Hepatocellular carcinoma: Consensus, controversies and future directions. A report from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Meeting

Contrast-enhanced US of High-Risk Indeterminate Focal Liver Observations Categorized as LR-4 or LR-M at CT/MRI

Background Indeterminate focal liver observations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may require invasive biopsy or follow-up, which could lead to delays in definitive categorization and to postponement of treatment. Purpose To examine clinical effect of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in participants with high-risk indeterminate liver observations categorized as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category LR-4 (probably HCC) or LI-RADS category LR-M (probably or definitely malignant but not HCC specific) at CT or MRI. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a prospective international multicenter validation study for CEUS LI-RADS (January 2018 to August 2021). CEUS was performed within 4 weeks of CT or MRI. Tissue histologic and CT or MRI follow-up data were used as reference standards. Clinical effect of CEUS for HCC was evaluated in observations 10 mm or larger categorized as CT/MRI LR-4 and LR-M. Results Included were 109 participants (mean age, 64.3 years ± 8.3 [SD]; 68.8% [75 of 109] male participants) with 113 observations (≥10 mm) categorized as CT/MRI LR-4 (53.1%; 60 of 113) or LR-M (46.9%; 53 of 113). CEUS resulted in management recommendation changes in 33.6% (95% CI: 25, 43; 38 of 113) of observations; among these, 95% (95% CI: 82, 99; 36 of 38) were correct. A total of 30.1% (34 of 113) of CT/MRI LR-4 and LR-M observations were categorized at CEUS as LI-RADS category LR-5 (definite HCC), making biopsy unnecessary; 94% (32 of 34) of these categorizations were correct. Of CT/MRI LR-4 observations, 7% (four of 60) were categorized as CEUS LR-M; subsequent biopsy confirmed non-HCC malignancy in all participants. Clinical impact of CEUS was more substantial for observations 20 mm or larger (n = 68); CEUS helped appropriately categorize both LR-5 and LR-M lesions as HCC and non-HCC malignancies, respectively, and resulted in management recommendation changes in 40% (27 of 68) of observations with 100% accuracy. Conclusion CEUS resolved some high-risk indeterminate liver observations (categorized as LR-4 and LR-M at CT or MRI), with particularly high clinical impact for observations measuring at least 20 mm. Clinical trial registration no. NCT03318380 © RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Clinical impact of CEUS on non-characterizable observations and observations with intermediate probability of malignancy on CT/MRI in patients at risk for HCC

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a unique cancer allowing tumor diagnosis with identification of definitive patterns of enhancement on contrast-enhanced imaging, avoiding invasive biopsy. However, it is still unclear to what extent Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is a clinically useful additional step when Computed tomography (CT) or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are inconclusive.

METHODS

A prospective international multicenter validation study for CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) was conducted between January 2018 and August 2021. 646 patients at risk for HCC with focal liver lesions were enrolled. CEUS was performed using an intravenous ultrasound contrast agent within 4 weeks of CT/MRI. Liver nodules were categorized based on LI-RADS (LR) criteria. Histology or one-year follow-up CT/MRI imaging results were used as the reference standard. The diagnostic performance of CEUS was evaluated for inconclusive CT/MRI scan in two scenarios for which the AASLD recommends repeat imaging or imaging follow-up: observations deemed non-characterizable (LR-NC) or with indeterminate probability of malignancy (LR-3).

RESULTS

75 observations on CT or MRI were categorized as LR-3 (n = 54) or LR-NC (n = 21) CEUS recategorization of such observations into a different LR category (namely, into one among LR-1, LR-2, LR-5, LR-M, or LR-TIV) resulted in management recommendation changes in 33.3% (25/75) and in all but one (96.0%, 24/25) observation, the new management recommendations were correct.

CONCLUSION

CEUS LI-RADS resulted in management recommendations change in substantial number of liver observations with initial indeterminate CT/MRI characterization, identifying both non-malignant lesions and HCC, potentially accelerating the diagnostic process and alleviating the need for biopsy or follow-up imaging.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov number, NCT03318380.

HCC-Check: A Novel Diagnostic Tool for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Cytokeratin-1 and Epithelial Membrane Antigen: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages, leading to a poorer prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis and identification of biomarkers may significantly improve outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 486 participants distributed among 3 groups: F1 to F3 = 184, F4 = 183, and hepatocellular carcinoma = 119. Liver fibrosis staging was performed using FibroScan, while imaging features were used for hepatocellular carcinoma detection. Epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin-1 levels in serum were quantified through Western blot and ELISA, respectively. Results: Patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma exhibited significantly elevated levels of epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin-1 compared to non-hepatocellular carcinoma patients, with a highly significant statistical difference (P < .0001). Epithelial membrane antigen demonstrated diagnostic performance with an area under the curve of 0.75, a sensitivity of 69.0%, and a specificity of 68.5%. Cytokeratin-1 for the identification of hepatocellular carcinoma showed a sensitivity of 79.0% and a specificity of 81.4%, resulting in an area under the curve of 0.87. The developed HCC-Check, which incorporates epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin-1, albumin, and alpha-fetoprotein, displayed a higher area under the curve of 0.95 to identify hepatocellular carcinoma, with a sensitivity of 89.8% and a specificity of 83.9%. Notably, HCC-Check values exceeding 2.57 substantially increased the likelihood of hepatocellular carcinoma, with an estimated odds ratio of 50.65, indicating a higher susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma development than those with lower values. The HCC-Check diagnostic test exhibited high precision in identifying patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly those with small tumor sizes (<5 cm) and a single nodule, as reflected in area under the curve values of 0.92 and 0.85, respectively. HCC-Check was then applied to the validation study to test its accuracy and reproducibility, showing superior area under the curves for identifying different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. These outcomes underscore the effectiveness of the test in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: The HCC-Check test presents a highly accurate diagnostic method for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in its early stages.

