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Hoegen-Saßmannshausen P, Naumann P, Hoffmeister-Wittmann P, Ben Harrabi S, Seidensaal K, Weykamp F, Mielke T, Ellerbrock M, Habermehl D, Springfeld C, Dill MT, Longerich T, Schirmacher P, Mehrabi A, Chang DH, Hörner-Rieber J, Jäkel O, Haberer T, Combs SE, Debus J, Herfarth K, Liermann J. Carbon ion radiotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma provides excellent local control: The prospective phase I PROMETHEUS trial. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101063. [PMID: 38737600 PMCID: PMC11087711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be treated by stereotactic body radiotherapy. However, carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is more effective for sparing non-tumorous liver. High linear energy transfer could promote therapy efficacy. Japanese and Chinese studies on hypofractionated CIRT have yielded excellent results. Because of different radiobiological models and the different etiological spectrum of HCC, applicability of these results to European cohorts and centers remains questionable. The aim of this prospective study was to assess safety and efficacy and to determine the optimal dose of CIRT with active raster scanning based on the local effect model (LEM) I. Methods CIRT was performed every other day in four fractions with relative biological effectiveness (RBE)-weighted fraction doses of 8.1-10.5 Gy (total doses 32.4-42.0 Gy [RBE]). Dose escalation was performed in five dose levels with at least three patients each. The primary endpoint was acute toxicity after 4 weeks. Results Twenty patients received CIRT (median age 74.7 years, n = 16 with liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh scores [CP] A5 [n = 10], A6 [n = 4], B8 [n = 1], and B9 [n = 1]). Median follow up was 23 months. No dose-limiting toxicities and no toxicities exceeding grade II occurred, except one grade III gamma-glutamyltransferase elevation 12 months after CIRT, synchronous to out-of-field hepatic progression. During 12 months after CIRT, no CP elevation occurred. The highest dose level could be applied safely. No local recurrence developed during follow up. The objective response rate was 80%. Median overall survival was 30.8 months (1/2/3 years: 75%/64%/22%). Median progression-free survival was 20.9 months (1/2/3 years: 59%/43%/43%). Intrahepatic progression outside of the CIRT target volume was the most frequent pattern of progression. Conclusions CIRT of HCC yields excellent local control without dose-limiting toxicity. Impact and implications To date, safety and efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma have only been evaluated prospectively in Japanese and Chinese studies. The optimal dose and fractionation when using the local effect model for radiotherapy planning are unknown. The results are of particular interest for European and American particle therapy centers, but also of relevance for all specialists involved in the treatment and care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, as we present the first prospective data on carbon ion radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma outside of Asia. The excellent local control should encourage further use of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and design of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Trials Registration The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01167374).
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Hoegen-Saßmannshausen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Naumann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Xcare Praxis für Strahlentherapie, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Paula Hoffmeister-Wittmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Semi Ben Harrabi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Seidensaal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Weykamp
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Mielke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Malte Ellerbrock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Habermehl
- Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Klinik Gießen, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Gießen, Germany
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael T. Dill
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Intoxication, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Experimental Hepatology, Inflammation and Cancer Research Group, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianeb Mehrabi
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral & Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - De-Hua Chang
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juliane Hörner-Rieber
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Jäkel
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haberer
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie E. Combs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
- Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jürgen Debus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Herfarth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Liermann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Koza A, Bhogal RH, Fotiadis N, Mavroeidis VK. The Role of Ablative Techniques in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Indications and Outcomes. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041062. [PMID: 37189680 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains complex and will continue to rely on the multidisciplinary input of hepatologists, surgeons, radiologists, oncologists and radiotherapists. With the appropriate staging of patients and selection of suitable treatments, the outcomes for HCC are improving. Surgical treatments encompassing both liver resection and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are the definitive curative-intent options. However, patient suitability, as well as organ availability, pose essential limitations. Consequently, non-surgical options, such as ablative techniques, play an increasingly important role, especially in small HCCs, where overall and disease-free survival can be comparable to surgical resection. Ablative techniques are globally recommended in recognised classification systems, showing increasingly promising results. Recent technical refinements, as well as the emerging use of robotic assistance, may expand the treatment paradigm to achieve improved oncological results. At present, in very early stage and early stage unresectable disease, percutaneous thermal ablation is considered the treatment of choice. Owing to their different features, various ablative techniques, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryotherapy ablation and irreversible electroporation, have been shown to confer different comparative advantages and applicability. We herein review the role of available ablative techniques in the current complex multidisciplinary management of HCC, with a main focus on the indications and outcomes, and discuss future perspectives.
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Verbus EA, Rossi AJ, Teke M, Nugent FW, Hernandez JM. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Versus Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) as a Bridge to Transplant in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2021; 29:33-34. [PMID: 34117572 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-10278-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Verbus
- Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander J Rossi
- Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Martha Teke
- Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Jonathan M Hernandez
- Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. .,Surgical Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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