Irregular vascular pattern by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and high serum Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein level predict poor outcome after successful radiofrequency ablation in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Combining serum biomarkers and MRI radiomics to predict treatment outcome after thermal ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive value of serum alpha - fetoprotein (AFP), lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3), and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics in forecasting therapeutic efficacy and prognosis following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on HCC patients who underwent RFA between January 2019 and December 2023. Clinical and radiologic features of HCC were analyzed. A predictive model was developed using clinical data and radiomic features collected before surgery, with the goal of predicting prognosis after RFA. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using AUC values in both training and validation cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 298 HCC patients were included in the study, divided into a good prognosis group (n=145) and a poor prognosis group (n=153). Serum AFP and AFP-L3 levels were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group (P=0.007 and P=0.02, respectively). Independent predictive factors included: AFP-L3 (95% CI -1.228, -1.1.61; P<0.001), AFP (95% CI 0.017, 0.036; P<0.001), intratumoral hemorrhage (95% CI 0.380, 0.581; P<0.001), peritumoral arterial tumor enhancement (95% CI 0.193, 0.534; P<0.001) and low signal intensity around liver and gallbladder tumors (95% CI 0.267, 0.489; P<0.001). The combined clinical-radiological-radiomics model demonstrated superior predictive performance, with AUC value of 0.897 in the training set and 0.841 in the validation set, outperforming individual models and sequences.

CONCLUSION

The integrated clinical-radiological-radiomics model showed excellent predictive performance for the prognosis of HCC patients undergoing RFA, surpassing individual models. Key predictors included serum AFP, AFP-L3 levels, intratumoral hemorrhage, and peritumoral low signal intensity. This multimodal approach offers a promising tool for individualized prognostic assessment and improved clinical decision-making.

Assessment of arterial-phase hyperenhancement and late-phase washout of hepatocellular carcinoma-a meta-analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with SonoVue® and Sonazoid®

OBJECTIVES

The recognition of arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and washout during the late phase is key for correct diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). This meta-analysis was conducted to compare SonoVue®-enhanced and Sonazoid®-enhanced ultrasound in the assessment of HCC enhancement and diagnosis.

METHODS

Studies were included in the analysis if they reported data for HCC enhancement in the arterial phase and late phase for SonoVue® or in the arterial phase and Kupffer phase (KP) for Sonazoid®. Forty-two studies (7502 patients) with use of SonoVue® and 30 studies (2391 patients) with use of Sonazoid® were identified. In a pooled analysis, the comparison between SonoVue® and Sonazoid® CEUS was performed using chi-square test. An inverse variance weighted random-effect model was used to estimate proportion, sensitivity, and specificity along with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

In the meta-analysis, the proportion of HCC showing APHE with SonoVue®, 93% (95% CI 91-95%), was significantly higher than the proportion of HCC showing APHE with Sonazoid®, 77% (71-83%) (p < 0.0001); similarly, the proportion of HCC showing washout at late phase/KP was significantly higher with SonoVue®, 86% (83-89%), than with Sonazoid®, 76% (70-82%) (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of APHE plus late-phase/KP washout detection in HCC were also higher with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid® (sensitivity 80% vs 52%; specificity 80% vs 73% in studies within unselected patient populations).

CONCLUSION

APHE and late washout in HCC are more frequently observed with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid®. This may affect the diagnostic performance of CEUS in the diagnosis of HCCs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Meta-analysis data show the presence of key enhancement features for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is different between ultrasound contrast agents, and arterial hyperenhancement and late washout are more frequently observed at contrast-enhanced ultrasound with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid®.

KEY POINTS

• Dynamic enhancement features are key for imaging-based diagnosis of HCC. • Arterial hyperenhancement and late washout are more often observed in HCCs using SonoVue®-enhanced US than with Sonazoid®. • The existing evidence for contrast-enhanced US may need to be considered being specific to the individual contrast agent.

Usefulness of Body Position Change during Local Ablation Therapies for the High-Risk Location Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Local ablation therapies are important treatment options for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Various techniques have been used to perform these therapies efficiently and safely. However, few reports have discussed the usefulness of body position change (BPC). This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of BPC during local ablation therapies in patients with HCC. We evaluated 283 HCC nodules that underwent local ablation therapy. These nodules were categorized into high- or low-risk locations on the basis of their proximity to large vessels, adjacent extrahepatic organs, or poor visibility under ultrasound (US) guidance. The technical success rates, procedure time, and prognosis were evaluated. In this study, 176 (62%) nodules were classified in the high-risk location group. The high-risk location group was treated with techniques such as BPC, artificial pleural fluid, artificial ascites, fusion imaging, and contrast-enhanced US more frequently than the low-risk location group. The technical success rates were 96% and 95% for the high- and low-risk location groups, respectively. Within the high-risk location group, those without BPC had a lower success rate than those with BPC (91% vs. 99%, p = 0.015). Notably, BPC emerged as the sole contributing factor to the technical success rate in the high-risk location group (OR = 10, 95% CI 1.2-86, p = 0.034). In contrast, no differences were found in the procedure time, local tumor progression rates, intrahepatic distant recurrence rates, and overall survival between the groups with and without BPC in the high-risk location group. In conclusion, BPC during local ablation therapy in patients with HCC in high-risk locations was safe and efficient. The body position should be adjusted for HCC in high-risk locations to maintain good US visibility and ensure a safe puncture route in patients undergoing local ablation therapies.