Age-specific and sex-specific risks for HCC in African-born persons with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The international recommendations of HCC surveillance for African-born persons with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) without cirrhosis are divergent, probably due to scarce data on incidence rate (IR) for HCC.

METHODS

We assembled a cohort with prospectively collected data of Swedish residents of African origin with diagnosed CHB without cirrhosis at baseline from 1990 to 2015. Data from nationwide registers were used to calculate the sex-specific IR and IR ratio (incidence rate ratios) in relation to age, comorbidities, and birth region, using a generalized linear model with a log-link function and Poisson distribution.

RESULTS

Among 3865 African-born persons with CHB without cirrhosis at baseline, 31 (0.8%; 77.4% men) developed HCC during a median of 11.1 years of follow-up, with poor survival after HCC diagnosis. The mean age at HCC diagnosis was 46.8 (SD±14.7; range 23-79) in men. HCC IR exceeded the recommended surveillance threshold of 0.2%/year at ages 54 and 59 years in men and women, respectively, and at ages 20-40 years if HCV or HDV co-infection was present. African-born men with CHB had an incidence rate ratios of 10.6 (95% CI 4.4-31.5) for HCC compared to matched African-born peers without CHB, and an incidence rate ratios of 35.3 (95% CI 16.0-88.7) compared to a matched general population.

CONCLUSIONS

African-born men with CHB without cirrhosis reached an IR of 0.2%/year between 50 and 60 years, and at younger ages if HCV or HDV co-infection was present. Our findings need further confirmation, and new cost-effectiveness analyses specific for young populations are needed, to provide personalized and cost-effective HCC surveillance.

Consensus report from the 10th Global Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging: developments in HCC management

The 10th Global Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was held as a virtual 2-day meeting in October 2021, attended by delegates from North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Most delegates were radiologists with experience in liver MRI, with representation also from specialists in liver surgery, oncology, and hepatology. Presentations, discussions, and working groups at the Forum focused on the following themes: • Gadoxetic acid in clinical practice: Eastern and Western perspectives on current uses and challenges in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening/surveillance, diagnosis, and management • Economics and outcomes of HCC imaging • Radiomics, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) applications of MRI in HCC. These themes are the subject of the current manuscript. A second manuscript discusses multidisciplinary tumor board perspectives: how to approach early-, mid-, and late-stage HCC management from the perspectives of a liver surgeon, interventional radiologist, and oncologist (Taouli et al, 2023). Delegates voted on consensus statements that were developed by working groups on these meeting themes. A consensus was considered to be reached if at least 80% of the voting delegates agreed on the statements. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This review highlights the clinical applications of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for liver cancer screening and diagnosis, as well as its cost-effectiveness and the applications of radiomics and AI in patients with liver cancer. KEY POINTS: • Interpretation of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI differs slightly between Eastern and Western guidelines, reflecting different regional requirements for sensitivity vs specificity. • Emerging data are encouraging for the cost-effectiveness of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in HCC screening and diagnosis, but more studies are required. • Radiomics and artificial intelligence are likely, in the future, to contribute to the detection, staging, assessment of treatment response and prediction of prognosis of HCC-reducing the burden on radiologists and other specialists and supporting timely and targeted treatment for patients.

Clinical consensus statement: Establishing the roles of locoregional and systemic therapies for the treatment of intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in Canada

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and approximately one-third of patients present with intermediate-stage disease. The treatment landscape of intermediate-stage HCC is rapidly evolving due to developments in local, locoregional and systemic therapies. Treatment recommendations focused on this heterogenous disease stage and that take into account the Canadian reality are lacking. To address this gap, a pan-Canadian group of experts in hepatology, transplant, surgery, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, and medical oncology came together to develop consensus recommendations on management of intermediate-stage HCC relevant to the Canadian context.

METHODS

A modified Delphi framework was used to develop consensus statements with strengths of recommendation and supporting levels of evidence graded using the AHA/ACC classification system. Tentative consensus statements were drafted based on a systematic search and expert input in a series of iterative feedback cycles and were then circulated via online survey to assess the level of agreement.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

The pre-defined ratification threshold of 80 % agreement was reached for all statements in the areas of multidisciplinary treatment (n = 4), intra-arterial therapy (n = 14), biologics (n = 5), radiation therapy (n = 3), surgical resection and transplantation (n = 7), and percutaneous ablative therapy (n = 4). These generally reflected an expansion in treatment options due to developments in previously established or emergent techniques, introduction of new and more active therapies and increased therapeutic flexibility. These developments have allowed for greater treatment tailoring and personalization as well as a paradigm shift toward strategies with curative intent in a wider range of disease settings.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for abdominal image-guided procedures

INTRODUCTION

Since FDA approval for contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), clinical applications have increased to include diagnostic imaging of hepatic, renal, and other abdominal lesions. The modality has also demonstrated utility in certain image-guided procedures. Intravascular ultrasound contrast agents use microbubbles to improve visibility of solid tumors. Lesions not well seen on grayscale or Doppler ultrasound may become amenable to CEUS-guided biopsy or ablation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This pictorial essay provides eleven examples to illustrate the current use of CEUS in a variety of abdominal image-guided procedures. Hepatic, renal, peritoneal, and soft tissue cases are presented.

