Long-term outcomes of more than a decade treating patients with stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose/Objective(s)To evaluate if stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a durable effect on tumor control and can be delivered safely. Materials/MethodsPatients included in this retrospective study have been treated at our institution from January 2008 to December 2022. Eligibility criteria were diagnosis of HCC, BCLC stage 0-A-B, non-cirrhotic liver or liver with cirrhosis Child-Pugh class A, and a maximum of three lesions with a cumulative diameter of ≤ 6 cm. Patients with relapses after surgery, thermal ablation or TACE or patients awaiting transplant were also candidates for SBRT. SBRT was delivered in 6 fractions of 8 or 9 Gy. The primary endpoint was local (target) control (LC). Secondary endpoints were time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), response rate (RR) and toxicity. ResultsA total of 52 patients received SBRT at our institution and 51 were included in this study. One patient objected and was excluded. Median follow-up was 2.1 years for LC and 2.3 years for OS. Median tumor size was 26 mm. LC rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 100 %, 95 % and 95 % respectively. Median TTP was 45.6 months. Median OS was 7.1 years. RR was 96 %. No patients in this study have experienced SBRT related CTC AE grade ≥ 3 toxicity. ConclusionSBRT resulted in excellent long-term local control rates and absence of severe toxicity in a group of HCC patients. The reported outcomes compare favorably with other local therapies. SBRT should be considered as one of the available local treatment options for HCC.