Risk factors and surgical outcomes for spontaneous rupture of BCLC stages A and B hepatocellular carcinoma: A case-control study

Treatment and prognosis study of spontaneous rupture hemorrhage in hepatocellular carcinoma: Recommendations for adding the A1 stage to the BCLC staging system

BACKGROUND

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is an internationally recognized clinical staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, this staging system does not address the staging and surgical treatment strategies for patients with spontaneous rupture hemorrhage in HCC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognosis of patients with BCLC stage A undergoing liver resection for HCC with spontaneous rupture hemorrhage and compare it with the prognosis of patients with BCLC stage A undergoing liver resection without rupture.

METHODS

Clinical data of 99 patients with HCC who underwent curative liver resection surgery were rigorously followed up and treated at Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2013 to January 2023. A retrospective cohort study design was used to determine whether the presence of ruptured HCC (rHCC) is a risk factor for recurrence and survival after curative liver resection for HCC. Prognostic comparisons were made between patients with ruptured and non-ruptured BCLC stage A HCC (rHCC and nrHCC, respectively) who underwent curative liver resection.

RESULTS

rHCC (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.974, [p] = 0.016) and tumor diameter greater than 5 cm (HR = 2.819, p = 0.022) were identified as independent risk factors for overall survival (OS) after curative resection of BCLC stage A HCC. The postoperative OS of the spontaneous rupture in the HCC group (Group I) was shorter than that in the BCLC stage A group (Group II) (p = 0.008). Tumor invasion without penetration of the capsule was determined to be an independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) after liver resection for HCC (HR = 2.584, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

HCC with concurrent spontaneous rupture hemorrhage is an independent risk factor for postoperative OS after liver resection. The BCLC stage A1 should be added to complement the current BCLC staging system to provide further guidance for the treatment of patients with spontaneous rupture of HCC.

Lenvatinib-associated hemoperitoneum in a patient with primary angiosarcoma of the breast

We highlight the risk of lenvatinib drug toxicity when high-risk anatomic regions are affected by angiosarcoma.

Comparison of post-resection survival between hepatocellular carcinoma patients in BCLC stage A or B who experience tumor rupture and patients in BCLC stage C who do not

Background and aim

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening complication, and patients who experience it are formally assigned to stage T4 in the TNM system, while many clinicians informally assign them to stage C in the more widely used Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system. The present study explored whether these re-staging practices are appropriate for HCC patients who suffer tumor rupture.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1952 HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection at our hospital between January 2017 and June 2021. We compared recurrence-free and overall survival between 143 patients who had BCLC stage A or B disease at the time of spontaneous rupture and 449 patients who had BCLC stage C disease without rupture.

Results

Overall survival rate was significantly higher among the 143 patients (1, 3, 5-year survival rate was 80.3%, 60.4%, 51.4%) with rupture than among the 449 (1, 3, 5-year survival rate was 69.5%, 41.5%, 32.4%) with BCLC stage C disease (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.29 to 2.12). The two groups had similar recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.53), but most patients with rupture were able to receive interventional and potentially curative treatments after recurrence, whereas most patients in BCLC stage C received interventional or supportive care. Similar results were obtained after propensity score matching.

Conclusion

HCC patients who experience spontaneous rupture tumor while in BCLC stage A or B have better prognosis than patients in BCLC stage C without rupture. Our results suggest that HCC patients who suffer rupture in BCLC stage A or B should not be assigned to BCLC stage C.

Role of Interventional Radiology (IR) in vascular emergencies among cirrhotic patients

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among patients with liver cirrhosis. Mostly, these patients bleed from the gastroesophageal varices. However, nonvariceal bleeding is also more likely to occur in these patients. Because of frequent co-existing coagulopathy, cirrhotics are more prone to bleed from a minor vascular injury while performing percutaneous interventions. Ultrasound-guided bedside vascular access is an essential procedure in liver critical care units. Transjugular portosystemic shunts (TIPS) with/without variceal embolization is a life-saving measure in patients with refractory variceal bleeding. Whenever feasible, balloon-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) is an alternative to TIPS in managing gastric variceal bleeding, but without a risk of hepatic encephalopathy. In cases of failed or unfeasible endotherapy, transarterial embolization using various embolic agents remains the cornerstone therapy in patients with nonvariceal bleeding such as ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma, gastroduodenal ulcer bleeding, and procedure-related hemorrhagic complications. Among various embolic agents, N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) enables better vascular occlusion in cirrhotics, even in coagulopathy, making it a more suitable embolic agent in an expert hand. This article briefly entails the different interventional radiological procedures in vascular emergencies among patients with liver cirrhosis.