CONCLUSION

CEUS can improve visualization and targeting in abdominal image-guided procedures, without nephrotoxicity or radiation exposure.

Radiofrequency ablation versus stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-regression

Aim: The aim of this meta-regression was to assess the impact of mean/median age, mean/median tumor size, percentage of males in total sample, and total sample size on the comparative effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Methods: Ten studies reporting on the composite outcome of overall survival and local control were included. Results: A significant relationship was found between age and overall survival at 1 and 2 for both RFA and SBRT. A significant relationship was noted also between age and local control at 1 and 2 years for RFA. Conclusion: Patients treated with SBRT had a wider range of tumor sizes and larger tumor sizes; no relationship was observed between tumor size and overall survival or local control by SBRT.

The Landscape Of Alpha Fetoprotein In Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where Are We?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and has been acknowledged as a leading cause of death among cirrhosis patients. Difficulties in early diagnosis and heterogeneity are obstacles to effective treatment, especially for advanced HCC. Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the best therapy for HCC. Although many biomarkers are being proposed, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which was identified over 60 years ago, remains the most utilized. Recently, much hope has been placed in the immunogenicity of AFP to develop novel therapies, such as AFP vaccines and AFP-specific adoptive T-cell transfer (ACT). This review summarizes the performance of AFP as a biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis, as well as its correlation with molecular classes. In addition, the role of AFP in LT is also described. Finally, we highlight the mechanism and application prospects of two immune therapies (AFP vaccine and ACT) for HCC. In general, our review points out the prevalence of AFP in HCC, accompanied by some controversies and novel directions for future research.

Clinical Utility of Protein Induced by Vitamin K Absence-II in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Despite moderate sensitivity, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is widely used in screening and prognostication for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The objective of the current study was to assess clinical utility of Prothrombin induced by Vitamin K absence-II (PIVKAII) in addition to AFP in patients with HCC.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 244 patients with documented AFP, PIVKA II and dynamic imaging of the liver. Using ROC curves, cutoff values for AFP and PIVKAII for HCC detection, tumor grade and microvascular invasion (MVI) were assessed. In patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) for HCC, survival was determined using Kaplan Meier curves.

RESULTS

The median PIVKAII in healthy living donors was 28.6mAU/ml (15.9-55). In cirrhotics, the sensitivity of an AFP cutoff of 7.6 ng/ml or PIVKAII  cutoff of 250 mAU/ml for HCC detection was 91.7% (176/192) and specificity was 62.9%(68/108) (p <0.0001). In patients with HCC, PIVKAII values were significantly elevated with tumor size > 5 cm (P < 0.0001), tumor nodules > 3(P=0.01), and macrovascular invasion(p <0.0001).  The high risk group (patients with AFP ≥ 40 ng/ml + PIVKAII ≥ 350 mAU/ml), had a sensitivity of (23/33) 69.6% and specificity of (22/22)100% for MVI (P <0.001). The estimated 3 year RFS after LT in the low risk group (AFP.

Comparison of the efficacy of pre-surgery and post-surgery radiotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy has been widely used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, whether the patients should receive radiotherapy before or after surgical treatment has not been studied. The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of the treatment in HCC patients who received pre-surgery and post-surgery radiotherapy.

METHODS

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were analyzed. Patients with surgery combined with radiotherapy were included into the study. The outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce selection bias.

RESULTS

Before PSM, the median OS (mOS: 82 months) and median CSS (mCSS: NA) in the pre-surgery group were longer than in the post-surgery group (mOS: 21 months; mCSS: 20 months; P<0.001 for both). After PSM, the mOS and mCSS in the pre-surgery group were longer than in the post-surgery group (mOS: 45 vs. 26 months, P=0.011; mCSS: 60 vs. 26 months, P=0.003). The subgroup analysis documented that patients with single tumor, liver resection, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I and II had longer mOS and mCSS if they received pre-surgery rather than post-surgery radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed patients with post-surgery radiotherapy had a higher risk of mortality than patients with post-surgery radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

HCC patients with single tumor, AJCC stage I and II, or with liver resection who received pre-surgery radiotherapy have better survival benefits than patients receiving post-surgery radiotherapy, particularly if internal radiotherapy was used.

Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Introduction

Globally, the incidence, as well as mortality, related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise, owing to relatively few curative options. Underlying cirrhosis is the most common etiology leading to HCC, but risk factors of cirrhosis show great regional variability. Over the years, there has been a steady development in the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of HCC, including the availability of a wide range of systemic chemotherapeutic agents. We aim to review the recent advancements in the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC.

Methodology

The literature search was done using databases PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct, and the latest relevant articles were reviewed.

