Arterial Chemoembolization For Hepatocellular Carcinoma Research Articles

Comparison of stereotactic body radiotherapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which provides excellent local control (LC) and prolongs overall survival (OS). However, in current guidelines, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been proposed as a key treatment option for patients with early- and intermediate-stage HCC, whereas SBRT is not. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies using the propensity score (PS) to compare the outcomes of SBRT and TACE for HCC in a balanced manner. We systematically searched the PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled trials and studies comparing SBRT and TACE using PS analysis. The hazard ratios (HRs) for OS and LC were pooled. The heterogeneity between the data collected from these studies was also assessed. SBRT led to a comparable OS (HR: 0.83; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.52–1.34; p = 0.44) to TACE, and significantly improved LC (HR: 0.25; 95 % CI: 0.09–0.67; p = 0.006). Considerable heterogeneity was observed in the HR of OS and LC. Although there was no significant difference in the rate of grade 3 or higher toxicities between TACE and SBRT, or between studies, liver toxicity was identified as a common adverse event associated with both SBRT and TACE. Compared to TACE, SBRT showed a comparable OS and improved LC without serious toxicity. Therefore, SBRT should be considered an effective treatment option for various stages of HCC, depending on the tumor factors and pretreatment liver function.

Dexamethasone improves clinical and biological tolerance of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundTransarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment but side effects hamper tolerance. Dexamethasone reduces TACE side effects in patients with viral hepatitis, but data regarding alcohol and metabolic liver diseases are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in preventing TACE-associated adverse events in European populations with predominantly alcoholic and metabolic cirrhosis. MethodsAll cirrhotic patients undergoing TACE in our center between 2017 and 2021 were included. Dexamethasone was added to our protocol from 2019. Using a quasi-experimental study design, patients before and after introduction of dexamethasone in our procedure were compared. Factors associated with TACE adverse events were assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed using propensity scores for covariate adjustment. Results234 patients undergoing 398 TACE procedure were included. Cirrhosis was predominantly of alcohol or metabolic etiology (86.7 %). Dexamethasone was administered in 99 procedures (24.9 %). Incidence of fever and encephalopathy at day 2 after TACE was lower in the Dexamethasone group (p < 0.001; p = 0.02 respectively). In multivariate analysis, dexamethasone was associated with lower occurrence of fever (OR=0.03; p < 0.001), lower analgesics use (OR=0.11; p = 0.002), milder liver and kidney function impairment (OR=0.98; p = 0.001 and OR=0.94; p < 0.001 for bilirubin and creatinine variation respectively). Propensity score-adjusted analyses yielded similar results. ConclusionDexamethasone improves TACE tolerance in a population of predominantly metabolic and alcohol cirrhosis.

Predictors and risk factors of bile duct injury after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

PurposeBile duct injury is a serious complication after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). If it is not detected early and treated actively, it will not only affect the subsequent tumor-related treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, but also may lead to serious consequences such as infection, liver failure and even death. To analyze the risk factors of bile duct injury after TACE in patients with HCC and explore the predictive indicators of bile duct injury after TACE, which is helpful for doctors to detect and intervene early and avoid the occurrence of serious complications.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 847 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TACE for the first time in our interventional department. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether bile duct injury occurred after TACE: (1) bile duct injury group, N = 55; (2) no bile duct injury group, N = 792. The basic data, intraoperative conditions and the outcome of bile duct injury were analyzed. The chi-square test was used for comparison of enumeration data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of measurement data. Risk factor analysis was performed using binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsBasic data and intraoperative conditions were compared between the bile duct injury group and the group without bile duct injury: preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (103.24 ± 32.77U/L vs. 89.17 ± 37.35U/L, P = 0.003); history of hepatobiliary surgery (36.4% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.011); intraoperative lipiodol volume (P = 0.007); combined use of gelatin sponge particles (65.5% vs. 35.0%, P < 0.001); hypovascularity (58.2% vs. 24.5%, P < 0.001); and embolization site (P < 0.001). Comparison of postoperative liver function between bile duct injury group and non-bile duct injury group: postoperative total bilirubin (43.34 ± 25.18umol/L vs. 21.94 ± 9.82umol/L, P < 0.001); postoperative γ-glutamyltransferase(GGT) (188.09 ± 55.62U/L vs. 84.04 ± 36.47U/L, P < 0.001); postoperative ALP(251.51 ± 61.51U/L vs. 99.92 ± 45.98U/L, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe dosage of lipiodol in TACE, supplementation of gelatin sponge particles, embolization site, and hypovascularity of the tumor are risk factors for biliary duct injury after TACE. After TACE, GGT and ALP increased ≥ 2 times compared with preoperative indicators as predictors of bile duct injury. Bile duct injury occurring after TACE can achieve good outcomes with aggressive management.