Meta-analysis of Prognostic Factors for Overall Survival Among Resected Patients with Spontaneous Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Our meta-analysis was performed to explore the prognostic factors for overall survival among post-hepatectomy patients with spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (SRHCC).

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were all searched up for relevant studies regarding prognostic factors with SRHCC. RevMan5.3 software and Stata 14.0 software were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of nineteen studies with 1876 resected SRHCC patients were finally identified. Pooled results indicated that preoperative AFP (high vs low) (P = 0.003), concurrent liver cirrhosis (yes vs no) (P = 0.02), preoperative liver function (child A vs non-child A) (P = 0.0007), tumor size (large vs small) (P < 0.00001), tumor number (solitary vs multiple) (P = 0.002), satellite foci (yes vs no) (P = 0.0006), micro-vascular invasion (yes vs no) (P < 0.00001), type of hepatectomy (major or minor) (P = 0.04), surgical margin (R + vs R -) (P < 0.00001), and type of hepatectomy (emergency hepatectomy vs staged hepatectomy) (P = 0.005) were prognostic factors for overall survival among post-hepatectomy SRHCC patients.

CONCLUSION

Apart from some conventional prognostic factors identified in resected patients with SRHCC, numerous prognostic factors have also been unmasked, which might provide clinical reference to stratify patients with different therapeutic regimes.

Robotic emergency liver resection of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare complication. The management of this complication needs a stepwise, multidisciplinary approach which considers first of all clinical conditions of the patient and also the possibility of the best curative treatment.

METHODS

We report our experience of an emergency robotic liver resection for a ruptured HCC in an elderly patient. Minimally invasive liver resection is currently recognised as a safe and feasible approach to the treatment of HCC in elderly patients.

RESULTS

Our patient presented haemodynamic stability, which allows us to perform a robotic resection of segment 3. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the application of a robotic platform in an emergency setting for liver resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Rupture of HCC is an uncommon complication, burdened by a high rate of mortality. Its management still remains controversial. Treatment should be individualised taking into consideration the clinical status of the patient, tumour features and possibility of centre therapeutic strategy.

Prognosis of spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching study

PURPOSE

Spontaneous rupture is a fatal complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study compared the prognosis of spontaneously ruptured HCC (srHCC) with that of non-ruptured HCC (nrHCC).

METHODS

A total of 185 srHCC patients and 1085 nrHCC patients treated by hepatectomy between February 2005 and December 2017 at Zhongshan Hospital were retrospectively reviewed and enrolled. The overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) were evaluated. A 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed using the nearest neighbor matching with a caliper of 0.2.

RESULTS

Before PSM, patients with srHCC who underwent hepatectomy (n = 185) had a poorer prognosis than those with nrHCC (n = 1085; 5-year OS, 39.1% vs 59.2%, P < 0.001; 5-year TTR, 83.8% vs 54.9%, P < 0.001). After PSM, patients with srHCC (n = 156) had higher 5-year TTR (83.2% vs 69.0%, P < 0.001) but comparable 5-year OS with those with nrHCC (n = 312, 44.0% vs 46.0%, P = 0.600). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated spontaneous rupture as an independent risk factor for TTR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.681; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.326-2.132; P < 0.001), but not for OS (HR: 1.074; 95% CI 0.823-1.401; P = 0.600). Further analysis revealed that srHCC was not appropriate to be assigned as T4 stage in American Joint Committee on Cancer classification.