Findings

Screening of HCC is a pivotal step in the early diagnosis of the disease. Current guidelines recommend using ultrasound and alfa fetoprotein but various new biomarkers are under active research that might aid in diagnosing very small tumors, not picked up by the current screening methods. Treatment options are decided based upon the overall performance of the patient and the extent of the disease, as per the Barcelona classification. There are very few options that offer a cure for the disease, ranging from liver resection and transplantation to tumor ablation. Downstaging has proven to have a significant role in the course of the disease. An attempt to control the disease can be made via radiological interventions, such as transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, or radiation therapy. For advanced disease, sorafenib used to be the only option until a couple of years ago. Recently, many other systemic agents have received approval as first-line and second-line therapies for HCC. Genomics is an area of active clinical research as understanding the mutations and genomics involved in the evolution of HCC might lead to a breakthrough therapy.

How to cite this article

Raees A, Kamran M, Özkan H, et al. Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2021;11(1):32–40.

Current locoregional therapies and treatment strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma

Locoregional therapies (lrts) play an important role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc), with the aim of increasing overall survival while preserving liver function. Various forms of lrt are available, and choosing the best one depends on technical aspects, liver morphology, tumour biology, and the patient's symptoms. The purpose of the present review article is to provide an overview of the current evidence relating to the use of percutaneous ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and transarterial radioembolization for the curative or palliative treatment of hcc. Special situations are also reviewed, including the combined use of systemic therapy and lrt, indications and techniques for bridging to transplant and downstaging, and the use of lrt to treat patients with hcc and macrovascular invasion.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma-The Influence of Immunoanatomy and the Role of Immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, limiting their options for treatment. While current treatments are adequate for lower staged disease, available systemic treatments are limited, with marginal benefit at best. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, effective in treating liquid tumors such as B-cell lymphoma, presents a potentially promising treatment option for advanced HCC. However, new challenges specific to solid tumors, such as tumor immunoanatomy or the immune cell presence and position anatomically and the tumor microenvironment, need to be defined and overcome. Immunotherapy currently in use must be re-engineered and re-envisioned to treat HCC with the hopes of ushering in an answer to advanced stage solid tumor disease processes. Future therapy options must address the uniqueness of the tumors under the umbrella of HCC. This review strives to summarize HCC, its staging system, current therapy and immunotherapy medications currently being utilized or studied in the treatment of HCC with the hopes of highlighting what is being done and suggesting what needs to be done in the future to champion this therapy as an effective option.

Baseline assessment of and linkage to care for newly diagnosed patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background

Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are at risk of complications and require lifelong monitoring. We evaluated the care of newly diagnosed CHB patients.

Methods

Adult CHB cases newly diagnosed in Alberta between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012, were identified, with follow-up through June 1, 2014. Rates of completion of baseline investigations, receipt of antiviral therapy when indicated, and adherence to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening recommendations in a cohort of high-risk patients were compared between those who did or did not see a CHB specialist.

Results

Of 3,333 patients with CHB, 87.1% (n = 2,904) received non-specialty care. Specialty assessment was associated with higher completion of alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), anti-HBe, and hepatitis B DNA (p <0.0001) and all four parameters (86.5%) compared with non-specialist care (42.7%; p <0.0001). In a subgroup of high-risk patients for HCC, specialty care was associated with higher completed baseline abdominal ultrasounds (n = 44; 89.8%,) compared with non-specialist care (62.5%; n = 320; p = 0.0001) and greater adherence to annual surveillance (30.6% versus 15.2%; p = 0.0057). Patients in the HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis phase meeting criteria for antiviral therapy were more likely to receive treatment under specialty care (n = 6; 75.0%) than non-specialty care (n = 27; 33.3%; p = 0.0478).

Conclusions

Our study highlights inadequate care among newly diagnosed CHB patients in Alberta. Specialty assessment was associated with improved quality of care. Interventions are needed to improve linkage to specialty care.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early to Advanced Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Initial Experience From an Australian Liver Cancer Service

AIMS

Intrahepatic progression remains the predominant mode of cancer-related death in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underscoring the need for effective local therapies. We report our initial experience with liver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the management of early to advanced stage HCC at an Australian tertiary liver cancer service.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with liver-confined HCC unsuitable for surgical resection or thermal ablation treated with SBRT between October 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The primary end point was freedom from local progression. Secondary end points were progression-free survival, disease-specific survival, overall survival and toxicity.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients were treated for 112 lesions (median size 3.8 cm, range 1.5-17 cm). The median follow-up was 13 months (range 3-65). Forty-six patients had received prior local therapies (median 1, range 1-5), 83 (86%) patients had cirrhosis with baseline Child-Pugh scores of A (88%) and B7-8 (12%). Fifty-nine (61%) patients had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0/A disease and 37 (39%) had stage B/C. Macrovascular invasion was present in 20 (21%). The median biologically effective dose (BED₁₀) was 86 and 60 Gy for the BCLC 0/A and B/C cohorts, respectively. Freedom from local progression at 18 months was 94% for BCLC 0/A and 74% for BCLC B/C. Progression-free survival and overall survival at 12 months were 80 and 95% for BCLC 0/A and 40 and 71% for BCLC B/C, respectively. Five patients (7%) with cirrhosis and without disease progression had an increase in Child-Pugh score >1 within 3 months of SBRT, four of whom had intercurrent infections. Clinical toxicities grade ≥2 were reported in 20% of patients.

