Chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: comprehensive imaging and survival analysis in a 172-patient cohort

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Post-chemoembolization Syndrome After Chemo-Embolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Thailand

BACKGROUND

The data regarding the incidence of post-embolization syndrome after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in Thailand are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of post-embolization syndrome after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma in Thailand.

METHODS

This retrospective study collected data from patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization for five years. Post-embolization syndrome was defined as fever and/or abdominal pain, and/or nausea or vomiting that occurred within three days after the transarterial chemoembolization procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma or hospital discharge. Pre-defined predictors for post-embolization syndrome were explored using Poisson regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 298 patients and 739 transarterial chemoembolization procedures, the incidence of post-embolization syndrome was 68.1% (203/298) and the incidence density was 53.9% (398/739). Tumor size, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages, and dose of chemotherapy showed no association with the occurrence of PES. However, a model for end-stage liver disease score was the only predictor for post-embolization syndrome [adjusted IRR 0.91 (0.84-0.98); p = 0.01]. There were three patients developing fever after transarterial chemoembolization due to infection.

CONCLUSION

Post-embolization syndrome was common in patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with a lower model for end-stage liver disease scores were at increased risk of post-embolization syndrome. This study highlights the burden of post-embolization syndrome among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transarterial chemoembolization.

FAIL-T (AFP, AST, tumor sIze, ALT, and Tumor number): a model to predict intermediate-stage HCC patients who are not good candidates for TACE

Background

Patients with un-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are a diverse group with varying overall survival (OS). Despite the availability of several scoring systems for predicting OS, one of the unsolved problems is identifying patients who might not benefit from TACE. We aim to develop and validate a model for identifying HCC patients who would survive <6 months after their first TACE.

Methods

Patients with un-resectable HCC, BCLC stage 0-B, who received TACE as their first and only treatment between 2007 and 2020 were included in this study. Before the first TACE, demographic data, laboratory data, and tumor characteristics were obtained. Eligible patients were randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to training and validation sets. The former was used for model development using stepwise multivariate logistic regression, and the model was validated in the latter set.

Results

A total of 317 patients were included in the study (210 for the training set and 107 for the validation set). The baseline characteristics of the two sets were comparable. The final model (FAIL-T) included AFP, AST, tumor sIze, ALT, and Tumor number. The FAIL-T model yielded AUROCs of 0.855 and 0.806 for predicting 6-month mortality after TACE in the training and validation sets, respectively, while the "six-and-twelve" score showed AUROCs of 0.751 (P < 0.001) in the training set and 0.729 (P = 0.099) in the validation sets for the same purpose.

Conclusion

The final model is useful for predicting 6-month mortality in naive HCC patients undergoing TACE. HCC patients with high FAIL-T scores may not benefit from TACE, and other treatment options, if available, should be considered.

Efficacy Investigation of TACE Combined with Lenvatinib and Sintilimab in Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab in treating patients with midstage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Sixty-two patients with midstage HCC were enrolled in this study. All of them were firstly treated in our hospital between September 1, 2019, and March 1, 2020. According to different treatment regimens, they were divided into the control group (31 cases, TACE group) and the observation group (31 cases, TACE combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab group). Each patient was followed up for at least 30 months to compare the short-term clinical efficacy and survival rate between the two groups.

Results

The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of the observation group at 3 months were 77.4% and 93.5%, respectively, which were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The 2-year cumulative overall survival rate of the observation group was 64.5%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The survival curve of the disease-free survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (X² = 4.313, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TACE combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab in the treatment of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B hepatocellular carcinoma can effectively control the tumor progression and prolong the survival time of patients. Those preliminary findings need validation in larger studies, with a prospective design and longer follow-up.

The Efficacy of TACE Combined With Lenvatinib Plus Sintilimab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Objective

To assess the efficacy and safety of transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib plus sintilimab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients and Methods

The data of patients with unresectable HCC administered a combination therapy with TACE and lenvatinib plus sintilimab were retrospectively assessed. Patients received lenvatinib orally once daily 2 weeks before TACE, followed by sintilimab administration at 200 mg intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day therapeutic cycle after TACE. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) by the modified RECIST criteria.

Results

Median duration of follow-up was 12.5 months (95%CI 9.1 to 14.8 months). ORR was 46.7% (28/60). Median DOR in confirmed responders was 10.0 months (95%CI 9.0-11.0 months). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.3 months (95%CI 11.9-14.7 months). Median overall survival (OS) was 23.6 months (95%CI 22.2-25.0 months).

Conclusions

TACE combined with lenvatinib plus sintilimab is a promising therapeutic regimen in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

External Beam Radiation Therapy for Primary Liver Cancers: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline

PURPOSE

This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the indications and technique-dose of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC).

METHODS

The American Society for Radiation Oncology convened a task force to address 5 key questions focused on the indications, techniques, and outcomes of EBRT in HCC and IHC. This guideline is intended to cover the definitive, consolidative, salvage, preoperative (including bridge to transplant), and adjuvant settings as well as palliative EBRT for symptomatic primary lesions. Recommendations were based on a systematic literature review and created using a predefined consensus-building methodology and system for grading evidence quality and recommendation strength.

RESULTS

Strong recommendations are made for using EBRT as a potential first-line treatment in patients with liver-confined HCC who are not candidates for curative therapy, as consolidative therapy after incomplete response to liver-directed therapies, and as a salvage option for local recurrences. The guideline conditionally recommends EBRT for patients with liver-confined multifocal or unresectable HCC or those with macrovascular invasion, sequenced with systemic or catheter-based therapies. Palliative EBRT is conditionally recommended for symptomatic primary HCC and/or macrovascular tumor thrombi. EBRT is conditionally recommended as a bridge to transplant or before surgery in carefully selected patients. For patients with unresectable IHC, consolidative EBRT with or without chemotherapy should be considered, typically after systemic therapy. Adjuvant EBRT is conditionally recommended for resected IHC with high-risk features. Selection of dose-fractionation regimen and technique should be based on disease extent, disease location, underlying liver function, and available technologies.

CONCLUSIONS

The task force has proposed recommendations to inform best clinical practices on the use of EBRT for HCC and IHC with strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care. Future studies should focus on further defining the role of EBRT in the context of liver-directed and systemic therapies and refining optimal regimens and techniques.