CONCLUSION

Spontaneous rupture of HCC is not a risk factor for survival. If resected eventually, srHCC may achieve comparable survival with nrHCC.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Comparison of the prognosis of BCLC stage A ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma patients after undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or hepatectomy: a propensity score-matched landmark analysis

BACKGROUND

At present, the choice of treatment modalities for ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma patients in BCLC stage A remains controversial, and this study compared the overall survival of ruptured HCC patients undergoing TACE or hepatectomy.

METHODS

A total of 283 ruptured HCC patients treated at our liver surgery center were included in our study, of which 175 were treated with hepatectomy and 108 were treated with TACE. To reduce selection bias, we used a propensity score matching (PSM) model, which yielded a total of 88 pairs of patients. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to compare the long-term prognosis, and the Landmark method was used to compare the short-term and long-term prognoses of patients after PSM. Finally, we performed subgroup analysis according to whether it met the Milan criteria.

RESULTS

After PSM, in the hepatectomy group, the 1-, 3-, and 5 year OS rates were 73.4%, 45.4%, and 33.9%, respectively. In the TACE group, the 1-, 3-, and 5 year OS rates were 58.5%, 40.6%, and 23.2%, respectively. Within one year, the hepatectomy group had a better prognosis than the TACE group (P = 0.022), but there was no difference in long-term survival(P = 0.936). In the subgroup analysis, in patients who met the Milan criteria, the survival curve indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the survival prognosis between the two groups (P = 0.294) HR = 1.56(0.68-3.59); in the patients beyond the Milan criteria, the survival time was 28.0 months (20.0-34.0) in patients who underwent hepatectomy and 18 months (9.8-26.2) in patients who underwent TACE, and the survival curve indicated a statistically significant difference (P = 0.043) HR = 1.57(1.01-2.43).

CONCLUSION

Our propensity score-matched study found that ruptured HCC patients treated by hepatectomy had a better short-term prognosis than those treated by TACE, but there was no difference in the long-term prognosis between the two treatment groups.

2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cancer among men in South Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle and old age. The current practice guidelines will provide useful and sensible advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 49 experts in the fields of hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology, and radiation oncology from the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2018 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions. These guidelines provide useful information and direction for all clinicians, trainees, and researchers in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do Interventional Radiologists Need to Know?

Rupture of HCC (rHCC) is a life-threatening complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and rHCC may lead to a high rate of peritoneal dissemination and affect survival negatively. Treatment for rHCC mainly includes emergency surgery, interventional therapies, and palliative treatment. However, the management of rHCC should be carefully evaluated. For patients with severe bleeding, who are not tolerant to open surgery, quick hemostatic methods such as rupture tissue ablation and TAE/TACE can be performed. We described clinical presentation, prognosis, complication, interventional management, and current evidence of rHCC from the perspective of interventional radiologists. Overall, our review summarized that interventional therapies are necessary for most patients with rHCC to achieve hemostasis, even in some patients with Child–Pugh C. Moreover, TAE/TACE followed by staged hepatectomy is a beneficial treatment for rHCC according to current clinical evidence. TAE/TACE is the first choice for most patients with rHCC, and appropriate interventional treatment may provide staged surgery opportunities for those who are not tolerant to emergency surgery to reach an ideal prognosis.

Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do Interventional Radiologists Need to Know?

Rupture of HCC (rHCC) is a life-threatening complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and rHCC may lead to a high rate of peritoneal dissemination and affect survival negatively. Treatment for rHCC mainly includes emergency surgery, interventional therapies, and palliative treatment. However, the management of rHCC should be carefully evaluated. For patients with severe bleeding, who are not tolerant to open surgery, quick hemostatic methods such as rupture tissue ablation and TAE/TACE can be performed. We described clinical presentation, prognosis, complication, interventional management, and current evidence of rHCC from the perspective of interventional radiologists. Overall, our review summarized that interventional therapies are necessary for most patients with rHCC to achieve hemostasis, even in some patients with Child–Pugh C. Moreover, TAE/TACE followed by staged hepatectomy is a beneficial treatment for rHCC according to current clinical evidence. TAE/TACE is the first choice for most patients with rHCC, and appropriate interventional treatment may provide staged surgery opportunities for those who are not tolerant to emergency surgery to reach an ideal prognosis.

