Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer System Research Articles

A preoperative model to predict overall survival in patients with hepatoma undergoing resection

BackgroundWe aimed to develop a preoperative model to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatoma undergoing liver resection (LR). MethodsPatients who underwent LR for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0, A, or B hepatoma were enrolled. Tumor burden score (TBS) scores were determined using the following equation: TBS (Pinna et al., 2018) 2 = (largest tumor size [in cm])(Pinna et al., 2018) 2 ​+ ​(tumor number) (Pinna et al., 2018) 22. The cutoff values for radiographic TBS were based on our recently published paper: low, <2.6; medium, 2.6–7.9; high, >7.9. ResultsMultivariate analysis showed that radiographic TBS (low: referent; medium: HR ​= ​2.89; 95 ​% CI: 1.60–5.21; p ​< ​0.001; high, HR ​= ​7.60; 95 ​% CI: 3.80–15.2; p ​< ​0.001), AFP (<400 ​ng/mL: referent; ≧400 ​ng/mL: HR ​= ​1.67, 95 ​% CI: 1.11−2.52, p ​= ​0.014), and cirrhosis (absence: referent; presence: HR ​= ​1.88, 95 ​% CI: 1.30–2.72, p ​< ​0.001) were associated with OS. A simplified risk score was superior to BCLC system in concordance index (0.688 vs. 0.623). ConclusionsWe have developed a preoperative model that performs better in predicting OS than the BCLC system.

Development and validation of nomograms to predict survival and recurrence after hepatectomy for intermediate/advanced (BCLC stage B/C) hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundDespite the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system discouraging hepatectomy for intermediate/advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, the procedure is still performed worldwide, particularly in Asia. This study aimed to develop and validate nomograms for predicting survival and recurrence for these patients. MethodsWe analyzed patients who underwent curative-intent hepatectomy for intermediate/advanced hepatocellular carcinoma between 2010 and 2020 across 3 Chinese hospitals. The Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital cohort was used as the training cohort for the nomogram construction, and the Jilin First Hospital and Fujian Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital cohorts served as the external validation cohorts. Independent preoperative predictors for survival and recurrence were identified through univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Predictive accuracy was measured using the concordance index and calibration curves. The predictive performance between nomograms and conventional hepatocellular carcinoma staging systems was compared. ResultsA total of 1,328 patients met the inclusion criteria. The nomograms for predicting survival and recurrence were developed using 10 and 6 independent variables, respectively. Nomograms’ concordance indices in the training cohort were 0.777 (95% confidence interval 0.759–0.800) and 0.719 (95% confidence interval 0.697–0.742) for survival and recurrence, outperforming 4 conventional staging systems (P < .001). Nomograms accurately stratified risk into low, intermediate, and high subgroups. These results were validated well by 2 external validation cohorts. ConclusionWe developed and validated nomograms predicting survival and recurrence for patients with intermediate/advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, contradicting Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer surgical guidelines. These nomograms may facilitate clinicians to formulate personalized surgical decisions, estimate long-term prognosis, and strategize neoadjuvant/adjuvant anti-recurrence therapy.

Defining Minimum Treatment Parameters of Ablative Radiation Therapy in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Expert Consensus

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is a highly effective treatment in select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system does not recommend the use of EBRT in HCC due to a lack of sufficient evidence and intends to perform an individual patient level meta-analysis of ablative EBRT in this population. However, there are many types of EBRT described in the literature with no formal definition of what constitutes "ablative." Thus, we convened a group of international experts to provide consensus on the parameters that define ablative EBRT in HCC. Fundamental parameters related to dose, fractionation, radiobiology, target identification, and delivery technique were identified by a steering committee to generate 7 Key Criteria (KC) that would define ablative EBRT for HCC. Using a modified Delphi (mDelphi) method, experts in the use of EBRT in the treatment of HCC were surveyed. Respondents were given 30 days to respond in round 1 of the mDelphi and 14 days to respond in round 2. A threshold of ≥70% was used to define consensus for answers to each KC. Of 40 invitations extended, 35 (88%) returned responses. In the first round, 3 of 7 KC reached consensus. In the second round, 100% returned responses and consensus was reached in 3 of the remaining 4 KC. The distribution of answers for one KC, which queried the a/b ratio of HCC, was such that consensus was not achieved. Based on this analysis, ablative EBRT for HCC was defined as a BED10 ≥80 Gy with daily imaging and multiphasic contrast used for target delineation. Treatment breaks (eg, for adaptive EBRT) are allowed, but the total treatment time should be ≤6 weeks. Equivalent dose when treating with protons should use a conversion factor of 1.1, but there is no single conversion factor for carbon ions. Using a mDelphi method assessing expert opinion, we provide the first consensus definition of ablative EBRT for HCC. Empirical data are required to define the a/b of HCC.