CONCLUSION

SBRT is an effective ablative modality for early stage HCC with low rates of significant toxicity. Lower dose SBRT can provide durable local control for advanced stage HCC. However, out-of-field relapse remains common, providing a rationale to investigate SBRT in combination with other therapies.

Diagnostic efficacy of dynamic liver imaging using qualitative diagnostic algorithm versus LI-RADS v2018 lexicon for atypical versus classical HCC lesions: A decade of experience from a tertiary liver institute

OBJECTIVE

To analyze and evaluate the diagnostic performance of conventional diagnostic (qualitative) imaging features versus LI-RADSv2018 lexicon for indeterminate and atypical Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on dynamic liver imaging with reference to histopathology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study (June 2009-June 2019) evaluated the performance characteristics of conventional imaging findings, versus the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LIRADS) v2018, for interpretation of indeterminate and atypical HCC, in patients who underwent subsequent histopathological analysis (gold standard). A total of 100,457 dynamic hepatobiliary CT and MR examinations were performed over ten years at our institute. Using current international imaging guidelines, 3218 patients were found to have suspected liver cancer lesions on imaging. Classical enhancement pattern of typical HCC was seen in 2916 of these patients. These patients did not require further biopsy. We enrolled, the remaining (n = 302) patients, who underwent biopsy, into our study group. Two radiologists, blinded to pathology findings, reviewed and classified these lesions, in consensus, according to LI-RADS® lexicon and as per 'conventional' (Indeterminate, Atypical HCC, Classical HCC, other malignancies) imaging. The histopathology diagnosis was considered as the final diagnosis. Alpha feto protein (AFP) levels amongst various subgroups were compared. Statistical analysis was performed to calculate the efficacy of LIRADS versus qualitative imaging parameters in comparison with histopathology.

RESULTS

A total of n = 302 patients, [89 % men (n = 269), mean age 57.08 ± 12.43 years] underwent biopsy for suspected liver lesions. Qualitative imaging had 92.3 % (CI 88.53-94.91) sensitivity, 41.4 % (CI 25.51-59.26) specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.7 % (CI 90.11-96.02), negative predictive value (NPV) of 36.4 % (CI 22.19-53.38), positive likelihood ratio (PLHR) of 1.575 (CI 1.40-1.77) and negative likelihood ratio of (NLHR) 0.19 (CI 0.13-0.26). It correctly classified 87.4 % of lesions diagnosed on pathology. In comparison, LI-RADS was found to have 92 % sensitivity, 55.5 % specificity, 97 % PPV, 30.3 %, NPV, PLHR 2.068 (CI 1.62-2.64), NLHR 0.15 (CI 0.11-0.18) and 89.7 % diagnostic accuracy. A total of 38 patients (17 false negative, 21 false positive lesions) had discordant diagnoses on imaging versus histopathology. The kappa agreement between LIRADs and qualitative Imaging was found to be 0.77 ± .07 (p < 0.001). LIRADS and qualitative imaging collectively had 97 % sensitivity, 30 % specificity, 91.9 % PPV, 55.6 % NPV, PLHR of 1.39 (CI 1.27-1.51) and NLHR of 0.09 (0.048-0.19) which was better than, either reporting system, independently.

CONCLUSION

It was observed that the LI-RADS v2018 lexicon with qualitative imaging as a combination technique added extra value in interpretation of atypical HCC or indeterminate lesions on dynamic CT and MRI compared to either as 'stand- alone' reporting systems.

Indications of external radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma from updated clinical guidelines: Diverse global viewpoints

The etiology and disease patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) significantly vary among regions. Modern standard treatments commonly require multidisciplinary approaches, including applications of up-to date medicine and advanced procedures, and necessitate the support of socioeconomic systems. For these reasons, a number of clinical guidelines for HCC from different associations and regions have been presented. External beam radiation therapy was contraindicated for HCC until a few decades ago, but with the development of new technologies, its application has rapidly increased as selective irradiation for tumorous lesions became possible. Most of the guidelines had been opposed or indifferent to radiotherapy in the past, but several guidelines have introduced indications and recommendations for radiotherapy in their updated versions. This review will discuss the characteristics of important guidelines and their contents regarding radiotherapy and will also provide guidance to physicians who are considering applications of locoregional modalities that include radiotherapy.

Advances in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers globally. In contrast to the declining death rates observed for all other common cancers such as breast, lung, and prostate cancers, the death rates for HCC continue to increase by ~2–3% per year because HCC is frequently diagnosed late and there is no curative therapy for an advanced HCC. The early diagnosis of HCC is truly a big challenge. Over the past years, the early diagnosis of HCC has relied on surveillance with ultrasonography (US) and serological assessments of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). However, the specificity and sensitivity of US/AFP is not satisfactory enough to detect early onset HCC. Recent technological advancements offer hope for early HCC diagnosis. Herein, we review the progress made in HCC diagnostics, with a focus on emerging imaging techniques and biomarkers for early disease diagnosis.