Survival of Patients Subjected to Hepatectomy After Spontaneous Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis of High-quality Propensity Score Matching Studies

Background

The spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high mortality rates, and liver resection can provide better outcomes than other available treatments. However, the survival length of patients subjected to hepatectomy after spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma remains controversial.

Method

Articles reporting the comparison of the survival outcome between patients with rupture HCC (rHCC) and non-rupture HCC (nrHCC) from the inception until December 31, 2021 by PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, and the Cochrane Library databases were included. The high-quality propensity score matching analysis was used to investigate the impact of rupture on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the rHCC and nrHCC group with no heterogeneity.

Result

A total of 606 patients from six cohort studies were included. The major baseline characteristics of the eligible patients were well balanced between rHCC and nrHCC group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year hazard ratios of DFS were 3.45 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.54–4.68), 3.63 (95% CI 2.87–4.60), and 3.72 (95% CI 2.93–4.72), respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year hazard ratios of OS were 5.01 (95% CI 3.26–7.69), 5.49 (95% CI 4.08–7.39), and 4.20 (95% CI 3.20–5.51), respectively.

Conclusion

The present meta-analysis demonstrated that the DSF and OS were significantly shorter in the rHCC group than in the nrHCC group, thus revealing that spontaneous HCC rupture was a predictor of poor survival.

Development of a prognostic score for recommended transarterial chemoembolization candidates with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Although transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely used for treating the spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), no existing model exists for predicting survival. The aim of this study was thus to develop and validate a nomogram for estimating the prognosis in patients with ruptured HCC upon undergoing TACE treatment.

METHODS

This study included 55 patients with spontaneously ruptured HCC who underwent TACE treatment between January 2015 and April 2019. The diagnosis of spontaneous HCC rupture was based on the disruption of the peritumoral liver capsule with surrounding fluid in the perihepatic region. The prognostic nomogram was constructed using the independent predictors assessed by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The median overall survival (OS) was 6.4 months, with 6-month and 1-year survival rates of 52.7% and 41.8%, respectively. In the univariate analysis, the size of the largest tumor, total bilirubin (TBIL) levels, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were associated with the OS of patients. Multivariate analysis suggested that TBIL levels (HR =0.358, P=0.036) and diameter of the largest tumor (HR =1.012, P=0.044) were independent prognostic factors for predicting the OS. Based on these variables, we developed and validated a nomogram for the risk stratification of HCC rupture after TACE treatment for individual patients. According to the nomogram risk assessment, we were able to evaluate the approximate 1- and 2-year survival rates based on patients' tumor diameter and TBIL level after TACE treatment of ruptured HCC. The concordance index for the OS prediction was 0.748 (95% CI: 0.691-0.805). This newly developed nomogram represents an intuitive tool for predicting the OS of patients with ruptured HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that TBIL levels and diameter of the largest tumor were independent prognostic factors for predicting the OS of ruptured HCC. This study may help maximize favorable TACE treatment outcomes.

Surgical resection could provide better outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor rupture

We investigated the outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identified the optimal treatment modality for such patients. We retrospectively enrolled 91 patients with treatment-naive HCC and tumor rupture at diagnosis, including 38 patients who underwent surgical resection (SR) alone, 28 patients who were treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) only, 20 patients who had a sequential combination therapy of TACE and SR, and 5 patients who received best supportive care. After a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 54 patients died. The cumulative 5 years overall survival (OS) rates were 55.1% and 0% in the SR group and non-SR group, respectively (p < 0.001). Non-SR therapy was associated with poorer OS according to a multivariate analysis with a hazard ratio of 6.649 (95% confidence interval 3.581–12.344, p < 0.001). Moreover, whether patients received TACE or not did not impact the OS in both the SR group and the non-SR group. In conclusion, for patients with HCC and tumor rupture at the time of diagnosis, SR could lead to better prognoses than non-surgery treatment modalities. Moreover, a sequential combination of TACE and SR had similar clinical outcomes when compared to SR alone.

