The rate of successful down-staging, treatment response (after DEB-TACE and radical therapy), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.

RESULTS

After down-staging therapy with DEB-TACE, successful down-staging rate was 59.4%. With the followed radical treatment, the complete response was 81.3%. Subsequent analysis indicated that CNLC stage (IIb vs. IIa) was an independent risk factor for successful down-staging. Furthermore, AFP level presented a declined trend throughout the time points (before DEB-TACE, after DEB-TACE, and after radical treatment). Additionally, 1-year, 2-year and 3-year accumulating PFS were 68.8%, 40.6% and 31.3%, respectively; 1-year, 2-year and 3-year accumulating OS were 84.4%, 71.9% and 53.1%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves exhibited that successful down-staging was correlated with longer PFS and OS, then further Cox's regression analysis verified that successful down-staging was an independent factor for predicting increased OS but not PFS. Besides, child-Pugh stage (B vs. A), CNLC stage (IIb vs. IIa) and AFP abnormal after radical treatment were independent factors for decreased PFS or OS.

CONCLUSIONS

DEB-TACE has potential as an additionally effective down-staging therapy for radical treatments, and successful down-staging treatment by DEB-TACE associates with favorable survival profiles in patients with unresectable HCC.

Assessment of efficacy and safety by CalliSpheres versus HepaSpheres for drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization in unresectable large hepatocellular carcinoma patients

This study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of HepaSpheres and CalliSpheres in unresectable large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. One hundred and twenty-seven unresectable large HCC patients receiving drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) treatment with CalliSpheres or HepaSpheres microspheres were analyzed. Treatment response, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, adverse events, main liver function indexes, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Objective response rate (82.7% vs. 63.8%, p=.030) and disease control rate (100.0% vs. 91.5%, p=.030) were increased in CalliSpheres group compared to HepaSpheres group at 1 month after treatment, while no difference was found between the two groups regarding treatment response at 3 or 6 months post treatment (all p>.05). The KPS score at 1, 3, and 6 months was similar between the two groups (all p>.05). As for the liver function, the ALT, AST, ALB, and TBIL levels at 7 and 30 days were of no difference between the two groups (all p>.05). In addition, the adverse events including nausea/vomiting, pain, fever, myelosuppression, biloma, and abscess were of no difference between the two groups, either (all p>.05). In terms of survival profile, there was no difference regarding TTP (6.3 months (95%CI: 5.9-6.6 months) vs. 6.0 months (95%CI: 5.6-6.4 months), p=.082) or OS (23.0 months (95%CI: 20.1-25.9 months) vs. 22.0 months (95%CI: 20.2-23.8 months), p=.571) between the two groups. In conclusion, CalliSpheres seems to be superior in short-term efficacy and equal in long-term efficacy as well as safety compared to HepaSpheres for DEB-TACE treatment in unresectable large HCC patients.

Treatment Response, Survival, and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization With CalliSpheres® Microspheres Versus Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Drug-eluting embolic transarterial chemoembolization (DEE-TACE) is an advance in TACE technique. However, at present there is insufficient evidence to support that DEE-TACE is superior to conventional TACE (cTACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE with CalliSpheres® microspheres (CSM-TACE) compared with cTACE in patients with HCC.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI and Wanfang Databases were searched to identify relevant articles published before March 26, 2020. The data regarding treatment response, survival profile, adverse events and liver function indexes were retrieved.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies with 1454 HCC patients (722 treated with CSM-TACE and 732 with cTACE) were included. Patients receiving CSM-TACE had higher 1-month complete response (CR), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) (odds ratio (OR): 2.00, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.29-3.09; OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 2.15-3.83; OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.37-2.95, respectively), 3-month CR, ORR, DCR (OR: 4.04, 95%CI: 2.46-6.64; OR: 3.39, 95%CI: 2.45-4.70; OR: 1.71, 95%CI: 1.14-2.55 respectively), and 6-month CR, ORR, DCR (OR: 4.02, 95%CI: 2.26-7.16; OR: 3.00, 95%CI: 2.05-4.38; OR: 2.66, 95%CI: 1.70-4.16 respectively) than those treated with cTACE. Furthermore, CSM-TACE exhibited a trend toward improved progression free survival (hazard ratio (HR): 0.86, 95%CI: 0.67-1.11) and overall survival (HR: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.59-1.07) over cTACE although these differences did not reach statistical significance. In terms of safety, the two TACE treatments showed similar post-treatment pain (OR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.55-1.28), fever (OR: 0.99, 95%CI: 0.60-1.63), nausea/vomiting (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.60-1.17), as well as 1-month follow-up alanine aminotransferase (Mean difference (MD): -3.66, 95%CI: -10.38-3.07), aspartate aminotransferase (MD: -2.30, 95%CI: -8.91-4.31) and total bilirubin (MD: -0.15, 95%CI: -2.26-1.96).

