Immunotherapy and Transarterial Radioembolization Combination Treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy and safety of combined immunotherapy and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) were suggested in preclinical and early-phase trials, but these were limited by small sample sizes. We sought to compare the efficacy of combined therapy and immunotherapy alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with advanced HCC diagnosed between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019. We included patients who received combined therapy or immunotherapy alone as first-line treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors of combined therapy. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression approaches were used to identify predictors of overall survival and to compare hazards of mortality between the patients who received combined therapy and immunotherapy alone.

RESULTS

Of 1,664 eligible patients with advanced-stage HCC, 142 received combined TARE/immunotherapy and 1,522 received immunotherapy alone. Receipt of combination therapy was associated with care at an academic center and inversely associated with racial/ethnic minority status (Hispanic and Black individuals). The median overall survival was significantly higher in the combination group than in the immunotherapy alone group (19.8 vs 9.5 months). In multivariable analysis, combined therapy was independently associated with reduced mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.36-0.68, P < 0.001). Results were consistent across subgroups and in sensitivity analyses using propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting.

DISCUSSION

The combination of TARE and immunotherapy was associated with improved survival compared with immunotherapy alone in patients with advanced-stage HCC. Our findings underly the importance of large clinical trials evaluating combination therapy in these patients.

Long term recovery of right ventricular function after treatment of intermediate and high risk pulmonary emboli

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and significant source of mortality and morbidity worldwide. A subset of patients with PE, particularly those who have intermediate and high risk events, are at increased risk for long-term right ventricular (RV) dysfunction; however, the impact of novel advanced therapies used for acute PE, including catheter-directed intervention, on long-term RV function remains uncertain. We sought to determine whether use of advanced therapies (catheter-directed intervention or systemic thrombolysis) is associated with improved long-term RV function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective, single-center cohort study of adult (≥18 year old) patients admitted and discharged alive with a diagnosis of acute PE, who fell under the category of intermediate or high risk, with available follow-up echocardiograms at least 6 months after the index, seen at a single quaternary referral center in Los Angeles, CA between 2012 and 2021.

RESULTS

There were 113 patients in this study (58 (51.3 %) treated with anticoagulation alone, 12 (10.6 %) treated with systemic thrombolysis, and 43 (38.1 %) treated with catheter-directed intervention), with approximately equal gender and racial distribution. Patients treated with advanced therapies were significantly more likely to have moderate-severe RV dysfunction (100 % for those treated with thrombolysis, 88.3 % for those treated with catheter-directed intervention, vs 55.2 % for those treated with anticoagulation alone; p < 0.001). At a follow-up of about 1.5 years, patients treated with advanced therapy (systemic thrombolysis or catheter-directed intervention) were more likely to have normalization of RV function (93-100 % vs 81 % for anticoagulation alone, p = 0.04). The subgroup of patients with intermediate-risk PE was significantly more likely to have normalization of RV function (95.6 % vs 80.4 % for anticoagulation alone, p = 0.03). Use of advanced therapy was not associated with substantial short-term adverse events among patients who survived to hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION

Patients with intermediate and high risk PE were more likely to have recovery in RV function long-term if treated with catheter-directed intervention or systemic thrombolysis, as compared to anticoagulation alone, without substantial safety issues, despite having worse RV function at baseline. Further data is needed to verify this observation.

Prognostic factors influencing survival in small bowel neuroendocrine tumor with liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Resection of liver metastasis in small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNET) may improve survival, however, factors influencing prognosis are unclear. We evaluated how the extent of resection influences outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with SBNET with liver metastasis from 1990 to 2013 who underwent resection of the primary tumor were identified. Outcomes among patients undergoing complete resection (CR), partial resection (PR), or no resection (NR) of liver metastases with resection of the primary tumor only were compared.

RESULTS

One hundred eleven patients met the criteria. The median number of liver lesions was seven and median lesions resected was one. Fifty (45%) patients had NR, 41 (36.9%) underwent CR, and 20 (18.1%) underwent PR. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 79.4% for NR, 84.7% for PR, and 100% for CR, demonstrating a trend that CR was best, followed by PR then NR (P = .02). 10-year OS showed no significant differences (72.7% NR; 84.7% PR; 82.5% CR; P = .10). Greater than 10 liver lesions (hazard ratio [HR] 3.6; P = 0.04) or receiving chemotherapy (HR 3.7; P = .03) were negative predictors of survival.

CONCLUSION

The extent of resection of liver disease in SBNET influenced survival at 5 years but not at 10 years. In addition, more than 10 liver lesions and chemotherapy were predictors of mortality.