Alpha-Fetoprotein+Alkaline Phosphatase (A-A) Score Can Predict the Prognosis of Patients with Ruptured Hepatocellular Carcinoma Underwent Hepatectomy

Background

This research is aimed at establishing a scoring system alpha-fetoprotein+alkaline phosphatase (A-A score) based on preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and to investigate its clinical significance in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) after hepatectomy.

Methods

175 ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with hepatectomy were included. Survival analysis was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed in a multivariate model. Preoperative serum AFP and ALP values are assigned a score of 1 if they exceed the threshold value and 0 if they are below the threshold value, A-A score is obtained by summing the scores of two variables (AFP, ALP), and the predictive values of AFP, ALP, and A-A score were compared by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, and subgroup analyses were performed to further evaluate the power of A-A scores.

Results

Of the 175 patients, 67 (38.3%) had an A-A score of 0, 72 (41.1%) had an A-A score of 1, and 36 (20.6%) had an A-A score of 2. In multivariate analysis, the A-A score, the BCLC stage, and the extent of resection were independent predictors of OS in patients with rHCC. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and RFS in patients with an A-A score of 1 were better than those with an A-A score of 0 and worse than those with an A-A score of 1 (all p < 0.05). Based on the results of ROC analysis, the A-A score is superior to AFP or ALP alone in predicting the prognosis of patients with ruptured HCC. In subgroup analysis, A-A score could accurately predict the prognosis of patients with or without microvascular invasion (MVI) and with different Child-Pugh grades or gender.

Conclusions

The A-A score can effectively predict the prognosis of patients after hepatectomy of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. At the same time, it also has good evaluation ability in different subgroups.

Spontaneous Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Insights

Background

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a potentially fatal complication and the third leading cause of death in patients with HCC after tumor progression and liver failure. Previous studies suggested that improved HCC surveillance has decreased the incidence of rupture. This study aims to characterize patients with ruptured HCC over time and identify predictors of rupture.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of 1451 HCC patients to identify cases with rupture and predictors of rupture. Data were divided into three 9-year eras to compare and trend patient/tumor characteristics and rupture.

Results

Fifty-seven patients (3.9%) presented with spontaneous HCC rupture and the following characteristics: mean age 62.6 years, 73.7% males, 41% cirrhosis, and mean tumor size of 8.0 cm. On multivariate analyses, predictors of rupture included obesity, tumor >5 cm, and single tumors, whereas the presence of cirrhosis was a negative predictor for rupture.Across three eras, there were changes in disease etiology and decreases in tumor size, and more HCCs were found with surveillance. However, more patients were noncirrhotic, and the incidence of spontaneous rupture was unchanged over time.

Conclusion

Despite improved early detection of HCC over time, the incidence of rupture has been unchanged. The persistent incidence of rupture may possibly be attributed to increasing proportion of fatty liver-related HCC patients who lack traditional risk factors for surveillance and may not have cirrhosis. Better identification of fatty liver disease and determining which patients need HCC surveillance may be needed in the future to prevent spontaneous rupture.

Prognostic Influence of Spontaneous Tumor Rupture in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatectomy: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Objective: This study aims to comprehensively analyze the influence of spontaneous tumor rupture on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients following hepatic resection.

Methods: We systematically searched four online electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, for eligible studies published from inception to March 2021. The main endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Results: This meta-analysis included 21 observational articles with 57,241 cases. The results revealed that spontaneous tumor rupture was associated with worse OS (hazard ratio (HR), 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.33–2.05) and DFS (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.12–1.80) in resectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This phenomenon was observed in most subgroups, which were classified by recorded survival time, age, country, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration, liver cirrhosis, and microvascular invasion. However, in subgroups of macrovascular invasion positive, spontaneous tumor rupture was not a risk factor for OS (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.99–2.42) and DFS (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.91–1.65) in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy. For macrovascular invasion negative, compared with non-ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma patients, ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma patients exhibited worse prognosis for OS (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.99–2.42) and DFS (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.91–1.65) following hepatectomy.

Conclusions: Spontaneous tumor rupture was a prognostic risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatic resection. However, in macrovascular invasion patients, spontaneous tumor rupture was not a prognostic risk factor.