MRI-Derived Sarcopenia Associated with Increased Mortality Following Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of sarcopenia on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with ⁹⁰Y radioembolization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed 82 consecutive patients (65 men and 17 women, mean age 65 years, range 31-83 years) with HCC treated with ⁹⁰Y radioembolization between December 2013 and December 2017. Sarcopenia was assessed on pre-procedure MRI performed within 100 days prior to ⁹⁰Y radioembolization by segmenting the paraspinal musculature at the level of the superior mesenteric artery origin and subtracting fat-intensity pixels to yield fat-free muscle area (FFMA). Sarcopenia was defined as FFMA ≤31.97 cm² for men and ≤28.95 cm² for women. Survival at 90 days, 180 days, 1 year, and 3 years following initial treatment was assessed using medical and public obituary records.

RESULTS

Sarcopenia was identified in 30% (25/82) of patients. Death was reported for 49% (32/65) of males and 71% (8/17) of females (mean follow-up 19.6 months, range 21 days-58 months). Patients with sarcopenia were found to have increased mortality at 180 days (31.8% vs. 8.9%) and 1 year (68.2% vs. 21.2%). Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of mortality adjusted for BCLC stage and sub-analysis demonstrated that sarcopenia independently predicted increased mortality for patients with BCLC stage B disease.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia was associated with increased 180-day and 1-year mortality in HCC patients undergoing ⁹⁰Y radioembolization. Sarcopenia was an independent predictor of survival adjusted for BCLC stage with significant deviation in the survival curves of BCLC stage B patients with and without sarcopenia.

Therapy of Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Evidence and Clinical Practice

Intermediate-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) represents a wide range of disease burden. Patients with different levels of liver function, tumor size, and number of lesions may all have intermediate-stage disease according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. Several minimally invasive image-guided locoregional therapies are available for the treatment of intermediate-stage HCC, including conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE), drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE), yttrium-90 radioembolization (Y-90 RE), thermal ablation, bland embolization, and combination therapy. Available clinical evidence points to cTACE as the current gold standard for the locoregional treatment of intermediate-stage HCC. DEB-TACE is at best non-inferior to cTACE in terms of survival benefit. Y-90 RE is a maturing therapy, and some institutions have adopted it as first-line therapy for intermediate-stage HCC. Thermal ablation combined with TACE may be used in select patients, while bland embolization has only limited evidence for its use. The combination of locoregional therapy with VEGF inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors has also been explored. This article will examine in detail the clinical evidence supporting available locoregional treatment options for intermediate-stage HCC.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Combined with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) for Patients with Medium-to-Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Long-Term Outcome

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with tumor size ranging from 3.0 to 10.0 cm. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed data on 201 patients with medium-to-large HCC. According to treatment procedure, the patients were divided into the TACE group (n=124) and the TACE+RFA group (n=77). We recorded data on patient safety, subcapsular hepatic hematoma, large amount of ascites, liver abscess, gallbladder injury, and local skin infection. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the 2 groups were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS The median PFS was 4.00 months (3.00-5.00 months) in the TACE group and 9.13 months (6.64-11.62 months) in the TACE+RFA group (P<0.001). Median OS was 12.00 months (8.88-15.13 months) in the TACE group and 27.57 months (20.06-35.08 months) in the TACE+RFA group (P<0.001). In the TACE+RFA group, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that tumor size ≤5 cm) (HR: 1.952, 95% CI: 1.213-3.143, P=0.006), hepatitis B (HR: 2.323, 95% CI: 1.096-4.923, P=0.028), TACE times (1 or >1) (HR: 1.867, 95% CI: 1.156-3.013, P=0.011), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level >200 ng/ml (HR: 2.426, 95% CI: 1.533-3.839, P<0.001), and AST level >40 U/L (HR: 1.946, 95% CI: 1.196-3.166, P=0.007) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Combination therapy of TACE with RFA is a safe and effective treatment for patients with medium-to-large HCC, with the long-term beneficial effect of retarding tumor progression and improving PFS and OS.

Histology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Association with Clinical Features, Radiological Findings, and Locoregional Therapy Outcomes

Objective:

The objective of the study was to investigate whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) histology is associated with clinical and computed tomographic/magnetic resonance imaging features and locoregional therapy (LRT) outcomes.

Subjects and Methods:

This single-center retrospective study included 124 consecutive patients (92 men, median age 59 years) with 132 HCC diagnosed by biopsy between 2008 and 2017 before LRT. Patients underwent chemoembolization (n = 51, 41%), ablation (n = 41, 33%), yttrium-90 radioembolization (n = 17, 13%), and chemoembolization/ablation (n = 15, 12%). Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage was 0/A (n = 48, 38%), B (n = 33, 26%), C (n = 27, 22%), and D (n = 16, 13%). Edmondson-Steiner (ES) grade and cytology were correlated with baseline features and radiologic response using logistic regression. Time to progression (TTP) and transplant-free survival (TFS) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results:

High ES grade was associated with α-fetoprotein (AFP) >50 ng/ml (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5–13.9; P < 0.01), tumor diameter >5 cm (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1–9.0; P < 0.05), infiltrative appearance (OR 5.0, 95% CI: 1.5–16.2; P < 0.01), and BCLC Stage C (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.3–16.4; P = 0.02). Clear-cell subtype was associated with non-viral cirrhosis (OR 5.3, 95% CI: 1.6–17.2; P < 0.01) and atypical enhancement (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.0–9.3; P < 0.05). AFP, BCLC Stage B, and diameter were associated with reduced TTP and TFS (P < 0.05). Neither ES grade nor clear-cell subtype was associated with objective response (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 0.7– 7.4; P = 0.15 and OR 1.1, 95% CI: 0.4–3.4; P = 0.87, respectively), TTP (P > 0.20), or TFS (P > 0.90) on univariate or stratified analysis.

Conclusion:

Histologic grade is associated with aggressive tumor features, while clear-cell HCC is associated with non-viral cirrhosis and atypical enhancement. Unlike AFP, BCLC stage, and tumor size, histologic features were not associated with LRT outcomes, supporting biopsy deferral for imaging diagnosed HCC.

