Clinical characteristics and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with different sets of serum AFP and PIVKA-II levels

Carbon-ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with major vascular invasion: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Macroscopic vascular invasion (MVI) significantly impacts survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), warranting systemic therapy over locoregional therapy. Despite novel approaches, HCC with MVI has a poor prognosis compared to early-to intermediate-stage HCC. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for HCC characterized by MVI.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study evaluated HCC patients with MVI treated using C-ion RT with a dose of 45.0-48.0 Gy/2 fractions or 52.8-60.0 Gy/4 fractions between 1995 and 2020 at our institution in Japan. We analyzed the prognostic factors and rates of local recurrence, survival, and adverse events. The local recurrence rate was determined using the cumulative incidence function, with death as a competing event. Survival rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test for univariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model for multivariate analysis were used to compare subgroups.

RESULTS

In total, 76 patients with a median age of 71 years (range, 45-86 years) were evaluated. Among them, 68 had Child-Pugh grade A while eight had grade B disease. In 17 patients, the vascular tumor thrombus reached the inferior vena cava or main trunk of the portal vein. Over a median follow-up period of 27.9 months (range, 1.5-180.4 months), the 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and local recurrence rates were 70.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57.7-79.4%), 32.7% (95% CI: 22.0-43.8%), and 8.9% (95% CI: 1.7-23.5%), respectively. A naïve tumor and a single lesion were significant prognostic factors for overall survival in the univariate analysis. Albumin-bilirubin grade 1 and a single lesion were independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Overall, four patients (5%) experienced grade 3 late adverse events, with no observed grade 4 or 5 acute or late adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

C-ion RT for HCC with MVI showed favorable local control and survival benefits with minimal toxicity.

Levels of PIVKA-II and alpha-fetoprotein in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma compared to healthy controls and predictive values of both markers with radiological responses after loco-regional interventions

Background

The significance of the current study was to determine normative levels of PIVKA-II and AFP in patients with unresectable HCC and healthy participants. The second goal was to assess the roles of PIVKA-II and AFP in predicting radiological response after loco-regional therapy.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive samples of HCC patients and healthy controls. Venous blood samples were obtained at baseline and after interventions to determine serum levels of PIVKA-II and AFP using the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay method. Radiologic responses were determined based on the WHO criteria.

Results

Fifty-four HCC patients (mean age 58.9 years, 49 males) and 40 healthy controls (mean age 33.5 years, 26 males) were recruited. The median serum levels of PIVKA-II and AFP in HCC vs. healthy controls were 988.4 vs. 24.2 mAU/ml and 13.6 vs. 1.7 ng/ml, respectively (both p < 0.001). With ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for PIVKA-II was 0.95 95% CI [0.90-0.99], and for AFP it was 0.98, 95% CI [0.95-1.0]). The cut-off value for PIVKA-II was 41.4 mAU/ml, and AFP was 4.8 ng/ml. PIVKA-II levels correlated significantly with radiological responses (r = 0.64, p = 0.02) but not AFP (r = 0.09, p = 0.2).

Conclusion

PIVKA-II and AFP levels are distinctive between unresectable HCC and healthy controls. However, PIVKA-II, not AFP, can predict the radiological response after loco-regional therapy.

Predictors of early and late hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver neoplasm, and its incidence rates are constantly increasing. Despite the availability of potentially curative treatments (liver transplantation, surgical resection, thermal ablation), long-term outcomes are affected by a high recurrence rate (up to 70% of cases 5 years after treatment). HCC recurrence within 2 years of treatment is defined as "early" and is generally caused by the occult intrahepatic spread of the primary neoplasm and related to the tumor burden. A recurrence that occurs after 2 years of treatment is defined as "late" and is related to de novo HCC, independent of the primary neoplasm. Early HCC recurrence has a significantly poorer prognosis and outcome than late recurrence. Different pathogenesis corresponds to different predictors of the risk of early or late recurrence. An adequate knowledge of predictive factors and recurrence risk stratification guides the therapeutic strategy and post-treatment surveillance. Patients at high risk of HCC recurrence should be referred to treatments with the lowest recurrence rate and when standardized to combined or adjuvant therapy regimens. This review aimed to expose the recurrence predictors and examine the differences between predictors of early and late recurrence.

Novel Nomograms Based on Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predict Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After Hepatectomy

Background

The prediction of prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of great significance in improving disease outcome and optimizing clinical management, while reliable prognostic indicators are lacking. This study was conducted to develop readily-to-use nomograms for prognosis prediction of HCC after hepatectomy.

Materials and Methods

Data of eligible patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Independent prognostic factors were identified by Cox regression, and nomograms for the prediction of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were developed. The performance of the nomograms was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, C-indexes and calibration curves and was verified by the validation cohort. The predictive value of the nomograms was also compared with the 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) and the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging systems.

Results

In total, 599 patients were enrolled in the analysis: 420 in the training cohort and 179 in the validation cohort. The optimal cut-off value of Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (GLR) was 19.5. GLR contributed significantly to the nomograms with good predictive power. In ROC analyses, the areas under curve (AUCs) of the nomograms for 1-, 3- and 5-year DFS and OS prediction were 0.758, 0.756, 0.734 and 0.810, 0.799, 0.758, respectively. The C-indexes of the DFS nomogram were 0.697 (95% CI 0.665-0.729) in the training cohort and 0.710 (95% CI 0.664-0.756) in the validation cohort. For OS prediction, the C-indexes were 0.741 (95% CI 0.704-0.778) and 0.758 (95% CI 0.705-0.811) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration curves demonstrated satisfactory agreement between nomogram predictions and actual observations. The nomograms demonstrated superior predictive performance to the TNM and the BCLC staging systems.

