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Yoon JH, Choi SK. Management of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: challenges and strategies for optimal outcomes. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:300-315. [PMID: 37734717 PMCID: PMC10565545 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2023.08.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a poor prognosis, management of early-stage HCC is often successful with highly efficacious treatment modalities such as liver transplantation, surgical resection, and radiofrequency ablation. However, unfavorable clinical outcomes have been observed under certain circumstances, even after efficient treatment. Factors that predict unsuitable results after treatment include tumor markers, inflammatory markers, imaging findings reflecting tumor biology, specific outcome indicators for each treatment modality, liver functional reserve, and the technical feasibility of the treatment modalities. Various strategies may overcome these challenges, including the application of reinforced treatment indication criteria with predictive markers reflecting tumor biology, compensation for technical issues with up-to-date technologies, modification of treatment modalities, downstaging with locoregional therapies (such as transarterial chemotherapy or radiotherapy), and recently introduced combination immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the challenges to achieving optimal outcomes in the management of early-stage HCC and suggest strategies to overcome these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyun Yoon
- Department of Gastroenterology and hepatology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
| | - Sung Kyu Choi
- Department of Gastroenterology and hepatology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
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Allignet B, Merle P, Rode A, Mabrut JY, Mohkam K, Mornex F. Transarterial chemoembolization followed by moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: Long-term results of RTF3 regimen. Cancer Radiother 2023:S1278-3218(23)00064-1. [PMID: 37150729 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients merely fit for surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) achieve low long-term disease control. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of its combination with moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy (hRT) using RTF3 regimen. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 2006 and 2016, 61 consecutive patients treated in our single expert center for a Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) A HCC by TACE followed by hRT 3Gy/fraction were retrospectively included. RESULTS Sixty of the 61 included presented Child-Pugh A cirrhosis (A5, n=41, 67.2%; A6: n=19, 31.1%). Fourteen patients (22.9%) were already treated for a HCC, mainly by radiofrequency (n=12). All patient received a TACE followed by 3Gy per fraction hRT. Mean radiation dose was 54Gy (range: 48-60). After a median follow-up of 118 months, median time-to-progression, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 21.3, 18.1, and 31.5 months, respectively. In univariate analysis, PFS was related to dose > 54Gy (HR: 2, P=0.036), and OS was correlated to Child-Pugh A6 or B7 (HR: 1.93, P=0.03) and overall hRT time (HR: 1.06, P=0.015). At progression, orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in 8 patients (13.1%). Severe symptomatic adverse events occurred in 12 patients (19.7%), mainly ascites (n=7). CONCLUSION In BCLC-A Child-Pugh A HCC patients ineligible to surgery or thermoablation, TACE-hRT is a safe and effective treatment. Prospective studies are needed to compare this association with radioembolization, TACE-stereotactic radiotherapy, and systemic treatments combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Allignet
- Department of Radiotherapy, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, hospices civils de Lyon, université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Pierre-Bénite, France; Univ Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UJM-Saint Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, CREATIS UMR 5220, U1294 Lyon, France.
| | - P Merle
- Hepatology Unit, hôpital de La Croix-Rousse, hospices civils de Lyon, université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Inserm 1052/CNRS 5286 Unit, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - A Rode
- Department of Radiology, hôpital de La Croix-Rousse, hospices civils de Lyon, université-Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - J Y Mabrut
- Inserm 1052/CNRS 5286 Unit, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, hôpital de La Croix-Rousse, hospices civils de Lyon, université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - K Mohkam
- Inserm 1052/CNRS 5286 Unit, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Department of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation, hôpital de La Croix-Rousse, hospices civils de Lyon, université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - F Mornex
- Department of Radiotherapy, centre hospitalier Lyon Sud, hospices civils de Lyon, université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Pierre-Bénite, France
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Surgical resection versus transarterial chemoembolization followed by moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Strahlenther Onkol 2023; 199:293-303. [PMID: 36441171 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-022-02022-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the gold standard treatment in intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but long-term disease control rates remain low. Herein, we compared results of TACE followed by hypofractionated radiotherapy (TACE-hRT) to surgical resection (SR) in early single or paucinodular intrahepatic HCC. METHODS Between June 2004 and November 2016, data on 160 consecutive patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A Child-Pugh A HCC treated with SR or TACE-hRT in our expert center were retrospectively reviewed. Time to progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were compared using the stabilized-weights inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score. RESULTS Ninety-eight patients underwent SR and 62 were treated by TACE-hRT. Median total dose of RT was 54 Gy (interquartile range [IQR] 54-54) in 3‑Gy fractions. Median OS follow-up was 93 months. TTP did not significantly differ between patients following SR and TACE-hRT, with 1‑year rates of 68.2% and 82.6% (p = 0.17), respectively. In contrast, PFS and OS were lower in the TACE-hRT group (p = 0.015 and p = 0.006), with a median OS of 37 vs. 63 months for patients with surgery and TACE-hRT, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a significant negative impact on PFS and OS was seen for age at diagnosis, on TTP for alcohol-related liver disease, and on OS for total number of HCC nodules. Symptomatic grade ≥ 3 adverse events were presented by 42 (42.9%) SR and 19 (30.6%) TACE-hRT patients (p = 0.17). CONCLUSION In patients presenting Child-Pugh A BCLC‑A HCC with high risk for surgical complications, TACE-hRT can be an effective and safe treatment. However, surgical management remains the standard of care whenever possible.