Comparison of drug-eluting bead with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a randomized clinical trial.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) has shown efficacy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). However, whether DEB-TACE is superior to conventional TACE (cTACE) remains unclear. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of DEB-TACE versus cTACE in treating HCC with PVTT. The study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Southeast China. HCC patients with PVTT were randomized at a 1:1 ratio into the DEB-TACE or cTACE groups. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and the incidence of adverse events (AEs). An independent review committee assessed the radiologic response according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). AEs were assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Systemic therapies were not restricted. Between September 2018 and July 2020, 163 patients were randomized to undergo DEB-TACE ( n =82) or cTACE ( n =81). Nine patients were excluded, and 154 patients were included in the final analysis; the median age was 55 years (range, 24-78years), and 140 (90.9%) were male. The median PFS in the DEB-TACE group was 6.0 months (95% CI, 5.0-10.0) versus 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.0-5.0) in the cTACE group (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.95; P =0.027). The DEB-TACE group showed a higher response rate [51 (66.2%) vs. 36 (46.8%); P =0.0015] and a longer median OS [12.0 months (95% CI, 9.0-16.0) vs. 8.0 months (95% CI, 7.0-11.0), P =0.039] than the cTACE group. Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment group, ALBI score, distant metastasis and additional TKIs were the four independent prognostic factors correlated with PFS. In addition, the treatment group, PVTT group and combination with surgery were independently associated with OS. AEs were similar in the two groups, and postembolization syndrome was the most frequent AE. DEB-TACE is superior to cTACE in treating HCC patients with PVTT, demonstrating improved PFS and OS with an acceptable safety profile, and may thus emerge as a promising treatment strategy for HCC patients with PVTT. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800018035.

Liver abscess and tracheal fistula induced by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The complications of TACE include biliary tract infection, liver dysfunction, tumor lysis syndrome, biloma, partial intestinal obstruction, cerebral lipiodol embolism, etc . There are few reports about tracheal fistula induced by TACE. CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old man came to our hospital with cough and expectoration for 1 mo after TACE for HCC. Laboratory test results showed abnormalities of albumin, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and prothrombin. Culture of both phlegm and liver pus revealed growth of Citrobacter flavescens . Computed tomography showed infection in the inferior lobe of the right lung and a low-density lesion with gas in the right liver. Liver ultrasound showed that there was a big hypoechoic liquid lesion without blood flow signal. Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance was performed. After 1 mo of drainage and anti-infection therapy, the abscess in the liver and the infection in the lung were reduced obviously, and the symptom of expectoration was relieved. CONCLUSION Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of complications of liver abscess and tracheal fistula after TACE for HCC. Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance could relieve the liver abscess and tracheal fistula.

Efficacy of Lenvatinib Combined with Anti-PD-1 Antibodies Plus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is extremely poor, and systemic therapy is currently the mainstream treatment. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib combined with anti-programmed cell death-1 antibodies and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (triple therapy) in patients with HCC and PVTT. This retrospective multicenter study included patients with HCC and PVTT who received triple therapy, were aged between 18 and 75 years, classified as Child-Pugh class A or B, and had at least one measurable lesion. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rates, and disease control rates were analyzed to assess efficacy. Treatment-related adverse events were analyzed to assess safety profiles. During a median follow-up of 11.23 months (range, 3.07 to 34.37 months), the median OS was greater than 24 months, and median PFS was 12.53 months. The 2-year OS rate was 54.9%. The objective response rate and disease control rate were 69.8% (74/106) and 84.0% (89/106), respectively; 20.8% (22/106) of the patients experienced grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events and no treatment-related deaths occurred. The conversion rate to liver resection was 31.1% (33/106), with manageable postoperative complications. The median OS was not reached in the surgery group, but was 19.08 months in the non-surgery group. The median PFS in the surgery and non-surgery groups were 20.50 and 9.00 months, respectively. Triple therapy showed promising survival benefits and high response rates in patients with HCC and PVTT, with manageable adverse effects.