HCC screening: assessment of an abbreviated non-contrast MRI protocol

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) guidelines recommend ultrasound screening in high-risk patients. However, in some patients, ultrasound image quality is suboptimal due to factors such as hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis, and confounding lesions. Our aim was to investigate an abbreviated non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (aNC-MRI) protocol as a potential alternative screening method.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using consecutive liver MRI studies performed over 3 years, with set exclusion criteria. The unenhanced T2-weighted, T1-weighted Dixon, and diffusion-weighted sequences were extracted from MRI studies with a known diagnosis. Each anonymised aNC-MRI study was read by three radiologists who stratified each study into either return to 6 monthly screening or investigate with a full contrast-enhanced MRI study.

RESULTS

A total of 188 patients were assessed; 28 of them had 42 malignant lesions, classified as Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System 4, 5, or M. On a per-patient basis, aNC-MRI had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97% (95% confidence interval [CI] 95-98%), not significantly different in patients with steatosis (99%, 95% CI 93-100%) and no steatosis (97%, 95% CI 94-98%). Per-patient sensitivity and specificity were 85% (95% CI 75-91%) and 93% (95% CI 90-95%).

CONCLUSION

Our aNC-MRI HCC screening protocol demonstrated high specificity (93%) and NPV (97%), with a sensitivity (85%) comparable to that of ultrasound and gadoxetic acid contrast-enhanced MRI. This screening method was robust to hepatic steatosis and may be considered an alternative in the case of suboptimal ultrasound image quality.

Hepatocellular carcinoma screening practices among patients with chronic hepatitis B by Canadian gastroenterologists and hepatologists: An online survey

BACKGROUND

xpert guidelines recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance among patients with high-risk chronic hepatitis B (CHB); however, physician screening practices are often variable.

METHODS

An online survey of HCC screening practice was distributed to members of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests with p < .05 significance.

RESULTS

Of 71 respondents, 86% (n = 61) were gastroenterologists or hepatologists, and 72% (n = 51) reported having been in clinical practice for more than 5 years. A significant number of survey respondents performed HCC screening without consideration of concomitant non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (50.7%); non-Asian, non-African ethnicity (46.4%); and family history of HCC (28.6%). Most (67.6%) performed screening with ultrasound (US) at the time of specialty clinic visits, 28.2% had an automatic recall system, and only 2.8% referred back to primary care physicians to organize screening. More than half (54.9%) included alpha-fetoprotein in screening. Obstacles to screening included lack of an automatic recall system (42.9%), patient non-compliance (30.0%), and limited US/MRI access (17.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

HCC screening practices with hepatitis B patients vary widely among Canadian specialists, especially in unique populations with limited data to inform screening recommendations. Implementation of an automatic recall system could potentially increase HCC surveillance.

Cancer Risk in Congenital Heart Disease-What Is the Evidence?

As life expectancy in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has improved, the risk for developing noncardiac morbidities is increasing in adult patients with CHD (ACHD). Among these noncardiac complications, malignancies significantly contribute to the disease burden of ACHD patients. Epidemiologic studies of cancer risk in CHD patients are challenging because they require large numbers of patients, extended follow-up, detailed and validated clinical data, and appropriate reference populations. However, several observational studies suggest that cancer risks are significantly elevated in patients with CHD compared with the general population. CHD and cancer share genetic and environmental risk factors. An association with exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation secondary to medical therapeutic or diagnostic procedures has been reported. Patients with Down syndrome, as well as, to a lesser extent, deletion of 22q11.2 and renin-angiotensin system pathologies, may manifest both CHD and a predisposition to cancer. Such observations suggest that carcinogenesis and CHD may share a common basis in some cases. Finally, specific conditions, such as Fontan circulation and cyanotic CHD, may lead to multisystem consequences and subsequently to cancer. Nonetheless, there is currently no clear consensus regarding appropriate screening for cancer and surveillance modalities in CHD patients. Physicians caring for patients with CHD should be aware of this potential predisposition and meet screening recommendations for the general population fastidiously. An interdisciplinary and global approach is required to bridge the knowledge gap in this field.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: State of the Art Imaging and Recent Advances

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing, with this trend expected to continue to the year 2030. Hepatocarcinogenesis follows a predictable course, which makes adequate identification and surveillance of at-risk individuals central to a successful outcome. Moreover, imaging is central to this surveillance, and ultimately to diagnosis and management. Many liver study groups throughout Asia, North America and Europe advocate a surveillance program for at-risk individuals to allow early identification of HCC. Ultrasound is the most commonly utilized imaging modality. Many societies offer guidelines on how to diagnose HCC. The Liver Image Reporting and Data System (LIRADS) was introduced to standardize the acquisition, interpretation, reporting and data collection of HCC cases. The LIRADS advocates diagnosis using multiphase computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging. The 2017 version also introduces contrast-enhanced ultrasound as a novel approach to diagnosis. Indeed, imaging techniques have evolved to improve diagnostic accuracy and characterization of HCC lesions. Newer techniques, such as T1 mapping, intravoxel incoherent motion analysis and textural analysis, assess specific characteristics that may help grade the tumor and guide management, allowing for a more personalized approach to patient care. This review aims to analyze the utility of imaging in the surveillance and diagnosis of HCC and to assess novel techniques which may increase the accuracy of imaging and determine optimal treatment strategies.