Different power modes of microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Evaluation of recurrence rate and factors related to recurrence

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of different power modes(constant power and variable power) percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to predict the risk factors of recurrence after MWA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, a total of 112 patients with solitary HCC were included from January 2015 to January 2021. All patients received MWA through a percutaneous approach that was guided by ultrasound, 45 patients received variable power MWA, and the remaining 67 were treated with constant power MWA. The complete ablation rates, local recurrence rates, complications, and short-term survival were analyzed. Possible risk factors for tumor recurrence were analyzed.

RESULTS

The complete ablation rates were 95.9% for the first ablation and 100% for the second ablation for ≤3 cm lesions. The complete ablation rates were 84.2%(95.9% versus 84.2%, p = 0.039) for the first ablation and 94.7% (100% versus 94.7%, p = 0.113) for the second ablation for 3-5 cm lesions. Local and distant recurrence rates were 18.7%(21/112) and 14.3%(16/112). The 1-, 2-year survival rates were 86.3 and 66.3%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that 1-, 2-year survival rates were 91.1% and 78.5% in ≤3 cm group, and were 74.4% and 40.9% in 3-5 cm group, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that a positive correlation existed between the HBV DNA replication(p = 0.007), AFP level of pre-MWA(p = 0.001) and post-MWA(p<0.001), tumor diameter(p<0.001), irregular shape(p = 0.014), proximity to the risk location(p = 0.008), poor differentiation(p = 0.003), constant power(p = 0.028), length(p<0.001) and width of ablation zone(p = 0.001), and present complication(p<0.001), and early recurrence. Multivariate analysis identified HBV DNA replication(OR = 0.266, p = 0.036), AFP level of pre-MWA (OR = 4.001, p = 0.036), tumor diameter (OR = 2.153, p = 0.042), tumor location (OR = 0.910, p = 0.046), and width of ablation zone(OR = 2.530, p = 0.044) were independent prognosis factors causing postoperative HCC recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Variable power MWA of HCC appears to be a safe and effective treatment. HBV DNA, AFP level of pre-MWA, tumor diameter, tumor location, and width of ablation range appear to be independent predictors of tumor recurrence.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Parameters and D-Dimer: New Prognostic Parameters for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Objective

To investigate the predictive role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) plus D-dimer levels in the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

CEUS was applied to assess lymph nodes in 186 patients with confirmed DLBCL. The clinical data and laboratory indicators were collected from these patients, and a retrospective analysis was conducted on the relationship between the quantitative parameters of CEUS (TTP, PI, AUC, WOT), D-dimer levels, and clinical features of the DLBCL patients. The Cox regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses for the risk factors associated with the prognosis.

Results

There was an increase of D-dimer levels in advanced DLBCL patients, who were combined with a significant reduction in TTP and WOT and a significant increase in PI and AUC. D-dimer levels and quantitative parameters of CEUS were strongly correlated with the Ann Arbor, B symptoms, International Prognostic Index (IPI), LDH and CRP levels. The results of the Cox regression model indicated that D-dimer levels, TTP and PI, the quantitative parameters of CEUS, were important prognostic factors for DLBCL.

Conclusion

CEUS results and D-dimer levels can be used as independent prognostic factors for DLBCL.

Comparative the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, enhancement CT and MRI for diagnosing of liver lesions

BACKGROUND

To investigate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, CT-enhancement and MRI in the diagnosis of liver-occupying lesions.

METHODS

176 patients with suspected liver lesions in our hospital were retrospectively studied from July 2014 to July 2016. All of the 176 patients were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, enhanced CT and MRI, and the pathological examination was performed. The results of pathological examination were regarded as the results of the diagnosis. The diagnostic accuracywas then compared among contrast-enhanced ultrasound, enhanced CT and MRI of these patients.

RESULTS

The results of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed that 164 of the 176 patients had liver-occupying lesions, and the accuracy of the diagnosis was 95.35%, which was significantly higher than that of CT enhancement and MRI (80.23% 84.30%). The accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer was significantly higher than that of CT enhancement and MRI (P <  0.05), and the difference was significant difference (P <  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The examination of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is relatively simple, and the patients can get duplicateexamination, so we should choose the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as the preferred method of diagnosis in liver mass, especially primary liver cancer.