Yttrium-90 trans-arterial radioembolization in advanced-stage HCC: The impact of portal vein thrombosis on survival

PURPOSE

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is generally recognized as a prognostic factor in HCC. Our purpose is to assess and compare the survival of patients with PVT and without PVT, after Y-90 Trans-Arterial Radio-Embolization (TARE) of unresectable HCC, unresponsive to other loco-regional treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between November 2005 and November 2012, Y-90 resin-based TARE was performed in an IRB-approved prospective protocol, on 89 patients with unresectable HCC. 33/89 patients had PVT, the remaining 56 were resistant-to-cTACE or underwent TARE as a downstaging therapy. All patients were studied with Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT), angiography, 99mTc-MAA-scintigraphy and liver biopsy. Gastro-duodenal artery was embolized in most cases. Proton-Pump Inhibitors were administered to prevent gastritis and ulcers. χ2 test with Yates correction and log rank test were used to compare the two proportions and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, respectively.

RESULTS

The average activity administered was 1.7 ± 0.4 GBq. After the treatment, CTCAE grade 2 adverse events occurred in 46% (41/89) patients: in particular, fever and abdominal pain were found in 25 and 16 patients, respectively. No major side-effect was observed. According to mRECIST criteria, partial response or complete response was found in 70% of patient three months after the treatment, and in 90.5% nine months after the treatment. No significant difference was found in survival of patients with PVT compared to those without PVT (p-value = 0.672). A complete regression of PVT was observed in almost half patients (13/27, 48.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Portal vein invasion does not affect survival in advanced stage HCC-patients undergoing TARE using Y-90 resin-based microspheres. Y90 procedure is associated with regression of portal vein tumor thrombus.

Treatment choice for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in real-world practice: impact of treatment stage migration to transarterial chemoembolization and treatment response on survival

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of our study were firstly to characterize the treatment stage migration phenomenon in early (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC]-0/A) stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by comparing the efficacy of curative therapies with trans-arterial chemoembolization [TACE] and secondly, determining baseline and on-treatment predictors of survival.

METHODS

All patients within BCLC-0/A stage from six tertiary hospitals who received curative therapy with either resection, transplantation, or ablation or TACE as first-line treatment were included in the analyses. The primary endpoint was overall survival; secondary end-points were transplant-free survival and recurrence-free survival.

RESULTS

Between January 2000 and December 2013, we identified 253 BCLC-0/A HCC patients of whom 148 (58.5%) received curative therapy and 105 (41.5%) migrated to TACE. Patients undergoing TACE had lower median survival (2.7 vs. 6.7 years; p < .0001), transplant-free survival (2.6 vs. 4.8 years; p < .0001) and recurrence-free survival (1.3 vs. 2.7 years; p < .001). On multivariate analysis treatment allocation to TACE was an independent prognostic predictor for both lower overall survival (HR 1.70, p = .04) and for HCC recurrence (HR 2.25, p < .001). The main prognostic determinant for each target outcome was Child-Pugh score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that curative treatments should always be preferred when applicable in early-stage HCC, but that in cases where this is not possible, TACE is a reasonable albeit inferior treatment option. In addition, it provides unique prognostic information on a significant proportion of patients with early-stage disease in whom curative therapy is not applicable.

Blocking transforming growth factor-beta reduces the migration and invasion of the residual tumour after TAE

This study aimed to investigate the treatment effects of combining TAE therapy with LY2109761, a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) receptor I kinase inhibitor, on suppressing tumour growth and metastasis. We simulated the changing tumour microenvironment before and after TAE using both in vitro and in vivo models. In vitro, we evaluated the altered migration and invasion properties of HepG2 cells using migration and invasion assays. In addition, western blot analysis was used to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying the biological activities of LY2109761 in HepG2 cells. In vivo, we combined LY2109761 with TAE together in the VX2 rabbit model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the combination. In vitro, the Smad pathway were substantially activated by hypoxia, and LY2109761 significantly inhibited the Smad pathway under both normoxic and hypoxic circumstances. Furthermore, LY2109761 inhibited cell proliferation, intravasation and metastasis by downregulating Smad-2 phosphorylation and up-regulating E-cadherin expression in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In addition, in animals, LY2109761 improved the therapeutic effect of TAE and inhibited intravasation and metastasis after TAE. Based on the observations herein, we concluded that using LY2109761 and TAE in combination for the treatment of VX2 rabbit liver cancer inhibits tumour growth and metastasis, suggesting that such a combination may provide new a target and strategy for interventional liver cancer therapy.

Diagnostic accuracy of MRI with extracellular vs. hepatobiliary contrast material for detection of residual hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional treatment

PURPOSE

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of extracellular gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced MRI (Gd-MRI) and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (EOB-MRI) for the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) response to locoregional therapy (LRT) using explant correlation as the reference standard.

METHODS

Forty-nine subjects with cirrhosis and HCC treated with LRT who underwent liver MRI using either Gd-MRI (n = 26) or EOB-MRI (n = 23) within 90 days of liver transplantation were included. Four radiologists reviewed the MR images blinded to histology to determine the size and percentage of viable residual HCC using a per-lesion explant reference standard. Sensitivities, specificities, accuracies, and agreement with histology for the detection residual HCC were calculated.

RESULTS

Gd-MRI had greater agreement with histology (ICC: 0.98 [0.95-0.99] vs. 0.80 [0.63-0.90]) and greater sensitivity for viable HCC (76% [13/17 50-93%] vs. 58% [7/12; 28-85%]) than EOB-MRI; specificities were similar (84% [16/19; 60-97%] vs. 85% [23/27; 66-96%]). Areas under ROC curves for detecting residual viable tumor were 0.80 (0.64-0.92) for Gd-MRI and 0.72 (0.55-0.85) for EOB-MRI. Gd-MRI had greater inter-rater agreement than EOB-MRI for determining the size of residual viable HCC (ICC: 0.96 [0.92-0.98] vs. 0.85 [0.72-0.92]).

CONCLUSION

Gd-MRI may be more accurate and precise than EOB-MRI for the assessment of viable HCC following LRT.