Conclusion

Our novel nomograms showed adequate performance in the prediction of HCC prognosis after hepatectomy, which may facilitate the risk stratification and individualized management of HCC patients.

Prognostic significance of combined α-fetoprotein and CA19-9 for hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies considerably among patients with the same disease stage and characteristics, and only about two thirds show high levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP), a common prognostic indicator for HCC. Here, we assessed whether the combination of presurgical serum levels of AFP and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) can predict the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.

METHODS

The clinicopathological characteristics and post-hepatectomy outcomes of 711 HCC patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into three groups based on whether their preoperative serum levels of both AFP and CA19-9 were higher than the respective cut-offs of 400 ng/ml and 37 U/ml [double positive (DP)], the level of only one marker was higher than the cut-off [single positive (SP)], or neither level was higher than the cut-off [negative (N)]. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the clinicopathological factors significantly associated with HCC prognosis.

RESULTS

The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year RFS and OS rates in the N group were significantly higher than those in the SP group, while the DP group showed the lowest rates. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that large tumor size (> 5 cm), multiple tumors (≥ 2), incomplete tumor capsule, positive microvascular invasion, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer C stage, and CA19-9 level > 37 U/mL were independent risk factors for RFS and OS in HCC patients. Moreover, aspartate aminotransferase levels > 40 U/L proved to be an independent prognostic factor for OS.

CONCLUSION

The combination of serum AFP and CA19-9 levels may be a useful prognostic marker for HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) predicts complete responses of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Prothrombin Induced by Vitamin K Absence or Antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) is a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the standard management for intermediate stage HCC but lacks effective response predictors. We investigated the utility of PIVKA-II as a predictor of TACE response.

METHODS

This prospective study included consecutive patients with HCC undergoing TACE in Taiwan. Serum PIVKA-II levels were measured before and serially after TACE. Multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate predictors of mortality, complete responses (CR) to TACE and unTACEable progression.

RESULTS

We included 46 patients with HCC (median age: 64 years, men:72%), and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages A (17%), B (65%), or C (17%). Before TACE, the median PIVKA-II level was 189 mAU/mL. After a median follow-up of 16 months, 27 (59%) patients died. PIVKA-II was positively correlated with tumor burden. Patients with infiltrative HCC or HCC exceeding the up-to-7 criteria had significantly higher baseline PIVKA-II levels than those without. Multivariable analysis indicated the infiltrative HCC independently predicted mortality. In patients BCLC A and B (n = 38), low baseline PIVKA-II (<26 mAU/mL) predicted CR to TACE, whereas high PIVKA-II predicted unTACEable tumor progression. Observations from a validation cohort corroborated the initial result that low PIVKA-II predicts CR. Moreover, serial PIVKA-II levels post TACE were significantly lower in patients with a CR to TACE compared with those without.

CONCLUSION

Low baseline PIVKA-II level helps to predict a CR of TACE in patients with HCC.

Glypican-3 and hepatocyte paraffin-1 combined with alpha-fetoprotein as a novel risk scoring model for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection

BACKGROUND

At present, the predictive model of postsurgical recurrence for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well-established. The aim of this study was to develop a novel model for prediction of postsurgical recurrence and survival for HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from 112 patients who underwent curative liver resection from June 2014 to June 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University were collected retrospectively. Through the statistical analysis, we combined the results of glypican-3 (GPC3) and hepatocyte paraffin-1 (Heppar1) chemical staining in tumor tissues and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and assigned risk scores to them, respectively, to establish an improved prognostic model for predicting recurrence in these patients.

RESULTS

By univariate and multivariate analysis, AFP level [cut-off value: 382 ng/ml, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.652, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.539-0.765, P < 0.05] and GPC3/Heppar1 expression pattern from 10 putative prognostic factors were entered in risk factor scoring model to conjecture the tumor recurrence. At 36 months after liver resection, the recurrence rate of high-risk group in the novel risk scoring model reached 45.6%, which was significantly higher than that of low-risk group (9.1%). In this experiment, the AUC value of the model was 0.741 (95% CI = 0.644-0.839, P < 0.001), which was the highest among all the elements.

CONCLUSION

The novel risk scoring model of combing AFP cut-off value and GPC3/Heppar1 were shown to be effective at predicting early recurrence of HCC after curative resection.

Comparative efficacy and safety for second-line treatment with ramucirumab, regorafenib, and cabozantinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma progressed on sorafenib treatment: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The present network meta-analysis was conducted to perform an indirect comparison among ramucirumab, regorafenib, and cabozantinib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progressed on sorafenib treatment.

METHODS

A systematic review through Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library was developed, with eligible randomized clinical trials been included. Hazard ratios (HRs) including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), odds ratios of disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events were compared indirectly with network meta-analysis using random model in software STATA version 13.0.