Non-invasive assessment of response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with the deep neural networks-based radiomics nomogram.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a mainstay treatment for intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the potential to enhance patient survival. Preoperative prediction of postoperative response to TACE in patients with HCC is crucial. To develop a deep neural network (DNN)-based nomogram for the non-invasive and precise prediction of TACE response in patients with HCC. We retrospectively collected clinical and imaging data from 110 patients with HCC who underwent TACE surgery. Radiomics features were extracted from specific imaging methods. We employed conventional machine-learning algorithms and a DNN-based model to construct predictive probabilities (RScore). Logistic regression helped identify independent clinical risk factors, which were integrated with RScore to create a nomogram. We evaluated diagnostic performance using various metrics. Among the radiomics models, the DNN_LASSO-based one demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.847, sensitivity = 0.892, specificity = 0.791). Peritumoral enhancement and alkaline phosphatase were identified as independent risk factors. Combining RScore with these clinical factors, a DNN-based nomogram exhibited superior predictive performance (AUC = 0.871, sensitivity = 0.844, specificity = 0.873). In this study, we successfully developed a deep learning-based nomogram that can noninvasively and accurately predict TACE response in patients with HCC, offering significant potential for improving the clinical management of HCC.

A Hypoxia-Related miRNA-mRNA Signature for Predicting the Response and Prognosis of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is commonly used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, not all patients respond to this treatment. TACE typically leads to hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we aimed to construct a prognostic model based on hypoxia-related differentially expressed microRNA (miRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate the potential target mRNAs for predicting TACE response. The hypoxia-related miRNAs (HRMs) were identified in liver cancer cells, then global test was performed to further select the miRNAs which were associated with recurrence and vascular invasion. A prognostic model was constructed based on multivariate Cox regression analysis; qRT-PCR analysis was used to validate the differentially expressed miRNAs in HCC cell lines under hypoxic condition. We further identified the putative target genes of the miRNAs and investigate the relationship between the target genes and TACE response, immune cells infiltration. We established a HRMs prognostic model for HCC patients, containing two miRNAs (miR-638, miR-501-5p), the patients with high-HRMs score showed worse survival in discovery and validation cohort; qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that these two miRNAs are up-regulated in hepatoma cells under hypoxic condition. Furthermore, four putative target genes of these two miRNAs were identified (ADH1B, CTH, FTCD, RCL1), which were significantly associated with TACE response, immune score, immunosuppressive immune cells infiltration, PDCD1 and CTLA4. The HCC-HRMs signature may be utilized as a promising prognostic factor and may have implications for guiding TACE and immune therapy.

Development of a predictive nomogram for postembolization syndrome after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Post-embolization syndrome (PES) is a frequent complication after receiving transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but only a few studies have focused on the factors influencing PES in those patients. In this study, the impact factors of PES were explored and a nomogram was constructed to predict the occurrence of PES in HCC patients with TACE. This was a retrospective cohort study of HCC patients who underwent TACE obtained from the third affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between January 1, 2020, and September 1, 2022. T‑test and Chi‑square test were used to search for factors influencing PES occurrence, and then the nomogram was further established based on multivariable logistic regression analysis. Validation of the predictive nomogram was also evaluated by calibration curve, concordance index (C-index), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The enrolled patients (n = 258) were randomly assigned to the primary cohort (n = 180) and validation cohort (n = 78) in a 7:3 ratio. Among 180 patients in the primary cohort, 106 (58.89%) experienced PES. TACE types (P = 0.015), embolization degree (P = 0.008), and tumor number (P = 0.026) were identified as predictors by the logistic regression analysis and were used to develop the predictive nomogram. The internally validated and externally validated C-indexes were 0.713 and 0.703, respectively. The calibration curves presented good consistency between actual and predictive survival. Types of embolic agents, embolization degree, and tumor number were found to be the predictors of PES after TACE. The nomogram could reliably predict PES in HCC patients with TACE. This predictive model might be considered for clinical practice.

Prediction of initial objective response to drug-eluting beads transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma using CT radiomics-based machine learning model.