The efficacy and safety of long- versus short-interval transarterial chemoembolization in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: To compare the efficacy and safety of long- versus short-interval of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

Methods: This retrospective analysis enrolled 574 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent at least two sessions of TACE between January 2007 and December 2014. The patients were divided into a short-interval group (SIG) and a long-interval group (LIG) based on the median TACE interval of the first two sessions. Propensity score matching (PSM) identified 476 patients for a comparison of overall survival (OS) and safety.

Results: Before matching, the LIG had a longer OS than the SIG (Median: 12.1 vs. 8.7 months; P = 0.003). After matching, median OS in the SIG and LIG were 9.1 and 14.2 months (P < 0.001). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 37.5%, 17.1%, and 9.9% for SIG and 50.1%, 19.3%, and 11.6% for LIG, respectively. The TACE interval was an independent prognostic factor for OS. The LIG had a longer OS than the SIG in Barcelona Clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage C patients (Median: 10.2 vs. 5.8 months; P < 0.001), but not in BCLC-A or B. The postoperative adverse rates were similar in matched SIG and LIG patients (29.4% vs. 33.6%, P = 0.324).

Conclusions: A long interval between the first two sessions of TACE resulted in a better OS than a short interval in patients with unresectable BCLC C-stage HCC.

Health education helps to relieve postembolization pain during hepatic arterial chemoembolization therapy

Aim

Psychological intervention has been proved a complementary approach to drug analgesia. Another study suggested that health knowledge is associated with psychological symptoms in patients with liver cancer. This study is conducted to assess whether improving the health education (HE) alleviates the postembolization pain during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Materials and methods

One hundred and fifteen patients, who required TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and suffered postembolization pain, were randomized into control group (n=63) and HE group (n=52). The health knowledge was scaled with the health knowledge questionnaire (HKQ). The postembolization pain was scored using a 0–10 numeric rating scale (NRS-10) after arterial embolization in both groups.

Results

There were no statistical differences between male and female in all HKQ scores (P>0.05). The HKQ scores of young people (≤45 years old) were significantly higher than those of elders (>45 years old; P<0.05). After teaching HE, the HKQ scores were significantly increased in patients of the HE group (P<0.01). The postembolization pain score in the HE group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The HKQ scores of question 1, 3, and total were negatively correlated with the pain score in this sample (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Improving the HE among HCC patients before TACE is beneficial for the pain relief during interventional procedure.

CalliSpheres drug-eluting beads versus lipiodol transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a short-term efficacy and safety study

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with CalliSpheres Beads loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) in the treatment of Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to conventional TACE (cTACE).

METHODS

A total of 54 patients with HCC treated by TACE from June 2016 to February 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. These included 24 cases in the DEB-TACE group and 30 cases in the cTACE group. The clinical efficacy, tumor recurrence rate, and complications were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, liver function tests and alpha-feto protein levels were compared between the two groups before and at 1 week and 1 month after interventional treatment.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics (p > 0.05). Tumor response rates and disease control rates in the DEB-TACE group were significantly higher than those in the cTACE group at 3 and 6 months after treatment (p < 0.05). Recurrence rates at 6 months were significantly higher for cTACE compared to DEB-TACE (43.3 vs. 16.7%; p = 0.036). At 1 month, the AFP level in the DEB-TACE group was significantly lower than that in the cTACE group (p = 0.008). At the end of follow-up, four cases in the DEB-TACE group and two cases in the cTACE group were treated with salvage surgery after downstaging the disease. Liver function of both groups improved at 1 month. However, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in the DEB-TACE group were better than those in the cTACE group (p < 0.05). The incidence of DOX-related complications in the DEB-TACE group was significantly lower than in the cTACE group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The short-term efficacy of DEB-TACE is better, and the complication rates are lower compared to cTACE in the treatment of Chinese patients with HCC. However, long-term clinical efficacy and survival benefit should be analyzed in future studies.

Radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: Statistical confirmation of improved survival in responders by landmark analyses

Does imaging response predict survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)? We studied the ability of posttherapeutic imaging response to predict overall survival. Over 14 years, 948 patients with HCC were treated with radioembolization. Patients with baseline metastases, vascular invasion, multifocal disease, Child-Pugh > B7, and transplanted/resected were excluded. This created our homogeneous study cohort of 134 patients with Child-Pugh ≤ B7 and solitary HCC. Response (using European Association for Study of the Liver [EASL] and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 [RECIST 1.1] criteria) was associated with survival using Landmark and risk-of-death methodologies after reviewing 960 scans. In a subanalysis, survival times of responders were compared to those of patients with stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). Uni/multivariate survival analyses were performed at each Landmark. At the 3-month Landmark, responders survived longer than nonresponders by EASL (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.82; P = 0.002) but not RECIST 1.1 criteria (HR, 0.70; CI, 0.37-1.32; P = 0.32). At the 6-month Landmark, responders survived longer than nonresponders by EASL (HR, 0.32; CI, 0.15-0.77; P < 0.001) and RECIST 1.1 criteria (HR, 0.50; CI, 0.29-0.87; P = 0.021). At the 12-month Landmark, responders survived longer than nonresponders by EASL (HR, 0.34; CI, 0.15-0.77; P <  0.001) and RECIST 1.1 criteria (HR, 0.52; CI 0.27-0.98; P = 0.049). At 6 months, risk of death was lower for responders by EASL (P <  0.001) and RECIST 1.1 (P = 0.0445). In subanalyses, responders lived longer than patients with SD or PD. EASL response was a significant predictor of survival at 3-, 6-, and 12-month Landmarks on uni/multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

Response to radioembolization in patients with solitary HCC can prognosticate improved survival. EASL necrosis criteria outperformed RECIST 1.1 size criteria in predicting survival. The therapeutic objective of radioembolization should be radiologic response and not solely to prevent progression. (Hepatology 2018;67:873-883).