RESULTS

A total of 4 randomized clinical trials including 2137 patients met the eligibility criteria and enrolled. Indirect comparisons showed that there was no statistical difference observed in the indirect comparison of PFS, OS, ORR, or DCR among agents of regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab in advanced HCC patients with elevated α-fetoprotein (AFP) (400 ng/mL or higher). However, in patients with low-level AFP (lower than 400 ng/mL), regorafenib was the only agent associated with significant superiority in OS, compared with placebo (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% CI, 0.50-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The present network meta-analysis revealed that there might be no statistical difference observed in the indirect comparison of PFS, OS, ORR, or DCR among regorafenib, cabozantinib, or ramucirumab in advanced HCC patients with elevated AFP (400 ng/mL or higher). However, in patients with low-level AFP (lower than 400 ng/mL), regorafenib might be associated with significant superiority in OS, compared to placebo, which need further investigation in clinical practice.

A radiomics nomogram for the prediction of overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with a dismal prognosis, and prediction of the prognosis of HCC can assist in therapeutic decision-makings. An increasing number of studies have shown that the texture parameters of images can reflect the heterogeneity of tumors, and may have the potential to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC after surgical resection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) texture parameters in patients with HCC after hepatectomy and to develop a radiomics nomogram by combining clinicopathological factors and the radiomics signature.

Methods

In all, 544 eligible patients were enrolled in this retrospective study and were randomly divided into the training cohort (n = 381) and the validation cohort (n = 163). The tumor regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated, and the corresponding texture parameters were extracted. The texture parameters were selected by using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox model in the training cohort, and a radiomics signature was established. Then, the radiomics signature was further validated as an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS). The radiomics nomogram was established based on the Cox regression model. The concordance index (C-index), calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the radiomics nomogram.

Results

The radiomics signature was formulated based on 7 OS-related texture parameters, which were selected in the training cohort. In addition, the radiomics nomogram was developed based on the following five variables: α-fetoprotein (AFP), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), largest tumor size, microvascular invasion (MVI) and radiomics score (Rad-score). The nomogram displayed good accuracy in predicting OS (C-index = 0.747) in the training cohort and was confirmed in the validation cohort (C-index = 0.777). The calibration plots also showed excellent agreement between the actual and predicted survival probabilities. The DCA indicated that the radiomics nomogram showed better clinical utility than the clinicopathologic nomogram.

Conclusion

The radiomics signature is a potential prognostic biomarker of HCC after hepatectomy. The radiomics nomogram that integrated the radiomics signature can provide a more accurate estimation of OS than the clinicopathologic nomogram for HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40644-020-00360-9.

The prognostic value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy: A propensity-score matched analysis

BACKGROUND

An elevated preoperative aspartate aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) may predict poor survival in various cancers. However, the prognostic value of aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 983 patients with HCC in our hospital from February 2007 to March 2016. A propensity-score matching (PSM) was performed to correct the selection bias and confounding factors. The risk of death and recurrence was plotted over aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) using the locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS)-smoothed fit curve. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier method analysis was utilized to the role of aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) in HCC. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent prognostic factors associated with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

With the increase of aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI), the risk of recurrence and death in HCC patients increases. In time-dependent ROC analysis, the AUC of aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) for predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year OS were 0.668 (95% CI: 0.596-0.740), 0.605 (95% CI: 0.560-0.649) and 0.613 (95% CI: 0.570-0.656), respective. The AUC of aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) for predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year RFS were 0.598 (95% CI: 0.555-0.641), 0.590 (95% CI: 0.552-0.628) and 0.604 (95% CI: 0.562-0.646), respectively. HCC patients with high aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) had a poor overall survival. Moreover, cox regression analysis revealed that aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) was an independent factor affecting the prognosis of HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated preoperative aminotransferase-to-lymphocyte ratio index (ALRI) is a noninvasive, simple, and effective predictor in the prognosis of patients with HCC.

The clinical significance of lipopolysaccharide binding protein in hepatocellular carcinoma

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) has been reported to be associated with prognosis in colorectal carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma; however, the clinical significance of LBP in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is inconclusive. We aimed to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of LBP in human primary HCC. In the present study, 346 patients with HCC who underwent curative resection were retrospectively analyzed. LBP protein expression was evaluated using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. LBP scores collected from immunohistochemical analysis were obtained by multiplying staining intensity and the percentage of positive cells. An outcome-based best cutoff-point was calculated by X-tile software. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regressions were used for prognosis evaluation. LBP was frequently overexpressed in HCC compared with that in peritumor tissues (five pairs by western blot analysis, P=0.0533; 77 pairs by immunohistochemistry, P=0.0171), and LBP expression was positively associated with tumor-node-metastasis stage and tumor differentiation. Patients who had high LBP expression had decreased overall survival and time to recurrence compared with patients with low LBP expression. Furthermore, patients who were both serum α-fetoprotein positive and had high LBP expression had poor prognoses. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses indicated that this combination was an independent prognostic factor [overall survival: Hazard ratio (HR), 1.458; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.158–1.837; P=0.001; time to recurrence: HR,1.382; 95% Cl, 1.124–1.700; P=0.002]. In conclusion, LBP is highly expressed in HCC, and high LBP expression combined with serum α-fetoprotein may predict poor outcomes in patients with HCC following curative resection.

PIVKA-II level is correlated to development of portal vein tumor thrombus in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim

To evaluate the correlation of serum PIVKA-II levels and development of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-three patients with newly diagnosed HCC were included in this study between March 2016 and October 2018. Thirty-five of these patients were detected with PVTT and all subjects were randomly divided to analysis group (N = 73) and validation (N = 50) group. Serum levels of PIVKA-II, laboratory tests including serum aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, platelet count, albumin levels were demonstrated in all the patients. T-test, chi-squared test and logistic regression was used for analyzing data. Diagnostic efficiency and cut-off value of PIVKA-II in PVTT development of HCC patients were calculated using receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis.