Safety and clinical activity of intratumoral MEDI9197 alone and in combination with durvalumab and/or palliative radiation therapy in patients with advanced solid tumors

Background

MEDI9197 is an intratumorally administered toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist. In mice, MEDI9197 modulated antitumor immune responses, inhibited tumor growth and increased survival. This first-time-in-human, phase 1 study evaluated MEDI9197 with or without the programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitor durvalumab and/or palliative radiation therapy (RT) for advanced solid tumors.

Patients and methods

Eligible patients had at least one cutaneous, subcutaneous, or deep-seated lesion suitable for intratumoral (IT) injection. Dose escalation used a standard 3+3 design. Patients received IT MEDI9197 0.005–0.055 mg with or without RT (part 1), or IT MEDI9197 0.005 or 0.012 mg plus durvalumab 1500 mg intravenous with or without RT (part 3), in 4-week cycles. Primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and objective response based on Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors version 1.1. Exploratory endpoints included tumor and peripheral biomarkers that correlate with biological activity or predict response.

Results

From November 2015 to March 2018, part 1 enrolled 35 patients and part 3 enrolled 17 patients; five in part 1 and 2 in part 3 received RT. The maximum tolerated dose of MEDI9197 monotherapy was 0.037 mg, with dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of cytokine release syndrome in two patients (one grade 3, one grade 4) and 0.012 mg in combination with durvalumab 1500 mg with DLT of MEDI9197-related hemorrhagic shock in one patient (grade 5) following liver metastasis rupture after two cycles of MEDI9197. Across parts 1 and 3, the most frequent MEDI9197-related adverse events (AEs) of any grade were fever (56%), fatigue (31%), and nausea (21%). The most frequent MEDI9197-related grade ≥3 events were decreased lymphocytes (15%), neutrophils (10%), and white cell counts (10%). MEDI9197 increased tumoral CD8+ and PD-L1+ cells, inducing type 1 and 2 interferons and Th1 response. There were no objective clinical responses; 10 patients in part 1 and 3 patients in part 3 had stable disease ≥8 weeks.

Conclusion

IT MEDI9197 was feasible for subcutaneous/cutaneous lesions but AEs precluded its use in deep-seated lesions. Although no patients responded, MEDI9197 induced systemic and intratumoral immune activation, indicating potential value in combination regimens in other patient populations.

Trial registration number

NCT02556463.

A Case of Multiple Intratumoral Hemorrhage and Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Starting Lenvatinib

A man in his 80s was administered lenvatinib to treat multiple hepatocellular carcinomas. After starting lenvatinib, he was admitted to our hospital for fever and epigastric tenderness. Conjunctival icterus and conjunctival pallor were observed. Computed tomography showed high density areas in his tumors which were suggestive of intratumoral hemorrhage and tumor rupture. As a result, the patient underwent an emergent angiography and arterial embolization.

Development and validation of risk score for predicting spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

Spontaneous rupture is a potentially serious complication of liver cancer. A risk score was developed and validated for predicting spontaneous rupture based on a retrospective study.

Methods

Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to study the relationship between clinical variables and spontaneous rupture. The independent rupture predictors were converted into a score based on the odds ratio. Predicted attributes of the developed scores were then verified using a dataset in 2019.

Results

The incidence of spontaneous rupture was 5.5% from 2002 to 2019. A 10-point score (α-FP of ≥400 µg/L, 1; protrusion from liver surface, 2; ascites, 3; tumor size of >5 cm, 4) was derived for prediction of rupture and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.9 (95% confidence interval, 0.87–0.92). When applying a cutoff value of 5 points or more, the specificity was 0.87 and the sensitivity was 0.84. A validation cohort consisting of 202 hepatocellular carcinoma patients reproduces the predictive, identification, and calibration characteristics. The observed rate of spontaneous rupture according to risk stratification of the score was 0.6% for those with a score of 0–4, 21.6% for a score of 5–7, and 36.4% for a score of 8–10 in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

Here, based on routine clinical data, we determine the factors that affect prognosis and propose an effective tool for predicting spontaneous rupture, which may be useful in guiding priority treatment of high-risk patients or clinical routine preventive treatment.