Mechanism of action and efficacy of LY2109761, a TGF-β receptor inhibitor, targeting tumor microenvironment in liver cancer after TACE

TACE (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization) has been recognized as an effective palliative treatment option for patients with HCC, however, the medium-long term efficacy of it remains modest. LY2109761, a TGF-β receptor inhibitor, was confirmed to reduce tumor cell growth, intravasation, and metastatic dissemination of HCC cells through different molecular mechanisms. This study aims to investigate the treatment effect of combining TACE therapy with LY2109761- a TGF-β receptor I kinase inhibitor on suppressing tumor growth and metastasis in a rabbit VX2 tumor model. The molecular mechanisms underlying the biological activities of LY2109761 was also evaluated through an in vitro model. And we found that LY2109761 could inhibit cell proliferation by down-regulating the phosphorylation of Smad-2 as well as improved the therapeutic effect of TACE in a VX2 hepatocellular carcinoma model. And we further found that LY2109761 may play a modulating role in the process of T cell transformation. Hence, based on those obsevations in our research, we concluded that combing LY2109761 with TACE for the treatment of VX2 rabbit liver cancer can help inhibit tumor growth as well as increase the tumor cell necrosis after TACE.

Assessment of Response to Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization with Doxorubicin-eluting Microspheres: Tumor Biology and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence in a 5-year Transplant Cohort

Purpose To assess response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) based on immune markers and tumor biology in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were bridged to liver transplantation, and to produce an optimized pretransplantation model for posttransplantation recurrence risk. Materials and Methods In this institutional review board-approved HIPAA-compliant retrospective analysis, 93 consecutive patients (73 male, 20 female; mean age, 59.6 years; age range, 23-72 years) underwent TACE with doxorubicin-eluting microspheres (DEB) (hereafter, DEB-TACE) and subsequently underwent transplantation over a 5-year period from July 7, 2011, to May 16, 2016. DEB-TACE response was based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Imaging responses and posttransplantation recurrence were compared with demographics, liver function, basic immune markers, treatment dose, and tumor morphology. Treatment response and recurrence were analyzed with uni- and multivariate statistics, as well as internal validation and propensity score matching of factors known to affect recurrence to assess independent effects of DEB-TACE response on recurrence. Results Low-grade tumors (grade 0, 1, or 2) demonstrated a favorable long-term treatment response in 87% of patients (complete response, 49%; partial response, 38%; stable disease [SD] or local disease progression [DP], 13%) versus 33% of high-grade tumors (grade 3 or 4) (complete response, 0%; partial response, 33%; SD or DP, 67%) (P < .001). Of the 93 patients who underwent treatment, 82 were followed-up after transplantation (mean duration, 757 days). Recurrence occurred in seven (9%) patients (mean time after transplantation, 635 days). Poor response to DEB-TACE (SD or DP) was present in 86% of cases and accounted for 35% of all patients with SD or DP (P < .001). By using only variables routinely available prior to liver transplantation, a validated model of posttransplantation recurrence risk was produced with a concordance statistic of 0.83. The validated model shows sensitivity of 83.6%, specificity of 82.6%, and negative predictive value of 98.4%, which are pessimistic estimates. Conclusion Response to DEB-TACE is correlated with tumor biology and patients at risk for posttransplantation recurrence, and it may be associated with HCC recurrence after liver transplantation. ^© RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

The Effect of Transarterial Chemoembolization in Combination With Kang'ai Injection on Patients With Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective Study

Background: The outcome of patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains poor. Search for a more effective therapy is still necessary. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of combining TACE with Kang’ai (KA) injection for treating patients with intermediate stage HCC. Methods: A total of 89 patients with intermediate stage HCC were enrolled and divided into TACE +KA group (n = 48) receiving repeated TACE plus KA injection, and TACE group (n = 41) receiving repeated TACE alone. All patients were prospectively studied. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and time to radiologic progression (TTP). Results: The TACE + KA group had significantly longer median OS (27.0 vs 21.0 months, P = .038) and TTP (12.0 vs 10.0 months, P = .028) than TACE group. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates in the TACE + KA group were markedly higher than in TACE group (88.5%, 58.8%, and 20.8% vs 81.3%, 44.9%, and 6.7%, respectively, P = .038), while the 1- and 2-year TTP rates in the TACE + KA group were significantly lower than in TACE group (49.3% and 86.9% vs 75.3% and 100%, P = .028). TACE + KA group displayed significantly lower incidences of intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases, as well as postembolization syndrome than TACE group (P < .05). Multivariate analyses revealed group (P = .023), maximum tumor size (P = .019), and tumor number (P = .034) as significant predictors for OS, and group (P = .046), maximum tumor size (P = .002) and α-fetoprotein level (P = .020) as significant predictors for TTP. Both TACE and KA injection were well tolerated. Conclusion: TACE plus KA injection is more effective than TACE alone for treating patients with intermediate stage HCC in this nonrandomized study. Further research is warranted.

Short-term imaging response after drug-eluting embolic trans-arterial chemoembolization delivered with the Surefire Infusion System® for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose

To review the initial imaging responses after drug-eluting embolic trans-arterial chemoembolization (DEE-TACE) delivered with the Surefire Infusion System ^® for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Single center retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent DEE-TACE for HCC, delivered with SIS. Information was gathered from available medical records. Treatment response rates were assessed using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Assessment of adverse events was categorized per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03.

Results

Twenty-two patients with 39 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions were treated with the surefire infusion system. Complete response was demonstrated in 32% of patients and 54% of lesions after a single treatment session. Overall disease response was demonstrated in 91% of patients and 85% of lesions after a single treatment. No grade 3 or higher elevations in liver function tests were demonstrated in the short-term.

Conclusion

SIS delivered DEE-TACE leads to a higher than expected initial response in patients with HCC.

Post-procedural Care in Interventional Radiology: What Every Interventional Radiologist Should Know-Part II: Catheter Care and Management of Common Systemic Post-procedural Complications

Interventional radiology (IR) has evolved into a full-fledged clinical specialty with attendant comprehensive patient care responsibilities. Providing excellent and thorough clinical care is as essential to the practice of IR as achieving technical success in procedures. Basic clinical skills that every interventional radiologist should learn include routine management of percutaneously inserted drainage and vascular catheters and rapid effective management of common systemic post-procedural complications. A structured approach to post-procedural care, including routine follow-up and early identification and management of complications, facilitates efficient and thorough management with an emphasis on quality and patient safety. The aim of this second part, in conjunction with part 1, is to complete the comprehensive review of post-procedural care in patients undergoing interventional radiology procedures. We discuss common problems encountered after insertion of drainage and vascular catheters and describe effective methods of troubleshooting these problems. Commonly encountered systemic complications in IR are described, and ways for immediate identification and management of these complications are provided.