Results

Serum level of PIVKA-II in HCC patients with PVTT was significantly higher than that in HCC patients without PVTT (995.8 mAU/ml vs 94.87 mAU/ml; P = 0.003), as well as D-dimer levels (2.12 mg/L vs 0.56 mg/L P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that high serum D-dimer level was an independent risk factor for development of PVTT (OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.02-1.45). ROC curve showed that among analysis group, the area under ROC curve (AUROC) of PIVKA-II was 0.73 (95%CI 0.59-0.86). For the detection of PVTT in HCC, PIVKA-II had a sensitivity of 83.7% and a specificity of 69.2% at a cutoff of 221.26 mAU/ml, which had a sensitivity of 85.71% and a specificity of 55.56% in validation group, respectively.

Conclusion

Serum PIVKA-II level is a potential marker for diagnosis of PVTT in HCC patients, which may guide therapeutic strategy and assessment of tumor prognosis of HCC.

Macroscopic Portal Vein Thrombosis in HCC Patients

Macroscopic portal vein invasion (PVT) by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the liver is one of the most important negative prognostic factors for HCC patients. The characteristics of a large cohort of such patients were examined. We found that the percent of patients with PVT significantly increased with increasing maximum tumor diameter (MTD), from 13.7% with tumors of MTD <5cm to 56.4% with tumors of MTD >10cm. There were similar numbers of HCC patients with very large tumors with and without PVT. Thus, MTD alone was insufficient to explain the presence of PVT, as were high AFP levels, since less than 50% of high AFP patients had PVT. However, the percent of patients with PVT was also found to significantly increase with increasing blood alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and tumor multifocality. A logistic regression model that included these 3 factors together showed an odds ratio of 17.9 for the combination of MTD>5.0cm plus tumor multifocality plus elevated AFP, compared to low levels of these 3 parameters. The presence or absence of macroscopic PVT may therefore represent different HCC aggressiveness phenotypes, as judged by a significant increase in tumor multifocality and AFP levels in the PVT positive patients. Factors in addition to MTD and AFP must also contribute to PVT development.

Prognostic factors in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma following hepatic resection

Background

To analyze prognostic factors following hepatic resection in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 217 patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection at our hospital between January 2006 and December 2015. Disease-free survival and overall survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test. The association between recurrence and survival and various clinicopathological factors, including serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, platelet count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, antiplatelet therapy, antiviral therapy, hepatitis C virus infection, and tumor-related characteristics, were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 91, 84, and 79%, respectively, and the recurrence-free survival rates were 72, 51, and 44%, respectively. High post-operative AFP level (hazard ratio [HR] 1.112, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.21, P = 0.007), multiple tumors (HR 1.991, 95% CI: 1.11–3.56, P = 0.021), and no antiviral treatment (HR 1.823, 95% CI: 1.07–3.09, P = 0.026) were independent risk factors for recurrence. High post-operative AFP level (HR 1.222, 95% CI: 1.09–1.36, P < 0.001), multiple tumors (HR 2.715, 95% CI: 1.05–7.02, P = 0.039), and recurrence (HR 12.824, 95% CI: 1.68–97.86, P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for mortality. No other factors analyzed were associated with outcomes in this patient cohort.

Conclusions

High post-operative serum alpha-fetoprotein level and multiple tumors, but not inflammatory factors, were risk factors for poor prognosis in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after resection.

Predictors of Micrometastases in Patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Classification B Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is indicated for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether TACE provides any long-term survival benefits remains unclear. We aimed to investigate micrometastases predictors with which to identify patients who would benefit from surgical resection (SR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, we analyzed risk factors of micrometastases, microvascular invasion, and poor histologic grade in 38 patients with newly diagnosed resectable BCLC stage B HCC limited to one or two segments with well-preserved liver function and who underwent SR between January 2006 and December 2013. Second, we validated identified risk factors in 54 newly diagnosed resectable BCLC B HCC patients with well-preserved liver function who underwent TACE during the same period to determine their influence on survival.

RESULTS

Risk factors of micrometastases in SR patients were α-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥110 [hazard ratio (HR)=5.166; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.031-25.897; p=0.046] and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) ≥800 (HR=5.166; 95% CI, 1.031-25.897; p=0.046). The cumulative probability of tumor recurrence (p=0.009) after SR differed according to levels of AFP and PIVKA-II. After validation of these risk factors in the TACE group, patients with SR and AFP <110 and PIVKA-II <800 had superior survival outcomes than other patients (HR=0.116; 95% CI, 0.027-0.497; p=0.004).

CONCLUSION

AFP and PIVKA-II levels predict micrometastases and survival. Therefore, they should be considered when selecting SR for BCLC B HCC.

