Multidisciplinary management of recurrent and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma after resection: an international expert consensus

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth-most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. However, 40-70% patients eventually suffer from postoperative recurrence within 5 years. HCC recurrence after surgery severely affects prognosis of the patients. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity to improve patients' prognosis if doctors and researchers can recognize the importance of a standardized perioperative management and study it in clinical and pre-clinical settings. Hence, based on our own experience and published studies from other researchers, we develop this consensus regarding multidisciplinary management of locally recurrent and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma after resection. This consensus consists of the entire course of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC) management, including prediction of recurrence, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of RHCC. Consensus recommendations are presented with grades of evidences (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, III and IV), and strength of recommendations (A, B, C, D and E). We also develop a decision-making path for RHCC treatment, which can intuitively demonstrate the management for RHCC. It is hoped that we may make some effort to standardize the management of RHCC and ultimately understand how to improve outcomes.

Radiofrequency ablation versus stereotactic body radiotherapy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter, propensity score matching analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed at analyzing and comparing the clinical efficacy and prognosis of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC).

METHODS

Clinicopathological data of RHCC patients who underwent RFA or SBRT as treatment from three medical centers were retrospectively reviewed. The survival outcomes of patients who underwent SBRT were compared with those who underwent RFA. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, survival curves for the two groups of patients were generated, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival differences. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to match patients of the SBRT and RFA groups in a 1:1 ratio.

RESULTS

The SBRT group had a significantly better overall survival (OS) than the RFA group and no statistical differences were found in disease-free survival (DFS) in the two groups before and after PSM. After PSM, subgroup analysis demonstrated that, compared with the RFA group, the SBRT group had a significantly better OS in terms of tumor location in the subphrenic or subcapsular area, tumor size > 2.5 cm, and tumor proximity to major vessels ≤ 1 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT appears to be an effective priority to RFA for RHCC patients especially when RFA is not feasible due to tumor location, size, and proximity to major vessels.