Objective: A prognostic model utilizing CT radiomics, radiological, and clinical features was developed and validated in this study to predict an objective response to initial transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2022, the baseline clinical characteristics and preoperative and postoperative follow-up imaging data of 108 HCC patients who underwent the first time treatment of DEB-TACE were analyzed retrospectively. The training group (n = 86) and the validation group (n = 22) were randomly assigned in an 8:2 ratio. By logistic regression in machine learning, radiomics, and clinical-radiological models were constructed separately. Finally, the integrated model construction involved the integration of both radiomics and clinical-radiological signatures. The study compared the integrated model with radiomics and clinical-radiological models using calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The objective response rate observed in a group of 108 HCC patients who received initial DEB-TACE treatment was found to be 51.9%. Among the three models, the integrated model exhibited superior predictive accuracy in both the training and validation groups. The training group resulted in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.860, along with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.650 and 0.913, respectively. Based on the findings from the validation group, the AUC was estimated to be 0.927. Additionally, it was found that values of sensitivity and specificity were 0.875 and 0.833, respectively. In the validation group, the AUC of the integrated model showed a significant improvement when contrasted to the clinical-radiological model (p = 0.042). Nevertheless, no significant distinction was observed in the AUC when comparing the integrated model with the radiomics model (p = 0.734). The DCA suggested that the integrated model demonstrates advantageous clinical utility. Conclusion: The integrated model, which combines the CT radiomics signature and the clinical-radiological signature, exhibited higher predictive efficacy than either the radiomics or clinical-radiological models alone. This suggests that during the prediction of the objective responsiveness of HCC patients to the first DEB-TACE treatment, the integrated model yields superior outcomes.

Local Recurrence following Radiological Complete Response in Patients Treated with Subsegmental Balloon-Occluded Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to determine the local recurrence (LR) rate and identify factors associated with LR in patients who achieve a radiological complete response (CR) after undergoing balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (B-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). From November 2017 to September 2021, 60 patients (44 men, 16 women; mean age, 63.5 years; range, 39-82 years) with 72 HCCs (mean diameter, 31 mm; range, 10-50 mm) who underwent subsegmental B-TACE were included in this retrospective study. Radiological and clinical evaluation of oily subsegmentectomy, defined as radiological CR of the HCC and peritumoral parenchymal necrosis, was performed. The CR rate was 97.2% (70 of 72 HCCs) at first follow-up (mean, 41 days; range, 14-110 days). Overall, 13 HCCs (19.7%) demonstrated LR at a mean of 29.8 months (range, 3-63 months) and cumulative LR rates were 1.5% 14.2% 21%, 21%, and 21% at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively. In 28 (38.9%) of 72 HCCs, oily subsegmentectomy was achieved, tumor markers were normalized, and LR did not occur. The oily subsegmentectomy-positive group had a significantly lower LR rate than the oily subsegmentectomy-negative group (p = 0.001). Age ≥65 years (adjusted hazard ration (HR), 0.124; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.037-0.412; p < 0.001) and peripheral location (adjusted HR, 0.112; 95% CI, 0.046-0.272; p < 0.001) were independent predictive factors of LR. Subsegmental B-TACE can be an effective method with a high initial CR rate and low LR incidence. Oily subsegmentectomy can be considered as an index of successful treatment because it did not demonstrate any LR.

Complications of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report of Bronchobiliary Fistula Development in a 68-Year-Old Man.

BACKGROUND Bronchobiliary fistulas (BBFs) are abnormal communications between the biliary tract and bronchial tree. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely employed treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While TACE is generally considered safe, there have been reports of severe complications. This case report is about a 68-year-old man who developed a BBF 6 months after undergoing TACE for HCC. CASE REPORT A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with HCC and underwent TACE at a local medical department. Two months after TACE, he presented with a liver abscess, which was drained and catheterized. Subsequently, the patient was transferred to our hospital. Initial MRI revealed abscesses in the right hepatic lobe extending into the lung cavity. Intrahepatic catheter replacement was performed. Six months after TACE, the patient developed cough and yellow sputum. Subsequent MRI confirmed smaller lung and liver abscesses, along with a BBF. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous catheter replacement were conducted, closing the BBF with a covered stent. Despite drainage, antibiotics, and nutritional support, the patient's condition deteriorated. Transition to hospice care was initiated, and the patient died due to sepsis and multiple organ failure. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the importance of obtaining a comprehensive patient history when a patient has bile in the sputum, and discusses the rare but previously reported BBF as a complication of TACE for HCC. The presence of bile collections in the lungs and liver can result in tissue necrosis, potentially leading to chronic infection, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and management.