Prognostic Value of Metabolic Parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient of MRI in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to predict the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by examining metabolic PET parameters, apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs), and clinical parameters.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 52 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC (age, 57.9 ± 10.7 years; 43 men) who underwent MRI and F-FDG PET/CT. The tumor-to-normal liver SUV ratio (TLR), the mean ADC of each tumor, and other clinical data were obtained. Survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients died during the follow-up period. There was an inverse correlation between the mean SUV and the mean ADC of a tumor (r = -0.402, P = 0.020). Among HCC patients, disease-specific survival was significantly associated with each of the following factors: high TLR (TLR ≥ 2; hazard ratio [HR], 3.78; P = 0.001), high mean ADC (mean ADC ≥ 1.250 × 10 mm/s; HR, 0.45; P = 0.028), AFP ≥ 400 ng/mL (HR, 3.48; P = 0.001), PIVKA-II ≥ 100mAU/mL (HR, 6.39; P = 0.011), tumor size (HR, 1.13; P < 0.001), number of tumors (HR, 2.16; P = 0.031), tumor stage (HR, 3.08; P < 0.001), and surgery for initial treatment (HR, 0.06; P < 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis show that DSS was significantly associated with each of the following factors: TLR ≥ 2 (HR, 2.46; P = 0.044), PIVKA-II ≥ 100mAU/mL (HR, 5.11; P = 0.037), tumor stage (HR, 3.01; P < 0.001), and surgery for initial treatment (HR, 0.04; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

High TLRs and low mean ADCs were associated with poor outcomes. The TLR was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC, but the mean ADC was not. A negative correlation was found between the mean ADC and the mean SUV of a tumor.

Personalized therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: Molecular markers of prognosis and therapeutic response

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a growing worldwide health crisis with rising incidence, limited effective therapies and persistently poor prognosis. Five-year survival remains less than 20% despite decades of research. One byproduct of research efforts is the identification of numerous biomarkers of disease. From prognosis to therapeutic response, biomarker identification parallels a deeper molecular understanding of the disease that to date has generated limited gain in clinical outcomes. As one example, the classical prognostic biomarkers of tumor Ki-67 protein expression and TP53 gene mutation have been repeatedly demonstrated to correlate with poor prognosis. There have been several studies throughout the past two decades identifying other gene-based biomarkers of prognosis. Critically, translation into the clinic has been slow and focus has shifted to a search for markers of therapeutic response in hopes of generating novel approaches to the disease. With this focus, many of the correlates are based on retrospective review of sorafenib effectiveness. Sorafenib, an oral targeted multi-kinase inhibitor, is currently the standard of care systemic agent for non-resectable disease. The Wnt-pathway, particularly when activated, is the most commonly cited molecular marker of sorafenib responsiveness. Additional work has identified a profile of genes involved in drug absorption, processing, and elimination that also appears to increase responsiveness. Overall, despite promising clinical data the use of biomarkers in the clinic for HCC is limited. In this piece, progress and opportunities for future work "beyond the genome" are highlighted, including metabolomic, epigenetic, and non-coding RNA studies. Additionally, barriers to the implementation of personalized therapeutic selection in HCC are reviewed.

Transarterial chemoembolization versus resection for intermediate-stage (BCLC B) hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Aims:

Several studies have suggested that surgical resection (SR) can provide a survival benefit over transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the intermediate stage according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. However, the criteria for SR remain to be determined. This study compared the long-term outcome of intermediate-stage HCC patients treated by either TACE or SR as a primary treatment modality, with the aim of identifying the patient subgroup that gained a survival benefit by either modality.

Methods:

In total, 277 BCLC intermediate-stage HCC patients treated by either TACE (N=225) or SR (N=52) were analyzed.

Results:

The overall median survival time was significantly better for SR than TACE (61 vs. 30 months, P=0.002). Decision-tree analysis divided patients into seven nodes based on tumor size and number, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, and Child-Pugh score, and these were then simplified into four subgroups (B1–B4) based on similarities in the overall hazard rate. SR provided a significant survival benefit in subgroup B2, characterized by ‘oligo’ (2–4) nodules of intermediate size (5–10 cm) when the AFP levels was <400 ng/ml, or ‘oligo’ (2–4) nodules of small to intermediate size (<10 cm) plus a Child-Pugh score of 5 when the AFP level was ≥400 ng/mL (median survival 73 vs. 28 months for SR vs. TACE respectively; P=0.014). The survival rate did not differ significantly between SR and TACE in the other subgroups (B1 and B3).

Conclusion:

SR provided a survival benefit over TACE in intermediate-stage HCC, especially for patients meeting certain criteria. Re-establishing the criteria for optimal treatment modalities in this stage of HCC is needed to improve survival rates.

Evidence-Based Diagnosis, Staging, and Treatment of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Evidence-based management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is key to their optimal care. For individuals at risk for HCC, surveillance usually involves ultrasonography (there is controversy over use of biomarkers). A diagnosis of HCC is made based on findings from biopsy or imaging analyses. Molecular markers are not used in diagnosis or determination of prognosis and treatment for patients. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm is the most widely used staging system. Patients with single liver tumors or as many as 3 nodules ≤3 cm are classified as having very early or early-stage cancer and benefit from resection, transplantation, or ablation. Those with a greater tumor burden, confined to the liver, and who are free of symptoms are considered to have intermediate-stage cancer and can benefit from chemoembolization if they still have preserved liver function. Those with symptoms of HCC and/or vascular invasion and/or extrahepatic cancer are considered to have advanced-stage cancer and could benefit from treatment with the kinase inhibitor sorafenib. Patients with end-stage HCC have advanced liver disease that is not suitable for transplantation and/or have intense symptoms. Studies now aim to identify molecular markers and imaging techniques that can detect patients with HCC at earlier stages and better predict their survival time and response to treatment.