Gross and microscopic changes of liver neoplasms and background hepatic structures following neoadjuvant therapy

Liver transplantation is a surgical option with curative intent used in the management of some cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (hilar, rarely intrahepatic). A number of different therapeutic modalities including ablative techniques, arterially directed therapies, radiation and chemotherapy are used in the neoadjuvant setting prior to liver transplantation with the goals of preventing tumour progression, decreasing post-transplant recurrence and possibly downstaging patients with tumour burden beyond what is acceptable by current transplant criteria. Pathologists evaluating hepatic explants must be aware of these neoadjuvant therapies and the alterations induced by them in both tumourous and non-tumourous tissue. In this review, we discuss common neoadjuvant therapies used in in this setting, as well as the gross and microscopic changes induced by these presurgical treatments within hepatic neoplasms as well as the background hepatic parenchyma and nearby structures. Select secondary tumours involving the liver which are pretreated will also be discussed. Finally, proper reporting of these changes will be mentioned.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of malignant liver lesions

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a safe, relatively inexpensive, and widely available imaging technique using dedicated imaging ultrasound sequences and FDA-approved contrast microbubbles that allow detection and characterization of malignant focal liver lesions with high diagnostic accuracy. CEUS provides dynamic real-time imaging with high spatial and temporal capability, allowing for unique contributions to the already established protocols for diagnosing focal liver lesions using CT and MR imaging. In patients with lesions indeterminate on CT and MRI, CEUS is a helpful problem-solving complementary tool that improves patient management. Furthermore, CEUS assists guidance of liver biopsies and local treatment. Variations of CEUS such as DCE-US and ultrasound molecular imaging are emerging for quantitative monitoring of treatment effects and possible earlier detection of cancer. In this review, basic principles of CEUS techniques and ultrasound contrast agents along with a description of the enhancement patterns of malignant liver lesions are summarized. Also, a discussion of the role of CEUS for treatment guidance and monitoring, intraoperative CEUS, and an outlook on emerging applications is provided.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment with non-curative or palliative intent for hepatocellular carcinoma in the real-world setting

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presentation is heterogeneous necessitating a variety of therapeutic interventions with varying efficacies and associated prognoses. Poor prognostic patients often undergo non-curative palliative interventions including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), sorafenib, chemotherapy, or purely supportive care. The decision to pursue one of many palliative interventions for HCC is complex and an economic evaluation comparing these interventions has not been done. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of non-curative palliative treatment strategies such as TACE alone or TACE+sorafenib, sorafenib alone, and non-sorafenib chemotherapy compared with no treatment or best supportive care (BSC) among patients diagnosed with HCC between 2007 and 2010 in a Canadian setting. Using person-level data, we estimated effectiveness in life years and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) along with total health care costs (2013 US dollars) from the health care payer’s perspective (3% annual discount). A net benefit regression approach accounting for baseline covariates with propensity score adjustment was used to calculate incremental net benefit to generate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and uncertainty measures. Among 1,172 identified patients diagnosed with HCC, 4.5%, 7.9%, and 5.6%, received TACE alone or TACE+sorafenib, sorafenib, and non-sorafenib chemotherapy clone, respectively. Compared with no treatment or BSC (81.9%), ICER estimates for TACE alone or TACE+sorafenib was $6,665/QALY (additional QALY: 0.47, additional cost: $3,120; 95% CI: -$18,800-$34,500/QALY). The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve demonstrated that if the relevant threshold was $50,000/QALY, TACE alone or TACE+sorafenib, non-sorafenib chemotherapy, and sorafenib alone, would have a cost-effectiveness probability of 99.7%, 46.6%, and 5.5%, respectively. Covariates associated with the incremental net benefit of treatments are age, sex, comorbidity, and cancer stage. Findings suggest that TACE with or without sorafenib is currently the most cost-effective active non-curative palliative treatment approach to HCC. Further research into new combination treatment strategies that afford the best tumor response is needed.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of potentially curative and combination treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with person-level data in a Canadian setting

Patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are potential candidates for curative treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), surgical resection (SR), or liver transplantation (LT), which have demonstrated a significant survival benefit. We aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of curative and combination treatment strategies among patients diagnosed with HCC during 2002-2010. This study used Ontario Cancer Registry-linked administrative data to estimate effectiveness and costs (2013 USD) of the treatment strategies from the healthcare payer's perspective. Multiple imputation by logistic regression was used to handle missing data. A net benefit regression approach of baseline important covariates and propensity score adjustment were used to calculate incremental net benefit to generate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and uncertainty measures. Among 2,222 patients diagnosed with HCC, 10.5%, 14.1%, and 10.3% received RFA, SR, and LT monotherapy, respectively; 0.5-3.1% dual treatments; and 0.5% triple treatments. Compared with no treatment (53.2%), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + RFA (average $2,465, 95% CI: -$20,000-$36,600/quality-adjusted life years [QALY]) or RFA monotherapy ($15,553, 95% CI: $3,500-$28,500/QALY) appears to be the most cost-effective modality with lowest ICER value. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve showed that if the relevant threshold was $50,000/QALY, RFA monotherapy and TACE+ RFA would have a cost-effectiveness probability of 100%. Strategies using LT delivered the most additional QALYs and became cost-effective at a threshold of $77,000/QALY. Our findings found that TACE+ RFA dual treatment or RFA monotherapy appears to be the most cost-effective curative treatment for patients with potential early stage of HCC in Ontario. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and measuring differential benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of alternative HCC curative treatments in order to evaluate whether they are providing good value for money in the real world.