The Complexity of the Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Emerging Therapeutic Developments

This review explores various aspects of the HCC TME, including both cellular and non-cellular components, to elucidate their roles in tumor development and progression. Specifically, it highlights the significance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their contributions to tumor progression, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, this review emphasizes the role of immune cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and regulatory T-cells (Tregs), in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment that promotes tumor growth and immune evasion. Furthermore, we also focused only on the non-cellular components of the HCC TME, including the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the role of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis. Alterations in the composition of ECM and stiffness have been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis, while hypoxia-driven angiogenesis promotes tumor growth and metastatic spread. The molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, including the activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, are also discussed. In addition to elucidating the complex TME of HCC, this review focuses on emerging therapeutic strategies that target the TME. It highlights the potential of second-line treatments, such as regorafenib, cabozantinib, and ramucirumab, in improving overall survival for advanced HCC patients who have progressed on or were intolerant to first-line therapy. Furthermore, this review explores the implications of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging and classification system in guiding HCC management decisions. The BCLC system, which incorporates tumor stage, liver function, and performance status, provides a framework for treatment stratification and prognosis prediction in HCC patients. The insights gained from this review contribute to the development of novel therapeutic interventions and personalized treatment approaches for HCC patients, ultimately improving clinical outcomes in this challenging disease.

An Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment After Radical Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

According to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system, radical resection of early stage primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mainly includes liver transplantation, surgical resection, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which yield 5-year survival rates of about 70-79%, 41.3-69.5%, and 40-70%, respectively. The tumor-free 5-year rate for HCC patients undergoing radical resection only reach up to 13.7 months, so the prevention of recurrence after radical resection of HCC is very important for the prognosis of patients. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) takes the approach of multitarget and overall-regulation to treat tumors, it can also independently present the "component-target-pathway" related to a particular disease, and its systematic and holistic characteristics can provide a personalized therapy based on symptoms of the patient by treating the patient as a whole. TCM as postoperative adjuvant therapy after radical resection of HCC in Barcelona Clinic liver cancer A or B stages, and the numerous clinical trials confirmed that the efficacy of TCM in the field of HCC has a significant effect, not only improving the prognosis and quality of life but also enhancing patient survival rate. However, with the characteristics of multi-target, multi-component, and multi-pathway, the specific mechanism of Chinese medicine in the treatment of diseases is still unclear. Because of the positive pharmacological activities of TCM in combating anti-tumors, the mechanism studies of TCM have demonstrated beneficial effects on the regulation of immune function, chronic inflammation, the proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer cells, autophagy, and cell signaling pathways related to liver cancer. Therefore, this article reviews the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in reducing the recurrence rate of HCC after radical resection.

Chemoembolization Plus Ablation: Current Status

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The treatment landscape for HCC has evolved significantly over the past decade, with several modalities available to treat various stages of disease. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system provides a foundation for treatment guidance. However, given the complex nature of HCC, a more nuanced approach is often required, especially for lesions sized between 3 and 5 cm. This review aims to analyze the available treatments for early-stage HCC lesions between 3 and 5 cm, with a focus on the therapeutic potential and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)–ablation. Additional therapies including TACE, ablation, transarterial radioembolization, and surgical resection are also reviewed and compared with TACE–ablation. TACE–ablation is a viable therapeutic option for early-stage HCC lesions between 3 and 5 cm. Surgical resection remains the gold standard. Although recent studies suggest radiation segmentectomy may be a curative approach for this patient population, further studies are needed to compare the relative efficacies between TACE–ablation and radiation segmentectomy.

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with "pseudoprogression" followed by complete response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo + Bev) is the first immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and in the current guidelines, it is positioned as the first-line chemotherapy for unresectable cases. Herein, we report a case of HCC with pseudoprogression followed by a complete response to Atezo + Bev. A 56year-old man was diagnosed with intermediate-stage HCC, as defined by the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system stage B. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple lesions in the liver without any extrahepatic lesions. First, he was treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE); however, multiple residual lesions were observed on CT scan 2months after TACE. Therefore, treatment with Atezo + Bev was initiated 4months after TACE. After the third administration of Atezo + Bev, a CT scan showed progressive disease in intrahepatic lesions, along with increased serum levels of tumor markers. Although TACE was planned again, Atezo + Bev was continued while the patient was waiting for hospitalization. After the fifth administration of Atezo + Bev, serum levels of tumor markers decreased to the normal range. Magnetic resonance imaging showed prominently reduced tumor size. Therefore, Atezo + Bev was continued, and after the eighth administration, the CT scan showed the disappearance of all the liver lesions, indicating a complete response. In immunotherapy, the therapeutic response can sometimes be obtained in an atypical pattern due to either an increase in tumor burden or the appearance of new lesions, called "pseudoprogression," which is rare in HCC.