Review article: delivering precision oncology in intermediate-stage liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), for which trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) constitutes the standard of care, is a patient subgroup with significant heterogeneity in clinical outcome. Sources of variation relate to differences in tumour burden, hepatic reserve, ethnicity and treatment modalities. Increasing research efforts have been dedicated to minimise the clinical diversity of this patient population and enhance optimal provision of treatment.

AIM

To comprehensively review the diverse prognostic models that have been proposed to refine the prognostic prediction of patients with HCC undergoing TACE.

RESULTS

A number of prognostic algorithms (HAP, ART, ABCR score and many others) have shown potential to address the clinical heterogeneity characterising patients with intermediate-stage HCC and facilitate early identification of patients with poor prognostic features in whom alternative treatments or best supportive care might be more appropriate than TACE.

CONCLUSIONS

While an improved characterisation of intermediate-stage HCC is a highly important clinical aim, current evidence suggests that novel prognostic algorithms in this patient population may offer potential benefits but non-negligible challenges in the provision of TACE. This review summarises the currently available evidence to facilitate the development of precision oncology in intermediate-stage HCC.

Modified transarterial chemoembolization with locoregional administration of sorafenib for treating hepatocellular carcinoma: feasibility, efficacy, and safety in the VX-2 rabbit liver tumor model

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of a local application of sorafenib within a conventional transarterial chemoembolization in the VX-2 tumor-bearing rabbit model.

METHODS

VX-2 tumors were induced in the left liver lobe of 10 New Zealand White rabbits. After two weeks, growth was verified by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Five rabbits were treated by transarterial chemoembolization using an emulsion of sorafenib and ethiodized oil (referred to as SORATACE; n=5). Rabbits receiving oral sorafenib for two weeks (n=2) and untreated rabbits (n=3) served as controls. After two weeks, contrast-enhanced CT was performed, followed by animal necropsy.

RESULTS

The change in tumor diameter between baseline and follow-up was significantly different in the SORATACE group compared with the other groups; tumor shrinkage was observed in the SORATACE group only (P = 0.016). In both control groups, preserved hypervascularity was seen in the follow-up CT in all but one tumor. All tumors in the SORATACE group were devascularized in the follow-up CT. Importantly, substantial parenchymal damage in nontargeted areas of the tumor-bearing liver lobe was seen in rabbits treated with SORATACE.

CONCLUSION

SORATACE demonstrated high efficacy in the treatment of experimental VX-2 liver tumors but was also associated with substantial liver parenchymal toxicity.

Intrahepatic biloma following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: Incidence, imaging features and management

Repeat transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) becomes more challenging for patients with intrahepatic biloma following TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical course, incidence, imaging features and outcome and to explore the reasonable therapy scheme for intrahepatic biloma following TACE for HCC.A total of 4,695 TACE procedures were performed for 1,923 patients with HCC. Twenty patients with intrahepatic biloma following TACE were studied retrospectively. The incidence of intrahepatic biloma was 1.04% in this study. The 20 patients underwent 55 TACE procedures (mean, 2.75). Portal vein invasion was found in half of the patients. Eleven patients developed round solitary or multiple cystic biloma, 6 patients had branched biloma and 3 patients developed both cystic and branched biloma. Percutaneous drainage was applied for 4 patients. One patient underwent partial hepatectomy and one mortality occurred due to progressive biloma and multiple organ failure. Although severe intrahepatic biloma following TACE is rare, the procedure should be performed with caution. Timely and appropriate management, including percutaneous drainage, partial hepatectomy and antibiotic administration should be performed in the case of any signs of infection.

Radiological biomarkers for assessing response to locoregional therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma: From morphological to functional imaging (Review)

Many hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients do not qualify for curative surgical intervention and are instead treated with locoregional therapies (LRTs) including ablative and endovascular therapies. Assessment of imaging response is essential in the management of HCC for determining efficacy of therapy and as a surrogate marker for improved survival. The established morphological image biomarkers for tumor burden measurement continue to be applied, as size measurement can easily be used in clinical practice. However, in the setting of liver-directed LRTs for HCC, simple tumor morphological changes can be less informative and usually appear later than biologic changes. Functional imaging (such as perfusion and diffusion imaging, PET-CT/MR and MR spectroscopy) has the potential to be a promising technique for assessment of HCC response to LRTs. Although promising, none of these functional imaging biomarkers have gone through all the required steps of standardization and validation and established accepted criteria for clinical practice.

Treatment algorithm based on the multivariate survival analyses in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization

Purpose

To develop the treatment algorithm from multivariate survival analyses (MVA) in patients with Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) C (advanced) Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with Trans-arterial Chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

Consecutive unresectable and non-tranplantable patients with advanced HCC, who received DEB TACE were studied. A total of 238 patients (mean age, 62.4yrs) was included in the study. Survivals were analyzed according to different parameters from the time of the 1st DEB TACE. Kaplan Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard model were used for survival analysis. The SS was constructed from MVA and named BCLC C HCC Prognostic (BCHP) staging system (SS).

Results

Overall median survival (OS) was 16.2 months. In HCC patients with venous thrombosis (VT) of large vein [main portal vein (PV), right or left PV, hepatic vein, inferior vena cava] (22.7%) versus small vein (segmental/subsegmental PV) (9.7%) versus no VT had OSs of 6.4 months versus 20 months versus 22.8 months respectively (p<0.001). On MVA, the significant independent prognostic factors (PFs) of survival were CP class, eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status (PS), single HCC<5 cm, site of VT, metastases, serum creatinine and serum alpha-feto protein. Based on these PFs, the BCHP staging system was constructed. The OSs of stages I, II and III were 28.4 months, 11.8 months and 2.4 months accordingly (p<0.001). The treatment plan was proposed according to the different stages.

Conclusion

On MVA of patients with advanced HCC treated with TACE, significant independent prognostic factors (PFs) of survival were CP class, ECOG PS, single HCC<5 cm or others, site of VT, metastases, serum creatinine and serum alpha-feto protein. New BCHP SS was proposed based on MVA data to identify the suitable advanced HCC patients for TACE treatments.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma using transarterial chemoembolization: a real-life, single-centre study from Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the real-life survival rates of patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transarterial chemoembolization.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study involving 95 patients was conducted and the studied variables were analysed according to survival. Treatment response was determined using the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors assessment. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to analyse survival.