Enhanced patterns on intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography predict outcomes after curative liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study aimed to clarify what hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) phenotype, as categorized by intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), showed a high risk of recurrence after hepatic resection.

METHODS

Patients who underwent initial curative hepatectomy with intraoperative CEUS for a single HCC nodule were retrospectively assigned to three patterns of fine (FI), vascular (VA), and irregular (IR) according to the maximum intensity projection pattern based on intraoperative CEUS. Staining was performed for Ki-67, pyruvate kinase type M2 (PKM2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to assess the tumor proliferative activity, tumor glucose metabolism, and angiogenesis, respectively.

RESULTS

Of 116 patients, 18, 50, and 48 were assigned to the FI, VA and IR patterns, respectively. IR patients demonstrated a significantly worse prognosis for both the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0002, 0.0262, respectively) than did patients with other patterns. A multivariate analysis revealed an IR pattern in intraoperative CEUS to be an independent predictive factor for a poor RFS, and major hepatectomy and an IR pattern were independent predictive factors for a poor OS. An IR pattern was closely related to the tumor size (≥ 3.3 cm) and poor histological differentiation and showed a high Ki-67 index, low VEGF expression, and high PKM2 expression.

CONCLUSION

IR-pattern HCCs as classified by intraoperative CEUS may be associated with a higher risk of recurrence and worse outcomes in HCC patients after hepatic resection than other patterns.

Differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To explore the diagnostic ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS in differentiating ICC from HCC. The diagnostic ability of CEUS was assessed based on the pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The methodologic quality was assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression and investigation of publication bias were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of eight studies were included, consisting of 1,116 patients with HCC and 529 with ICC. The general diagnostic performance of CEUS in distinguishing ICC and HCC were as follows: pooled sensitivity, 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84-0.96); pooled specificity, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79-0.92); pooled PLR, 7.1 (95% CI: 4.1-12.0); pooled NLR, 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05-0.19); pooled DOR, 76 (95% CI: 26-220) and AUC, 0.95(95% CI: 0.93-0.97). Different liver background may be a potential factor that influenced the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS according to the subgroup analysis, with the pooled DOR of 89.67 in the mixed liver background group and 46.87 in the cirrhosis group, respectively. Six informative CEUS features that may help differentiate HCC from ICC were extracted. The three CEUS features favoring HCC were arterial phase hyperenhancement(APHE), mild washout and late washout (>60s); the three CEUS favoring ICC were arterial rim enhancement, marked washout and early washout(<60s). No potential publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSION

CEUS showed great diagnostic ability in differentiating ICC from HCC, which may be promising for noninvasive evaluation of these diseases.

Current role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Ultrasonography (US) is a major, sustainable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance method as it provides inexpensive, real-time, and noninvasive detection. Since US findings are based on pathological features, knowledge of pathological features is essential for delivering a correct US diagnosis. Recent advances in US equipment have made it possible to provide more information, such as malignancy potential and accurate localization diagnosis of HCC. Evaluation of malignancy potential is important to determine the treatment strategy, especially for small HCC. Diagnosis of blood flow dynamics using color Doppler and contrast-enhanced US is one of the most definitive approaches for evaluating HCC malignancy potential. Recently, a new Doppler microvascular imaging technique, superb microvascular imaging, which can detect Doppler signals generated by low-velocity blood flow, was developed. A fusion imaging system, another innovative US technology, has already become an indispensable technology over the last few years not only for US-guided radiofrequency ablation but also for the detection of small, invisible HCC. This article reviews the evidence on the use of ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound with Sonazoid for the practical management of HCC.

Developments in predictive biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor of the liver and the third largest cause of cancer-relateddeaths worldwide. Potentially curative treatments (surgical resection, radiofrequency or liver transplantation) are only available for few patients, while transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) or systemic agents are the best treatments for intermediate and advanced stage disease. The identification of markers that allow us to choose the best treatment for the patient is urgent.Areas covered: In this review we summarize the potential biological markers to predict the efficacy of all treatment available in patients with HCC and discuss anew biomarker with ahigher potential of success in the next future.Expert opinion: HCC is aheterogeneous disease. Tumors are heterogeneous in terms of genetic alteration,with spatial heterogeneity in cellular density, necrosis and angiogenesis.This heterogeneity may affect prognosis and treatment. Tumor heterogeneity can be difficult to quantify with traditional imaging due to subjective assessment of images; the same for sampling biopsy, which evaluates only asmall part of the tumor. We think that combining multi-OMICSwith radiomics represents apromising strategy for evaluating tumor heterogenicity and for identifying biomarkers of response and prognosis.