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Apisarnthanarax S, Barry A, Cao M, Czito B, DeMatteo R, Drinane M, Hallemeier CL, Koay EJ, Lasley F, Meyer J, Owen D, Pursley J, Schaub SK, Smith G, Venepalli NK, Zibari G, Cardenes H. External Beam Radiation Therapy for Primary Liver Cancers: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline. Pract Radiat Oncol 2022; 12:28-51. [PMID: 34688956 DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the indications and technique-dose of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC). METHODS The American Society for Radiation Oncology convened a task force to address 5 key questions focused on the indications, techniques, and outcomes of EBRT in HCC and IHC. This guideline is intended to cover the definitive, consolidative, salvage, preoperative (including bridge to transplant), and adjuvant settings as well as palliative EBRT for symptomatic primary lesions. Recommendations were based on a systematic literature review and created using a predefined consensus-building methodology and system for grading evidence quality and recommendation strength. RESULTS Strong recommendations are made for using EBRT as a potential first-line treatment in patients with liver-confined HCC who are not candidates for curative therapy, as consolidative therapy after incomplete response to liver-directed therapies, and as a salvage option for local recurrences. The guideline conditionally recommends EBRT for patients with liver-confined multifocal or unresectable HCC or those with macrovascular invasion, sequenced with systemic or catheter-based therapies. Palliative EBRT is conditionally recommended for symptomatic primary HCC and/or macrovascular tumor thrombi. EBRT is conditionally recommended as a bridge to transplant or before surgery in carefully selected patients. For patients with unresectable IHC, consolidative EBRT with or without chemotherapy should be considered, typically after systemic therapy. Adjuvant EBRT is conditionally recommended for resected IHC with high-risk features. Selection of dose-fractionation regimen and technique should be based on disease extent, disease location, underlying liver function, and available technologies. CONCLUSIONS The task force has proposed recommendations to inform best clinical practices on the use of EBRT for HCC and IHC with strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care. Future studies should focus on further defining the role of EBRT in the context of liver-directed and systemic therapies and refining optimal regimens and techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aisling Barry
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Minsong Cao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Brian Czito
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Ronald DeMatteo
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mary Drinane
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | | | - Eugene J Koay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UT-MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Foster Lasley
- Department of Radiation Oncology, GenesisCare, Rogers, Arkansas
| | - Jeffrey Meyer
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Dawn Owen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jennifer Pursley
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stephanie K Schaub
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Grace Smith
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UT-MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Neeta K Venepalli
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gazi Zibari
- Department of Transplantation Services, Willis-Knighton Medical Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Higinia Cardenes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell, New York, New York
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Mesny E, Mornex F, Rode A, Merle P. [Radiation therapy of hepatic haemangiomas: Review from a case report]. Cancer Radiother 2021; 26:481-485. [PMID: 34116947 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Haemangioma is the most frequent benign hepatic tumour. Haemangioma is generally asymptomatic but it can sometimes cause disabling symptoms depending on its size and location. Surgery and interventional radiology are the cornerstone of the treatment in this situation. Radiation therapy, already used with good efficacy and safety to treat hepatic malignant lesions as hepatocarcinoma and metastases, is a relevant option in case of contraindication to surgery because of multiple or very large lesions. In this context, we report the case of a patient presenting with multiple symptomatic hepatic haemangiomas, successfully treated by radiation therapy in our department. These good results justified a review of the literature to report series of patients treated in this indication and to describe the main treatment regimens used.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mesny
- Département de radiothérapie oncologie, groupement hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France.
| | - F Mornex
- Département de radiothérapie oncologie, groupement hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France; Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - A Rode
- Département de radiologie, groupement hospitalier Lyon Nord, Hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - P Merle
- Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Département d'hépatologie, groupement hospitalier Lyon Nord, Hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
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