CONCLUSION

CSM-TACE displays superior treatment response, non-inferior survival profile and safety over cTACE in HCC patients.

Current updates in machine learning in the prediction of therapeutic outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma: what should we know?

With the development of machine learning (ML) algorithms, a growing number of predictive models have been established for predicting the therapeutic outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after various treatment modalities. By using the different combinations of clinical and radiological variables, ML algorithms can simulate human learning to detect hidden patterns within the data and play a critical role in artificial intelligence techniques. Compared to traditional statistical methods, ML methods have greater predictive effects. ML algorithms are widely applied in nearly all steps of model establishment, such as imaging feature extraction, predictive factor classification, and model development. Therefore, this review presents the literature pertaining to ML algorithms and aims to summarize the strengths and limitations of ML, as well as its potential value in prognostic prediction, after various treatment modalities for HCC.

Drug-eluting embolic microspheres: State-of-the-art and emerging clinical applications

INTRODUCTION

Drug-eluting embolic (DEE) microspheres, or drug-eluting beads (DEB), delivered by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) serve as a therapeutic embolic to stop blood flow to tumors and a drug delivery vehicle. New combinations of drugs and DEE microspheres may exploit the potential synergy between mechanisms of drug activity and local tissue responses generated by TACE to enhance the efficacy of this mainstay therapy.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an overview of key drug delivery concepts related to DEE microspheres with a focus on recent technological developments and promising emerging clinical applications as well as speculation into the future.

EXPERT OPINION

TACE has been performed for nearly four decades by injecting chemotherapy drugs into the arterial supply of tumors while simultaneously cutting off their blood supply, trying to starve and kill cancer cells, with varying degrees of success. The practice has evolved over the decades but has yet to fulfill the promise of truly personalized therapies envisioned through rational selection of drugs and real-time multi-parametric image guidance to target tumor clonality or heterogeneity. Recent technologic and pharmacologic developments have opened the door for potentially groundbreaking advances in how TACE with DEE microspheres is performed with the goal of achieving advancements that benefit patients.

Preparation and evaluation of ion-exchange porous polyvinyl alcohol microspheres as a potential drug delivery embolization system

The present study aimed to develop a new drug delivery system with efficient drug loading and sustained drug release for potential application in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The porous polyvinyl alcohol microspheres (PPVA MS) were prepared by a combination of inverse emulsification and thermal-induced phase separation (TIPS) method, this was followed by the grafting polymerization of sodium 4-styrene sulfonate (SSS) onto the PPVA MS to obtain the grafted PPVA-g-PSSS MS. The prepared PPVA MS showed a well-defined spherical shape with 'honeycomb-like' porous structure, which could be readily tailored by adjusting the quenching temperature. In vitro biocompatibility analysis indicated the non-cytotoxic and hemocompatible nature of PPVA MS. The porous structure and presence of ionically charged groups in the PPVA-g-PSSS MS favoured the loading of cationic doxorubicin (DOX) onto the MS through ionic-interactions and demonstrated a sustained drug release pattern. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded PPVA-g-PSSS (DOX@PPVA-g-PSSS) MS against HepG2 cells and the intracellular uptake of DOX demonstrated the potent in vitro antitumor activity. Furthermore, the central auricular artery embolization in rabbits showed that both the PPVA-g-PSSS and DOX@PPVA-g-PSSS MS could occlude the auricular arteries and induced superior embolization effects, such as progressive ear appearance changes, irreversible parenchymal damage and fibrosis, and ultrastructural alternations in endothelial cells. Besides, the DOX fluorescence was distributed around the embolized arteries, without decreasing its intensity when prolonged embolization up to 15 days. These findings suggest that the newly developed DOX@PPVA-g-PSSS MS could be employed as a promising drug-loaded embolic agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.