Up-to-7 Criteria for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis of Experiences

INTRODUCTION

The expansion of criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) liver transplantation should produce satisfactory outcomes in terms of survival and recurrence.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if the up-to-7 criteria are applicable to liver transplantation for HCC.

METHODS

A review of all liver transplantations performed at our unit between January 2002 and December 2010 was conducted (645 patients). The 91 patients of the sample who had HCC were divided into 3 groups: in Milan criteria (MC; n = 74), in up-to-7 criteria (UTSC; n = 12), and outside of up-to-7 criteria (OUTSC; n = 5). A descriptive retrospective study was carried out to analyze the characteristics of liver tumors and recipients and to estimate recurrence and survival rates for this population of patients.

RESULTS

The characteristics of transplant recipients of the 3 groups were comparable. Statistically significant differences were observed in the number of tumors (1 ± 0.65 for MC, 3 ± 1.05 for UTSC, 6 ± 4.10 for OUTSC; P < .001), largest tumor size (2.47 ± 1.12 cm for MC, 3.78 ± 0.04 cm for UTSC, 4.04 ± 1.73 cm for OUTSC; P < .001), and recurrence (5.4% for MC; 33.3% for UTSC; 20% for OUTSC; P = .008). Survival rates (MC, UTSC, and OUTSC) at 3 and 5 years were 71.6%, 66.7%, and 60%, and 58.1%, 58.3%, and 40%, respectively, whereas tumor-free survival rates were 70.3%, 58.3%, and 60%, and 58.1%, 50%, and 40%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival in patients with HCC transplanted under up-to-7 criteria is acceptable. However, the expansion of criteria involves an increase in the number of patients included in the waiting list and a higher probability of relapse.

Integration of Contrast-enhanced US into a Multimodality Approach to Imaging of Nodules in a Cirrhotic Liver: How I Do It

Accurate characterization of cirrhotic nodules and early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of vital importance. Currently, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are standard modalities for the investigation of new nodules found at surveillance ultrasonography (US). This article describes the successful integration of contrast material-enhanced US into a multimodality approach for diagnosis of HCC and its benefits in this population. The application of contrast-enhanced US immediately following surveillance US allows for prompt dynamic contrast-enhanced evaluation, removing the need for further imaging of benign lesions. Contrast-enhanced US also provides dynamic real-time assessment of tumor vascularity so that contrast enhancement can be identified regardless of its timing or duration, allowing for detection of arterial hypervascularity and portal venous washout. The purely intravascular nature of US contrast agents is valuable as the rapid washout of nonhepatocyte malignancies is highly contributory to their differentiation from HCC. The authors believe contrast-enhanced US provides complementary information to CT and MR imaging in the characterization of nodules in high-risk patients. ^© RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Effects of LncRNA-HOST2 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721

The present study explored the effect of long non-coding RNA-human ovarian cancer-specific transcript 2 (LncRNA-HOST2) on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721. HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 162 HCC patients were collected. The HCC cell lines were assigned into the control group (regular culture), negative control (NC) group (transfected with siRNA) and experimental group (transfected with Lnc-HOST2 siRNA). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of LncRNA-HOST2. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and colony-forming assays, cell apoptosis by flow cytometry and cell migration by Scratch test. Transwell assay was used to evaluate cell migration and invasion abilities. LncRNA-HOST2 expression in the HCC tissues increased 2-10 times than that in the adjacent normal tissues. Compared with the HL-7702 cell line, LncRNA-HOST2 expression in HepG2, SMMC-7721 and Huh7 cell lines was all up-regulated, but the SMMC-7721 cell had the highest Lnc-HOST2 expression. The LncRNA-HOST2 expression in the experimental group was down-regulated as compared with the control and NC groups. In comparison with the control and NC groups, cloned cells reduced, cell apoptosis increased, clone-forming ability weakened and inhibitory rate of colony formation increased in the experimental group. The cells migrating and penetrating into the transwell chamber were fewer in the experimental group than those in the control and NC groups. The experimental group exhibited slow wound healing and decreased cell migration area after 48 h. These findings indicate that LncRNA-HOST2 can promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion and inhibit cell apoptosis in human HCC cell line SMMC-7721.

Advances in Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is an emerging effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with acceptable rates of toxicity in appropriately selected patients. Despite often being reserved for patients unsuitable for other local treatments, prospective and retrospective studies have demonstrated excellent long-term control. SBRT may be used as a stand-alone treatment, or as an adjunct to other HCC therapies. Based on available data, SBRT appears to complement existing local liver therapies. Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies are required to better determine the optimal role of SBRT in HCC treatment.

Novel Investigations of Flavonoids as Chemopreventive Agents for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will focus on the natural products known as flavonoids, which target this disease at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. In spite of the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treating HCC, patients with HCC still face poor prognosis because of the nature of multidrug resistance and toxicity derived from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Flavonoids can be found in many vegetables, fruits, and herbal medicines that exert their different anticancer effects via different intracellular signaling pathways and serve as antioxidants. In this review, we will discuss seven common flavonoids that exert different biological effects against HCC via different pathways.