Evaluation of the Clinical Efficacy of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Combined with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Extrahepatic Oligometastasis and Prognostic Factors for Patient Survival.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic oligometastasis and the prognosis of patients receiving this treatment. Twenty-one HCC patients with extrahepatic oligometastasis were retrospectively analyzed; seven patients received IMRT only, and 14 received IMRT plus TACE. TACE treatment was administered before IMRT (50 mg epirubicin, oxaliplatin 100 mg, and mitomycin 10 mg). The short-term efficacy of this treatment and patient prognosis were evaluated. Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) in the intrahepatic region were achieved in three and 14 patients, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) approached 81%. CR and PR were achieved in six and 10 patients with extrahepatic metastases, respectively, for an ORR of 100%. Pain was completely relieved in all patients with bone metastases. The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 21 months and 9.1 months, respectively. The 1-year PFS rate was 43%, and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year OS rates were 83%, 35%, 9%, and 4%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the prognostic factors for patient survival included Child-Pugh class, vascular thrombus, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), radiotherapy dose, ascites, combination therapy, and pattern of progression. Multivariate analysis showed that vascular thrombus, combination therapy, and pattern of failure were prognostic factors for PFS, and the KPS was the only prognostic factor for OS. No grade 3-4 adverse reactions were observed. IMRT combined with TACE is safe and feasible without major toxicities for the treatment of advanced HCC patients with extrahepatic oligometastasis and results in excellent objective efficacy and a potential survival benefit. The KPS is the only predictive factor for OS. This approach is expected to be a useful palliative option for selected HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases.

Computed tomography texture analysis combined with preoperative clinical factors serve as a predictor of early efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma.

To investigate a pre-therapeutic radiomics nomogram to accurately predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesion responses to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). This retrospective study from January 2012 to 2022 included 92 TACE-treated patients who underwent liver contrast-enhanced CT scan 7days before treatment, having complete clinical information. We extracted quantitative texture parameters and clinical factors for the largest tumors on the baseline arterial and portal venous phase CT images. An adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-penalized logistic regression identified independent predictors of tumor activity after TACE. We fitted an adaptive LASSO regression model to narrow down the texture features and clinical risk factors of the tumor activity status. The selected texture features were used to construct radiomic scores (RadScore), which demonstrated superior performance in predicting tumor activity on both the training (area under the curve (AUC): 0.881, 95% CI: 0.799-0.963) and testing sets (AUC: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.726-1). A logistic regression-based nomogram was developed using RadScore and four selected clinical features. In the testing set, nomogram total points were significant predictors (P = 0.034), and the training set showed no departure from perfect fit (P = 0.833). Internal validation of the nomogram was obtained for the training (AUC: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.837-0.984) and testing (AUC: 0.889, 95% CI: 0.746-1) sets. We propose a nomogram to predict the early response of HCC lesions to TACE treatment with high accuracy, which may serve as an additional criterion in multidisciplinary decision-making treatment.

The feasibility of early response evaluation using superb microvascular imaging one day after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of early Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for prediction of the effect of HCC treatment after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). A total of 96 HCCs (70 patients) treated with TACE between September 2021 and May 2022 were included in this study. SMI, Color Doppler imaging (CDI), and Power Doppler imaging (PDI) were performed the day after TACE for evaluation of intratumoral vascularity of the lesion using an Aplio500 ultrasound scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems, Corporation, Tochigi, Japan). Grading of the vascular presence was performed using a five-point scale. A dynamic CT image taken after 29-42 days was used for comparison of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detection of tumor vascularity between SMI, CDI, and PDI. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed for assessment of factors affecting intratumoral vascularity. Fifty-eight lesions (60%) showed complete remission (CR) and 38 lesions (40%) showed partial response (PR) or no response at 29-42 days on Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) after TACE. SMI showed sensitivity of 86.84% for detection of intratumoral flow, which was significantly higher compared with that of CDI (10.53%, p< 0.001) and PDI (36.84%, p< 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis indicated that tumor size was a significant factor in detection of blood flow using the SMI technique. Early SMI may be utilized as an adjunctive diagnostic test for evaluation of treated lesions after TACE, particularly when the location of the tumor is in an area of the liver where a suitable sonic window can be identified.