RESULTS

Most (72.6%) patients were male, with a mean age of 64.8±9.7 years and mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score of 10.4±3.0. The median α-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 29.3 ng/ml. Complications were observed in 31.6% of the patients. A target response assessment revealed that 35.8% of patients exhibited complete response, 22.1% a partial response, 27.4% stable disease and 14.7% progressive disease. According to overall response rates, 63.2% exhibited progressive disease. Mean survival time was 32 months. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 80, 59, 44 and 29%, respectively. In the multivariate model adjusted for overall response rates, only AFP level more than or equal to 100 ng/ml (hazard ratio=2.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-5.18, P=0.035) was associated with death.

CONCLUSION

Transarterial chemoembolization is an effective therapy; however, AFP levels more than or equal to 100 ng/ml are associated with poorer prognosis.

Impact of Different Embolic Agents for Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Procedures on Systemic Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Levels

Background and Aims: Intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, there appear to be side effects, such as induction of proangiogenic factors, e.g. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which have been shown to be associated with a poor prognosis. This prospective study was designed to compare serum VEGF level response after TACE with different embolic agents in patients with HCC. Methods: Patients were assigned to one of three different TACE regimens: degradable starch microspheres (DSM) TACE, drug-eluting bead (DEBDOX) TACE or Lipiodol TACE (cTACE). All patients received 50 mg doxorubicin/m² body surface area (BSA) during TACE. Serum VEGF levels were assessed before TACE treatment, 24 h post-treatment and 4 weeks later. Results: Twenty-two patients with 30 TACE treatments were enrolled. Compared to baseline VEGF levels, a marked increase was observed for 24 h post-TACE (164% of baseline level) and during the 4-week follow-up (170% of baseline level) only for the cTACE arm (p < 0.05). In contrast, the increase of serum VEGF levels were only 114% and 123% for DEBDOX and 121% and 124% for DSM, respectively. Conclusions: Conventional TACE using Lipiodol shows marked increase in blood levels of the proangiogenic factor VEGF, while DEBDOX and DSM TACE induce only a moderate VEGF response.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Radioembolization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implantation of radioactive micron-sized particles loaded with yttrium-90 (Y90) inside the blood vessels that supply a tumor. We performed a randomized, phase 2 study to compare the effects of cTACE and Y90 radioembolization in patients with HCC.

METHODS

From October 2009 through October 2015, we reviewed patients with HCC of all Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages for eligibility. Of these, 179 patients with BCLC stages A or B met our enrollment criteria and were candidates for cTACE or Y90 therapy. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received Y90 therapy (n = 24; 50% Child-Pugh A) or cTACE (n = 21; 71% Child-Pugh A). The primary outcome was time to progression (TTP), evaluated by intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included safety, rate of response (based on tumor size and necrosis criteria), and Kaplan-Meier survival time. We performed inverse probability of censoring weighting and competing risk analyses.

RESULTS

Patients in the Y90 radioembolization group had significant longer median TTP (>26 mo) than patients in the cTACE group (6.8 mo; P = .0012) (hazard ratio, 0.122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.027-0.557; P = .007). This was confirmed by competing risk and inverse probability of censoring weighting analyses accounting for transplantation or death. A significantly greater proportion of patients in the cTACE group developed diarrhea (21%) than in the Y90 group (0%; P = .031) or hypoalbuminemia (58% in the cTACE group vs 4% in the Y90 group; P < .001). Similar proportions of patients in each group had a response to therapy, marked by necrosis (74% in the cTACE group vs 87% in the Y90 group) (P = .433). The median survival time, censored to liver transplantation, was 17.7 months for the cTACE group (95% CI, 8.3-not calculable) vs 18.6 months for the Y90 group (95% CI, 7.4-32.5) (P = .99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a randomized phase 2 study of patients with HCC of BCLC stages A or B, we found Y90 radioembolization to provide significantly longer TTP than cTACE. Y90 radioembolization provides better tumor control and could reduce drop-out from transplant waitlists. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00956930.

Novel implications in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Worldwide hepatocellular carcinoma remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, associated with a poor prognosis due to late diagnosis in the majority of cases. Physicians at care are frequently confronted with patients who are ineligible for curative treatment such as liver resection, transplantation or radiofrequency ablation. Besides established palliative locoregional therapies, such as ablation or chemoembolization, new treatment options, such as microwave ablation, drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization or selective internal radiation therapy, are emerging; however, data from randomized controlled trials are still lacking. In order to achieve optimal tumor control, patients should receive tailored treatment concepts, considering their tumor burden, liver function and performance status, instead of strictly assigning patients to treatment modalities following algorithms that may be partly very restrictive. Palliative locoregional pretreatment might facilitate downstaging to ensure later curative resection or transplantation. In addition, the combined utilization of different locoregional treatment options or systemic co-treatment has been the subject of several trials. In cases where local tumor control cannot be achieved, or in the scenario of extrahepatic spread, sorafenib remains the only approved systemic therapy option. Alternative targeted therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown encouraging preliminary results, while data from phase III studies are pending.

Effectiveness of Initial Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Medicare Beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

Optimal administration of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), the standard approach for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), requires clinical and technical expertise. We sought to evaluate whether TACE retains its effectiveness when administered across a broad range of health care settings. Furthermore, as the use of yttrium(90) (Y(90)) radioembolization has been increasing, we explored the comparative effectiveness of Y(90) as an alternative to TACE.

METHODS

Patients with HCC diagnosed from 2004 through 2009 treated initially with TACE or Y(90) were identified from the SEER-Medicare linkage. Key covariates included prediagnosis α-fetoprotein (AFP) screening, complications of cirrhosis, and tumor extent. Effect of treatment, patient, and health care system factors on overall survival (OS) was evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards. Stratified OS estimates are provided. Propensity score (PS) weighting was used to compare effectiveness of Y(90) with TACE.