CD86⁺/CD206⁺, Diametrically Polarized Tumor-Associated Macrophages, Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient Prognosis

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most abundant infiltrating immune cells in tumor microenvironment, have distinct functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. CD68⁺ TAMs represent multiple polarized immune cells mainly containing CD86⁺ antitumoral M1 macrophages and CD206⁺ protumoral M2 macrophages. TAMs expression and density were assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD68, CD86, and CD206 in tissue microarrays from 253 HCC patients. Clinicopathologic features and prognostic value of these markers were evaluated. We found that CD68⁺ TAMs were not associated with clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis in HCC. Low presence of CD86⁺ TAMs and high presence of CD206⁺ TAMs were markedly correlated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, such as multiple tumor number and advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage; and were associated with poor overall survival (OS) (p = 0.027 and p = 0.024, respectively) and increased time to recurrence (TTR) (p = 0.037 and p = 0.031, respectively). In addition, combined analysis of CD86 and CD206 provided a better indicator for OS (p = 0.011) and TTR (p = 0.024) in HCC than individual analysis of CD86 and CD206. Moreover, CD86⁺/CD206⁺ TAMs predictive model also had significant prognosis value in α-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative patients (OS: p = 0.002, TTR: p = 0.005). Thus, these results suggest that combined analysis of immune biomarkers CD86 and CD206 could be a promising HCC prognostic biomarker.

Comparative analysis of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation versus non-anatomical hepatic resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma: short-term result

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS

To compare the clinical outcomes of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and non-anatomical hepatic resection (NAHR) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

From February 2007 to January 2015, clinical outcomes of thirty four patients with HCC receiving RFA or NAHR were compared, retrospectively.

RESULTS

There was no difference of patient and tumor characteristic between the two groups that received RFA or NAHR. The 1, 2, and 3-year recurrence rates following RFA were 32.2%, 32.2% and 59.3% respectively, and 6.7%, 33.3% and 33.3% following NAHR respectively (p=0.287). The 1, 2 and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates following RFA were 100%, 88.9% and 76.2% respectively, and 100%, 85.6% and 85.6%, respectively, following NAHR (p=0.869). We did not find a definite statistical difference in recurrence rate and OS rate between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, number of tumor was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence and albumin was an independent prognostic factor for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend non-anatomical hepatic resection rather than intraoperative RFA in small sized HCC, due to a higher recurrence rate in intraoperative RFA. Intraoperative RFA was inferior to non-anatomical hepatic resection in terms of recurrence rate. We need to select the optimal treatment considering liver function and possibility of recurrence.

Nomograms for Predicting Outcomes after Chemoembolization in Patients with Nonmetastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

To construct prognostic nomograms capable of estimating individual probabilities of tumor progression and overall survival (OS) at specific time points during serial transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 1,181 consecutive patients with nonmetastatic HCC undergoing repeated transarterial chemoembolization at a single tertiary referral center. Patients were assigned to 2 cohorts according to the first transarterial chemoembolization date: derivation (2004-2006; n = 854) and validation (2007; n = 327) sets. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were developed based on covariates derived before transarterial chemoembolization and assessed for their association with 5-year OS and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS). The accuracy of the models was internally and externally validated.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS of the derivation set was 25.4%, and 3-year PFS was 20.8%. Nomograms for OS and PFS were built into the derivation set incorporating the following factors: log [tumor volume] calculated as 4/3 × 3.14 × (maximum radius of tumor in cm(3)); tumor number; tumor type (nodular or infiltrative); Child-Pugh class (A or B); (model for end-stage liver disease score/10)(-2); log [α-fetoprotein]; and portal vein invasion. The models had good discrimination and calibration abilities with C-indexes of 0.80 (5-y survival) and 0.77 (3-y progression). The results of external validation confirmed that these models performed well in terms of discrimination and goodness-of-fit (C-indexes 0.77 for 5-y survival and 0.73 for 3-y progression).

CONCLUSION

Nomograms quantifying the survival and progression outcomes in patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization are useful clinical aids in providing personalized care.

Prognostic roles of preoperative α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM

To clarify the utility of using des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels to predict the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections.

METHODS

A total of 205 patients with HCC (105 patients with HBV infection 100 patients with HCV infection) who underwent primary hepatectomy between January 2004 and May 2012 were enrolled retrospectively. Preoperative AFP and DCP levels were used to create interactive dot diagrams to predict recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy, and cutoff levels were calculated. Patients in the HBV and HCV groups were classified into three groups: a group with low AFP and DCP levels (LL group), a group in which one of the two parameters was high and the other was low (HL group), and a group with high AFP and DCP levels (HH group). Liver function parameters, the postoperative recurrence-free survival rate, and postoperative overall survival were compared between groups. The survival curves were compared by log-rank test using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis using a Cox forward stepwise logistic regression model was conducted for a prognosis.

RESULTS

The preoperative AFP cutoff levels for recurrence within 2 years after hepatectomy in the HBV and HCV groups were 529.8 ng/mL and 60 mAU/mL, respectively; for preoperative DCP levels, the cutoff levels were 21.0 ng/mL in the HBV group and 67 mAU/mL in the HCV group. The HBV group was significantly different from the other groups in terms of vascular invasion, major hepatectomy, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and surgical duration. Significant differences were found between the LL group, the HL group, and the HH group in terms of both mean disease-free survival time (MDFST) and mean overall survival time (MOST): 64.81 ± 7.47 vs 36.63 ± 7.62 vs 18.98 ± 6.17 mo (P = 0.001) and 85.30 ± 6.55 vs 59.44 ± 7.87 vs 46.57 ± 11.20 mo (P = 0.018). In contrast, the HCV group exhibited a significant difference in tumor size, vascular invasion, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and surgical duration; however, no significant difference was observed between the three groups in liver function parameters except for albumin levels. In the LL group, the HL group, and the HH group, the MDFST was 50.09 ± 5.90, 31.01 ± 7.21, and 14.81 ± 3.08 mo (log-rank test, P < 0.001), respectively, and the MOST was 79.45 ± 8.30, 58.82 ± 7.56, and 32.87 ± 6.31 mo (log-rank test, P < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In the HBV group, the prognosis was poor when either AFP or DCP levels were high. In the HCV group, the prognosis was good when either or both levels were low; however, the prognosis was poor when both levels were high. High levels of both AFP and DCP were an independent risk factor associated with tumor recurrence in the HBV and HCV groups. The relationship between tumor marker levels and prognosis was characteristic to the type of viral hepatitis.