Idarubicin-loaded biodegradable microspheres enhance sensitivity to anti-PD1 immunotherapy in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an image-guided locoregional therapy used for the treatment of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, conventional TACE formulations such as epirubicin-lipiodol emulsion are rapidly dissociated due to the instability of the emulsion, resulting in insufficient local drug concentrations in the target tumor. To overcome these limitations, we used biodegradable Idarubicin loaded microspheres (BILMs), which were prepared from gelatin and carrageenan and could be loaded with Idarubicin (IDA-MS). The morphology and the ability to load and release IDA of BILMs were characterized in vitro. We evaluated tumor changes and side effects after TACE treatment with IDA-MS in VX2 rabbit and C57BL/6 mice HCC models. In addition, the effect of IDA-MS on the tumor immune microenvironment of HCC tumors was elucidated via mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry. Result showed that IDA-MS was developed as a new TACE formulation to overcome the poor delivery of drugs due to rapid elimination of the anticancer drug into the systemic circulation. We demonstrated in rabbits and mice HCC models that TACE with IDA-MS resulted in significant tumor shrinkage and no more severe adverse events than those observed in the IDA group. TACE with IDA-MS could also significantly enhance the sensitivity of anti-PD1 immunotherapy, improve the expression of CD8+ T cells, and activate the tumor immune microenvironment in HCC. This study provides a new approach for TACE therapy and immunotherapy and illuminates the future of HCC treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) formulations are rapidly dissociated due to the instability of the emulsion, resulting in insufficient local drug concentrations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To overcome these limitations, we used biodegradable microspheres called BILMs, which could be loaded with Idarubicin (IDA-MS). We demonstrated in rabbits and mice HCC models that TACE with IDA-MS resulted in significant tumor shrinkage and no more severe adverse events than those observed in the IDA group. TACE with IDA-MS could also significantly enhance the sensitivity of anti-PD1 immunotherapy, improve the expression of CD8+ T cells, and activate the tumor immune microenvironment in HCC. This study provides a new approach for TACE therapy and immunotherapy and illuminates the future of HCC treatment.

Thermoresponsive hydrogel for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one of the most commonly used treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the poor stability of emulsified chemotherapy drugs by iodinated oil always leads to serious systemic cytotoxicity. Herein, a composite hydrogel Epi/Etpoil@MC/XG was proposed by stably distributing ethiodized poppyseed oil (Etpoil) and epirubicin (Epi) in the blend hydrogel of methylcellulose (MC) and xanthan gum (XG). Benefiting from its adjusted thermo-responsive and injectable properties, the Epi/Etpoil@MC/XG has been successfully applied in the embolization of the feeding artery for a VX2 tumor model.

Retracted: Clinical Nursing Paths Benefit Patient Outcomes Undergoing Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/4655293.].

PLEURITIS AND EMPYEMA AFTER TRANSARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

PLEURITIS AND EMPYEMA AFTER TRANSARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Gamma knife radiosurgery versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus: a propensity score matching study

BackgroundThe optimal locoregional treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC patients with PVTT.MethodsThis retrospective study included 544 HCC patients with PVTT (GKR, 202; TACE, 342). Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis identified 171 matched pairs of patients. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).ResultsBefore PSM, the GKR group exhibited longer median OS (mOS) than the TACE group (17.2 vs. 8.0 months, p < 0.001). We followed the Cheng’s classification for PVTT. In the subgroup analysis, GKR was associated with significantly longer mOS for patients with PVTT II-IV (17.5 vs. 8.7 months, p < 0.001; 17.2 vs. 7.8 months, p = 0.001; 14.5 vs. 6.5 months, p = 0.001, respectively) and comparable OS for patients with PVTT I. After PSM, the GKR group had also a longer mOS than the TACE group (15.8 vs. 10.4 months, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the GKR group demonstrated superior mOS for patients with PVTT II-IV (all p < 0.05) and comparable OS for patients with PVTT I.ConclusionsGKR was associated better OS than TACE in HCC patients with PVTT, especially for patients with PVTT II-IV.Clinical Trials RegistrationThe study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry under the registration number ChiCTR2100051057.