RESULTS

Of 1528 patients who underwent intra-arterial embolization, 577 received concurrent chemotherapy (eg, TACE). Median OS was 21 months (95% CI, 18-23) following TACE and 9 months (95% CI, 1-41) following Y(90). Refined survival estimates stratified by stage, AFP screening, and liver comorbidity are presented. The 90-day mortality rate after TACE was 21% to 25% in patients with extrahepatic spread or vascular invasion. In the PS-weighted analysis, Y(90) was associated with inferior survival, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.39 (95% CI, 1.02-1.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of TACE is generalizable to Medicare patients receiving care in a variety of treatment settings. However, early posttreatment mortality is high in patients with advanced disease. We found no evidence of improved outcomes with Y(90) compared with TACE. Survival estimates from this large cohort can be used to provide prognostic information to patients considering palliative TACE.

Current status of transarterial radioembolization

Unresectable primary and secondary liver malignancies present a major problem in the treatment of solid tumors. Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is an increasingly used technique for treating various types of malignant liver tumors. This approach is appealing, as the mechanism of action is independent from other loco-regional treatments and potentially complementary to systemic therapies. There are two commercially available products in use for TARE: ⁹⁰Y-resin and ⁹⁰Y-glass microspheres. Currently available data indicates TARE so be safe and effective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic liver disease. In HCC the results compare well with chemoembolization, while the role of TARE in combination with kinase inhibitors has yet to be established. Current data on TARE in metastatic liver disease is promising, but there is a strong need for prospective randomized trials comparing TARE and modern chemotherapeutic regimen to support the growing role of TARE in metastatic liver disease.

Independent Analysis of Albumin-Bilirubin Grade in a 765-Patient Cohort Treated with Transarterial Locoregional Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE

To assess validity of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade as a predictor of survival in patients undergoing transarterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Baseline albumin and bilirubin values of 765 consecutive patients treated with conventional transarterial chemoembolization or yttrium-90 ((90)Y) radioembolization at a single institution were used to determine liver function according to ALBI grade. Survival outcomes were stratified by ALBI grade using Kaplan-Meier and stratified by Child-Pugh (C-P) class and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage. Discriminatory ability was assessed by C-index.

RESULTS

For 428 patients receiving (90)Y radioembolization, ALBI grade yielded distinct survival curves (P < .001). When stratified by C-P class and BCLC stage, ALBI grade revealed different survival outcomes for C-P B (P = .001), BCLC A (P < .001), BCLC B (P = .001), and BCLC C (P < .001). When substratified by BCLC stage, ALBI grade was a better discriminator of survival than C-P class (C-index 0.792, 0.763, respectively). For 337 patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization, ALBI grade yielded distinct survival curves (P < .001). When stratified by C-P class and BCLC stage, ALBI grade provided distinct survival curves for C-P B (P = .02), BCLC B (P = .001), and BCLC C (P = .02). When substratified by BCLC stage, ALBI grade was a better discriminator of survival than C-P class (C-index 0.739, 0.735, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ALBI grade outperforms C-P class at discriminating survival in patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization or (90)Y radioembolization. ALBI grade is also valuable in patients with moderate liver dysfunction and BCLC B disease.

The Changes of HIF-1α and VEGF Expression After TACE in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

As a common malignant tumor, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high prevalence and is a serious threat to human health. The surgical resection rate of HCC is low, and the prognosis is poor. Although transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the main treatment for HCC patients who are not candidates for surgical resection, it is not considered a curative procedure. For HCC, poor TACE efficacy or TACE failure may be related to tumor angiogenesis of the residual disease. Among the many regulatory factors in tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play vital roles in this process. In this paper, we conducted a review of the dynamic change and relevance of HIF-1α and VEGF levels after TACE of HCC patients.

PET/MRI of Hepatic 90Y Microsphere Deposition Determines Individual Tumor Response

Purpose

The purpose of our study is to determine if there is a relationship between dose deposition measured by PET/MRI and individual lesion response to yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y) microsphere radioembolization.

Materials and Methods

26 patients undergoing lobar treatment with ⁹⁰Y microspheres underwent PET/MRI within 66 h of treatment and had follow-up imaging available. Adequate visualization of tumor was available in 24 patients, and contours were drawn on simultaneously acquired PET/MRI data. Dose volume histograms (DVHs) were extracted from dose maps, which were generated using a voxelized dose kernel. Similar contours to capture dimensional and volumetric change of tumors were drawn on follow-up imaging. Response was analyzed using both RECIST and volumetric RECIST (vRECIST) criteria.

Results

A total of 8 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 4 neuroendocrine tumor (NET), 9 colorectal metastases (CRC) patients, and 3 patients with other metastatic disease met inclusion criteria. Average dose was useful in predicting response between responders and non-responders for all lesion types and for CRC lesions alone using both response criteria (p < 0.05). D70 (minimum dose to 70 % of volume) was also useful in predicting response when using vRECIST. No significant trend was seen in the other tumor types. For CRC lesions, an average dose of 29.8 Gy offered 76.9 % sensitivity and 75.9 % specificity for response.

Conclusions

PET/MRI of ⁹⁰Y microsphere distribution showed significantly higher DVH values for responders than non-responders in patients with CRC. DVH analysis of ⁹⁰Y microsphere distribution following treatment may be an important predictor of response and could be used to guide future adaptive therapy trials.

CT Appearance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Locoregional Treatments: A Comprehensive Review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide, affecting more than 600,000 new patients per year. Curative treatments are available in a small percentage of patients, while most of them present in stages requiring locoregional treatments such as thermoablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and/or radioembolization. These therapies result in specific imaging features that the general radiologist has to be aware of in order to assess the response to treatment and to correctly manage the follow-up of treated patients. Multiphasic helical computed tomography has become a popular imaging modality for detecting hypervascular tumors and characterizing liver lesions. On this basis, many staging and diagnostic systems have been proposed for evaluating response to all different existing strategies. Radiofrequencies and microwaves generate thermoablation of tumors, and transarterial chemoembolization exploits the double effect of the locoregional administration of drugs and embolizing particles. Eventually radioembolization uses a beta-emitting isotope to induce necrosis. Therefore, the aim of this comprehensive review is to analyze and compare CT imaging appearance of HCC after various locoregional treatments, with regard to specific indications for all possible procedures.