Prediction of aggressiveness in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma for selection of surgical resection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (eHCC), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has comparable outcomes to surgical resection (SR); however, micrometastases may be present, resulting in tumor recurrence after local ablation. Therefore, we investigated predictors of aggressiveness in eHCC to select patients at high risk of recurrence after RFA who would benefit from SR.

METHODS

First, we analyzed 128 patients with newly diagnosed eHCC (single tumor with a diameter <3 cm) who underwent SR between January 2006 and December 2011. Risk factors for micrometastasis (representative of tumor aggressiveness) such as microvascular invasion or poor histologic grade were investigated. We then analyzed 201 eHCC patients who underwent RFA between July 2007 and December 2011. Identified risk factors were validated to determine their influence on tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

The only significant risk factor for tumor aggressiveness in the SR group was the product of serum levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP) and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) (A∗P ≥1600; hazard ratio [HR] 4.764; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.867-12.161; p=0.001). This product also showed statistical significance for predicting recurrence in the RFA group (HR 2.296; 95% CI, 1.237-4.262; p=0.008). Patients with RFA and A∗P ≥1600 had significant early tumor recurrence (p=0.008) and poor late survival outcomes (p=0.001) compared with other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The product of AFP and PIVKA-II levels is a useful predictor of aggressiveness in eHCC, which predicts tumor recurrence after RFA. Therefore, it should be considered when selecting SR as first-line treatment.

Clinical significance of AFP and PIVKA-II responses for monitoring treatment outcomes and predicting prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim. Recently, the utility of tumor markers in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) field has received a good deal of attention. Here, we review and summarize the results of studies on the roles played by the α-fetoprotein (AFP) and prothrombin induced by the absence of vitamin K or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) responses in terms of the monitoring of outcomes and prediction of prognosis after various HCC treatments. Methods. Studies lodged in PUBMED and that satisfied our inclusion criteria were reviewed. Results. We reviewed 12 studies measuring both AFP and PIVKA-II responses in HCC patients treated in various ways. The results are presented by treatment modality. Conclusion. Measurement of AFP and PIVKA II marker levels before and after HCC treatment is clinically useful in monitoring of treatment outcomes and prognosis and in predicting recurrence and survival.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis

AIM

To evaluate the prognostic factors and efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

METHODS

Fifty hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) were treated using hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) via a subcutaneously implanted port. The epirubicin-cisplatin-5-fluorouracil (ECF) chemotherapeutic regimen consisted of 35 mg/m(2) epirubicin on day 1, 60 mg/m(2) cisplatin for 2 h on day 2, and 500 mg/m(2) 5-fluorouracil for 5 h on days 1-3. The treatments were repeated every 3 or 4 wk.

RESULTS

Three (6%) of the 50 patients achieved a complete response (CR), 13 (26%) showed partial responses (PR), and 22 (44%) had stable disease (SD). The median survival and time to progression were 7 and 2 mo, respectively. After 2 cycles of HAIC, CR was achieved in 1 patient (2%), PR in 10 patients (20%) and SD in 26 patients (52%). Significant pre-treatment prognostic factors were a tumor volume of < 400 cm(3) (P = 0.01) and normal levels of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist (PIVKA)-II (P = 0.022). After 2 cycles of treatment, disease control (CR + PR + SD) (P = 0.001), PVTT response (P = 0.003) and α-fetoprotein reduction of over 50% (P = 0.02) were independent factors for survival. Objective response (CR + PR), disease control, PVTT response, and combination therapy during the HAIC were also significant prognostic factors. Adverse events were tolerable and successfully managed.

CONCLUSION

HAIC may be an effective treatment modality for advanced HCC with PVTT in patients with tumors < 400 cm(3) and good prognostic factors.

Prognostic significance of the worst grade in hepatocellular carcinoma with heterogeneous histologic grades of differentiation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although tumor differentiation is a known prognostic factor after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there have not been any studies on the prognostic significance of tumor differentiation in HCC with heterogeneous histologic grades. In this study, we attempted to ascertain whether the major or the worst grade in mixed histologic type HCC determines the prognosis after liver resection.

METHODS

From January 1996 to March 2010, a total of 724 patients underwent curative resection of HCC at Yonsei University Health System, Korea. Of those, we excluded 99 patients who had total necrosis because of previous treatment. Among the remaining 625 patients, we compared the homogeneous moderately differentiated group (HG2, n = 241), mixed histologic grades with the worst component as poorly differentiated group (M2, n = 142), and homogeneous poorly differentiated group (HG3, n = 156). The clinicopathologic features, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in each group were analyzed.