Ruptured Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cured by Transarterial Chemoembolization

Spontaneous tumor rupture is a serious but rare complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has a low survival rate. Here, we report a case of massive HCC that ruptured and was treated successfully with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A 55-year-old man with abdominal pain was diagnosed with a 12-cm-wide ruptured HCC at segment 8. The overall liver function was scored as Child-Pugh A, but the single nodule tumor had ruptured; therefore, TACE treatment was initiated. After the first TACE treatment, residual tumors were found; thus, secondary TACE was performed 5 months later. No new lesions or extrahepatic metastases were found 16 months after the first TACE treatment, so hepatic resection was performed for curative treatment. The postoperative pathology results did not reveal any cancer cells; hence, TACE alone resulted in a cure. We report this case because the cure has been maintained for more than 3 years after resection.

Retrospective analysis of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment for spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma

Spontaneous rupture is one of the complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with a high mortality rate. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely used in patients with ruptured liver tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the benefits and safety of conventional TACE and the disease prognosis following TACE and surgery with regard to the progression of spontaneously ruptured HCC. The clinical data of 70 patients diagnosed with spontaneous rupture of HCC were retrospectively reviewed. The majority of adverse reactions that occurred following treatment were Grade 2 or below. Grade 3/4 events occurred in 20 patients (14.3%), which included gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cardiac failure, pulmonary embolism, shock and recurrent tumor rupture. All of these patients recovered and were discharged following symptomatic and supportive treatment, with the exception of two cases of severe hemorrhagic shock and hepatic failure prior to TACE treatment. These patients did not survive during the period of hospitalization. Multivariate analysis identified that a maximum tumor size >10 cm and a high serum total bilirubin level >30 µmol/l were independent factors for determining overall patient survival rate. Additionally, the overall survival rates at 1, 6 and 12 months were 92.3, 53.8 and 46.2% in the TACE group and 100, 87.1 and 54.8% in the surgery group, respectively. The overall survival rates at 1 and 6 months following TACE were lower than those of the surgery group (P<0.05). However, the overall survival rates at 12 months were similar (P>0.05). Patients in the TACE group had a shorter hospital admission compared with those in the resection group (median 7 vs. 13 days; P<0.01). Therefore, the data demonstrated that conventional TACE therapy was safe and effective for the treatment of spontaneously ruptured HCC. In addition, this type of therapy conferred a similar long-term survival rate with that of open surgery.

2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer globally and the fourth most common cancer in men in Korea, where the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in middle-aged and elderly patients. These practice guidelines will provide useful and constructive advice for the clinical management of patients with HCC. A total of 44 experts in hepatology, oncology, surgery, radiology and radiation oncology in the Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee revised the 2014 Korean guidelines and developed new recommendations that integrate the most up-to-date research findings and expert opinions.

Rupture of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of Literature

Approximately 700,000 people die of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) each year worldwide, making it the third leading cause of cancer related deaths. Rupture is a potentially life-threatening complication of HCC. The incidence of HCC rupture is higher in Asia and Africa than in Europe. In Asia approximately 10% of patients with a diagnosis of HCC die due to rupture each year. Spontaneous rupture is the third most common cause of death due to HCC after tumor progression and liver failure. The diagnosis of rupture in patients without history of cirrhosis or HCC may be difficult. The most common symptom of ruptured HCC is abdominal pain (66-100%). Shock at presentation can be seen in 33-90% of cases; abdominal distension is reported in 33%. Abdominal paracentesis documenting hemoperitoneum is a reliable test to provisionally diagnose rupture of HCC, it can be seen in up to 86% of clinically suspected cases. The diagnoses can be confirmed by computed tomography scan or ultrasonography, or both in 75% of cases. Careful pre-treatment evaluation is essential to decide the best treatment option. Management of ruptured HCC involves multi-disciplinary care where hemostasis remains a primary concern. Earlier studies have reported a mortality rate of 25-75% in the acute phase of ruptured HCC. However, recent studies have reported a significant decrease in the incidence of mortality. There is also a decrease in the incidence of ruptured HCC due to improved surveillance and early detection of HCC. Transarterial Embolization is the least invasive method to effectively induce hemostasis in the acute stage with a success rate of 53-100%. Hepatic resection in the other hand has the advantage of achieving hemostasis and in the same go offers a potentially curative resection in selected patients.