The prognostic value of major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2A in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to characterize the expression of major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2A (MFSD2A) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and analyze its prognostic value.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry revealed that low expression of MFSD2A was present in 37 of 79 cases (46.84%), which was significantly correlated with poor histological differentiation (P = 0.012). The plasma MFSD2A level in HCC patients was significantly lower than in healthy controls (P = 0.0079) and controls with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (P = 0.0430). Moreover, patients with lower MFSD2A expression had shorter survival than higher expression (P = 0.021). Multivariate analysis revealed that MFSD2A was an independent prognostic predictor for HCC patients (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSION

The current study indicate MFSD2A may be an optimal diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC.

METHODS

First, we examined MFSD2A expression in 24 paired HCC and nontumorous tissues by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Second, the protein levels of MFSD2A in 11 paired HCC and nontumorous tissues were investigated by western blotting (WB). Moreover, MFSD2A protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 79 HCC patients. In addition, we detected the plasma level of MFSD2A in HCC patients and healthy individuals and investigated the relationship between MFSD2A expression and clinicopathological parameters or prognosis of HCC patients.

Association between quantitative parameters of CEUS and Sall4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objectives: In this study, we aim to investigate the correlations of quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and Spalt-Like Transcription Factor 4 (Sall4)/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The CEUS was performed to detect the liver function and the prognosis of patients. The expression of Sall4, WNT3a and β-catenin was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. Sall4, WNT3a and β-catenin mRNA expression was measured by SYBR green qPCR assay.

Results: We found that the mRNA and protein expression of Sall4, WNT3a and β-catenin in the HCC tissues were significantly upregulated compared with the adjacent normal tissues. Upregulation of these proteins was associated with tumor differentiation, TNM stage, tumor size, vascular invasion and liver cirrhosis of HCC patients. In addition, we found that decreased time to peak and washout time and increased peak intensity and area under the curve of CEUS in the HCC were also correlated with TNM stage, tumor size and vascular invasion. Moreover, Sall4, WNT3a and β-catenin protein were significantly associated with the TTP, PI, AUC, and WOT.

Conclusion: This study suggests that quantitative parameters of CEUS and Sall4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be helpful for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.

Genetic correction of serum AFP level improves risk prediction of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort study

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most commonly used tumor biomarker for screening and diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the predictive effect for HCC risk is still unsatisfactory. The aim of this prospective study was to estimate whether the individual genetic correction could improve the prediction efficiency of AFP for HCC risk. A prospective analysis with 9819 baseline HCC-free individuals based on a large population-based Chinese cohort study was performed. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with serum AFP level were used to calculate the genetic corrected AFP level (rs12506899 and rs2251844). Statistical analysis including logistic regression analysis and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess the discriminative ability of the original and genetic corrected AFP level for HCC risk. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were presented. Fifty-seven participants were diagnosed with HCC for the first time. After adjusting AFP level with genetic effects, the participants for HCC risk increased compared to those with AFP level alone (OR = 5.34, 95% CI = 2.57-11.13; P < 0.001 vs. OR = 5.04, 95% CI = 2.46-10.30; P < 0.001). In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) for the discrimination of HCC elevated from 0.611 to 0.726. The efficiency in HCC prediction using serum AFP level can be improved by adjusting AFP level based on genetic effects. The genetic correction effect on serum AFP should be considered in the clinic application of such tumor biomarkers.

Irregular vascular pattern by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and high serum Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein level predict poor outcome after successful radiofrequency ablation in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is considered the most effective treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients unsuitable for resection. However, poor outcome after RFA has occasionally been reported worldwide. To predict such an outcome, we investigated imaging findings using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid and serum tumor markers before RFA. This study included 176 early-stage HCC patients who had initially achieved successful RFA. Patients were examined using CEUS; their levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin before RFA were measured. Sonazoid provided parenchyma-specific contrast imaging and facilitated tumor vascular architecture imaging through maximum intensity projection (MIP). Kaplan-Meier analysis examined cumulative rates of local tumor progression, intrasubsegmental recurrence, and survival; factors associated with these were determined with Cox proportional hazards analysis. Local tumor progression (n = 15), intrasubsegmental recurrence (n = 46), and death (n = 18) were observed. Irregular pattern in MIP classification and serum AFP-L3 level (>10%) before RFA were identified as independent risk factors for local tumor progression and intrasubsegmental recurrence. These two factors were independently associated with poor survival after RFA (irregular pattern in MIP: hazard ratio, (HR) = 8.26; 95% confidence interval, (CI) = 2.24-30.3; P = 0.002 and AFP-L3 > 10%: HR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.09-7.94; P = 0.033). Irregular MIP pattern by CEUS and high level of serum AFP-L3 were independent risk factors for poor outcome after successful RFA. The Patients with these findings should be considered as special high-risk group in early-stage HCC.