RESULTS

The DFS and OS were significantly lower in M2 than in HG2 (P = 0.004 and 0.025, respectively) whereas those of M2 were not significantly different from HG3. There were no significant differences in the clinicopathologic features of each group except that microvascular invasion was more frequently observed in M2 than in HG2. On multivariate analysis, being in the worst histologic group (M2 and HG3) was an independent poor prognostic factor for DFS and OS (P = 0.028 and < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced histologic grade, the worst histologic grade may determine the prognosis after curative resection of HCC.

Elevated preoperative serum CA19-9 levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with poor prognosis after resection

Serum levels of the tumor marker CA19-9 have been reported to be elevated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its clinicopathologic significance is still unknown. A cohort of 304 patients undergoing surgical resection for HCC and having preoperative CA19-9 data was enrolled in this study. Serum CA19-9 levels were correlated with clinicopathologic factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictors of patient survival. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cut off value of CA19-9 was determined to be 27 U/mL. One hundred and six patients had preoperative CA19-9 values >27 U/mL. High serum CA19-9 levels did not correlate with patient age, sex, viral status, α-fetoprotein level, tumor size, tumor grade, tumor stage, multiplicity, and vascular invasion. Patients with elevated preoperative CA19-9 levels had lower 10-year survival than those without CA19-9 elevation. Multivariate analysis revealed that CA19-9 level, tumor grade, and tumor size are independent prognostic factors for long-term survival. In conclusion, a preoperative CA19-9 value >27 U/mL is associated with poor prognosis after resection for HCC.

Prognostic value of α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin responses in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) have been used as diagnostic tools for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, prediction of outcome using AFP and DCP has not been elucidated. We investigated the clinical role of AFP and DCP as predictors of treatment outcome in patients with HCC undergoing trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

METHODS

Between January 2003 and December 2005, we enrolled 115 treatment-naïve patients who received TACE as an initial treatment modality. An AFP or DCP response was defined as a reduction of more than 50% from the baseline level 1 month after TACE. Patients with AFP < 20 ng/mL or DCP < 20 mAU/mL were excluded.

RESULTS

The median age was 59 years and the male gender predominated (n = 81, 70.4%). AFP and DCP response was identified in 91 (79.1%) and 77 (66.9%) patients after TACE. Although progression-free survival (PFS) did not differ according to AFP response (P = 0.150), AFP responders showed significantly better overall survival (OS) than non-responders (34.9 vs. 13.2 months; P = 0.002). In contrast, DCP response did not influence either PFS or OS (all P > 0.05). Multivariate analyses showed that gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and baseline AFP were predictors of PFS (all P < 0.05) and that male gender, the presence of liver cirrhosis, baseline DCP, number of measurable tumors and AFP response were independent predictors of OS (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

AFP response and higher baseline DCP level are significant predictors of OS in treatment-naïve patients with HCC receiving TACE who showed pretreatment elevation of both AFP and DCP.

Prognostic significance of a combination of pre- and post-treatment tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma curatively treated with hepatectomy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Previous studies reported that the combination of three tumor markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), has the ability to discriminate survival among patients with HCC. In those studies, however, the study population included all patients with various treatment modalities, and tumor markers were measured only before treatment. We investigated the prognostic value of a combination of these tumor markers for HCC, measured before and after treatment, on survival and recurrence in patients treated with hepatectomy.

METHODS

A total of 173 patients who underwent hepatectomy for primary, non-recurrent HCC were analyzed. Tumor characteristics, postoperative survival, and recurrence rates were compared according to the number of elevated tumor markers measured before and after treatment.

RESULTS

The correlation between the number of elevated tumor markers before treatment and tumor size, rate of portal vein invasion, and tumor differentiation, respectively, was stronger than that between the number of elevated tumor markers after treatment. In contrast, the number of elevated tumor markers after treatment displayed an excellent ability to discriminate post-treatment survival and recurrence rates compared to that before treatment, and was an independent factor associated with survival and recurrence in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of tumor markers measured after hepatectomy has a better discriminatory ability for postoperative survival and recurrence in HCC patients treated with hepatectomy in comparison to the combination of tumor markers measured before treatment.

Phase 2 trial of linifanib (ABT-869) in patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and safety of linifanib (ABT-869), a selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, were assessed in this phase 2, single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial.

METHODS

Eligible patients had unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and had received ≤ 1 prior systemic therapy. Patients received oral linifanib at a fasting dose of 0.25 mg/kg,. The primary endpoint was the progression-free rate at 16 weeks. Tumor response was assessed every 8 weeks. Secondary endpoints included the time to disease progression, overall survival, and objective response rate. Safety was also assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 44 patients enrolled, the majority were Asian (89%), had received no prior systemic therapy (82%), had Child-Pugh class A hepatic function (86%), and had hepatitis B virus infection (61%). The estimated progression-free rate at 16 weeks was 31.8% (34.2% for patients with Child-Pugh class A hepatic function), the estimated objective response rate was 9.1% (10.5% for patients with Child-Pugh class A hepatic function), the median time to disease progression was 3.7 months (3.7 months for patients with Child-Pugh class A hepatic function), and the median overall survival was 9.7 months (10.4 months for patients with Child-Pugh class A hepatic function). The most common linifanib-related adverse events were diarrhea (55%) and fatigue (52%). The most common linifanib-related grade 3/4 adverse events were hypertension (25%) and fatigue (14%). Serum levels of biomarkers cancer antigen (CA) 125, cytokeratin fragment (CYFRA)21.1, and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA) demonstrated potential as prognostic indicators of patient response or outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-agent linifanib was found to be clinically active in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, with an acceptable safety profile.