Safety and efficacy of dehydrated ethanol soaking of the operative field in the treatment of spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma rupture

Background

The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical safety and value of ethanol surgical field infiltration (ESFI), combined with distilled water peritoneal lavage (DWPL), after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rupture.

Methods

Rat liver tissue samples were soaked in dehydrated ethanol for different soaking times, and 18 rats were assigned to three groups that underwent different soaking methods of the hepatectomy cut surface. We retrospectively reviewed 45 patients who underwent hepatectomy for treatment of ruptured HCC. Among these, EFSI combined with DWPL was used in 21 patients (DAW group), with only DWPL used in the other 24 patients (DW group). Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

For in vitro experiments, the depth of coagulation degeneration and necrosis increased with the duration of soaking. For in vivo experiments, rats in all three groups survived until postoperative day 7 without significant postoperative complication. In patients, the rate of post-operation complication was comparable between the two groups (P = 0.398), with no between-group differences in liver function levels. The incidence of peritoneal dissemination was significantly higher for DW than DAW group (P = 0.037). Kaplan–Meier test identified dehydrated ethanol treatment as a significant factor of disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.036). On univariate analysis, dehydrated ethanol treatment was associated with better prognostic outcomes, although it was not retained as an independent factor of patient outcome.

Conclusions

Dehydrated ethanol soaking of the cut surface of the hepatectomy could potentially lower the risk of metastasis and improve the effect of hepatectomy for ruptured HCC as well as showed potential therapeutic value for intraoperative iatrogenic rupture of HCC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12957-018-1390-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ceramide synthase-4 orchestrates the cell proliferation and tumor growth of liver cancer in vitro and in vivo through the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortalities worldwide, partly due to the absence of effective therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Therefore, novel molecular targets are critical to develop new therapeutic approaches for liver cancer. In the present study, ceramide synthase-4 (CERS4) was investigated as a novel molecular target for liver cancer. High expression of CERS4 in liver cancer tissues was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Subsequently, CERS4 was silenced by lentivirus-mediated RNA interfere, and the proliferation rates of liver cancer cells were significantly suppressed (P<0.001). In addition, the weight and volume of the tumors were reduced subsequent to silencing of CERS4 in liver cancer cells, revealed by an in vivo study using Balb/c nude mice. In addition, the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway was affected following knockdown of CERS4 in liver cancer cells. The present results proposed that CERS4 is an important regulator of liver cancer cell proliferation and indicated that CERS4 may be a potential anticancer therapeutic target and a promising diagnostic biomarker for human liver cancer.

Metabolic imaging for guidance of curative treatment of isolated pelvic implantation metastasis after resection of spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening complication and its prognosis is significantly poor because of the high recurrence rate after initial hepatectomy. Resection of isolated extrahepatic metastasis of HCC has been advocated to obtain a possibility of long-term survival. However, it is a challenge for clinicians to detect implantation metastasis of spontaneously ruptured HCC. Accurate re-staging plays the most important role in making a decision on isolated metastasis resection. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is useful in detecting intra-abdominal implantation metastasis from a variety of malignancies and shows superior accuracy to conventional imaging modalities in determining the location of metastasis. We present one patient with a new isolated pelvic implantation metastasis detected by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and pathologically confirmed by PET/CT-guided percutaneous biopsy, who had a history of resection of spontaneously ruptured HCC two years ago. The patient’s condition was stable at the 6-mo follow-up after resection of the isolated pelvic metastasis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma rupture following transarterial chemoembolization

As the incidence of primary and metastatic liver cancer increases, minimally invasive treatment methods such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) have gained momentum as their efficacy and safety profile have been validated. Complications of TACE are rare and typically well tolerated. A unique complication is tumor rupture with hemorrhage. Reports of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rupture after TACE are limited. It is critical to recognize this complication and understand the treatment options, which range from conservative to surgical management. This report describes a case of HCC rupture following TACE successfully managed with coil embolization.