Clinical practice guidelines and real-life practice in hepatocellular carcinoma: A Taiwan perspective.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan. The Taiwan Liver Cancer Association and the Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan developed and updated the guidelines for HCC management in 2020. In clinical practice, we follow these guidelines and the reimbursement policy of the government. In Taiwan, abdominal ultrasonography, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) tests are performed for HCC surveillance every 6 months or every 3 months for high-risk patients. Dynamic computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have been recommended for HCC surveillance in extremely high-risk patients or those with poor ultrasonographic visualization results. HCC is usually diagnosed through dynamic imaging, and pathological diagnosis is recommended. Staging of HCC is based on a modified version of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system, and the HCC management guidelines in Taiwan actively promote curative treatments including surgery and locoregional therapy for BCLC stage B or C patients. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), drug-eluting bead TACE, transarterial radioembolization, and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy may be administered for patients with BCLC stage B or C HCC. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are reimbursed as systemic therapies, and regorafenib and ramucirumab may be reimbursed in cases of sorafenib failure. First-line atezolizumab with bevacizumab is not yet reimbursed but may be administered in clinical practice. Systemic therapy and external beam radiation therapy may be used in specific patients. Early switching to systemic therapy in TACE-refractory patients is a recent paradigm shift in HCC management.

A comprehensive preoperative predictive score for post-hepatectomy liver failure after hepatocellular carcinoma resection based on patient comorbidities, tumor burden, and liver function: the CTF score

BackgroundPost-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a dreaded complication following liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a high mortality rate. We sought to develop a score based on preoperative factors to predict PHLF. MethodsPatients who underwent resection for HCC between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. Factors associated with PHLF were identified and used to develop a preoperative comorbidity-tumor burden-liver function (CTF) predictive score. ResultsAmong 1785 patients, 106 (5.9%) experienced PHLF. On multivariate analysis, several factors were associated with PHLF including high Charlson comorbidity index (CCI ≥ 5) (OR 2.80, 95%CI, 1.08–7.26), albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) (OR 1.99, 95%CI, 1.10–3.56), and tumor burden score (TBS) (OR 1.06, 95%CI, 1.02–1.11) (all p < 0.05). Using the beta-coefficients of these variables, a weighted predictive score was developed and made available online (https://alaimolaura.shinyapps.io/PHLFriskCalculator/). The CTF score (c-index = 0.67) performed better than Child–Pugh score (CPS) (c-index = 0.53) or Barcelona clinic liver cancer system (BCLC) (c-index = 0.57) to predict PHLF. A high CTF score was also an independent adverse prognostic factor for survival (HR 1.61, 95%CI, 1.12–2.30) and recurrence (HR 1.36, 95%CI, 1.08–1.71) (both p = 0.01). ConclusionRoughly 1 in 20 patients experienced PHLF following resection of HCC. Patient (i.e., CCI), tumor (i.e., TBS), and liver function (i.e., ALBI) factors were associated with risk of PHLF. These preoperative factors were incorporated into a novel CTF tool that was made available online, which outperformed other previously proposed tools.

Surgical Resection Is Superior to TACE in the Treatment of HCC in a Well Selected Cohort of BCLC-B Elderly Patients-A Retrospective Observational Study.

Simple SummaryHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy. Liver transplantation (LT) and surgical resection (SR) are currently the primary treatments with curative intent. Nevertheless, more than two-thirds of patients are elderly and, therefore, excluded from LT; while, according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system, SR should only be offered to a small group of patients with early stage HCC. The identification in stage B of an intermediate subgroup of patients that fulfill the criteria for surgery may play an important role in the implementation of potentially curative treatments.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually develops in cirrhotic liver, with high recurrence rates. However, considering its increasing detection in non-cirrhotic liver, the choice of treatment assumes particular relevance. This study aimed to investigate outcomes of patients among BCLC stages and enrolled for surgical resection (SR) according to a more complex evaluation, to establish its safety and efficacy. A total of 186 selected HCC patients (median age 73.2 yrs), submitted to SR between January 2005 and January 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. Of which, 166 were staged 0, A, B according to the BCLC system, while 20 with a single large tumor (>5 cm) were classified as stage AB. No perioperative mortality was recorded; complications occurred in 48 (25.80%) patients, and all but two were Clavien–Dindo grade I–II. Median follow-up was 9.2 years. Subsequently, 162 recurrent patients (87,1%) were selected for new treatments. Comparable overall survival rates (OS) were observed at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years in 0, A, B and AB stages (p = 0.2). Eventually, the BCLC-B group was matched to 40 BCLC-B patients treated (2015-2021) with TACE. Significant differences in baseline characteristics (p <0.0001) and in OS were observed at 1 and 3 years (p <0.0001); a significant difference was also observed in oncological outcomes, in terms of the absence, residual, or relapse of disease (p <0.05). Surgery might be a valid treatment in HCC for patients affected by chronic liver disease in a condition of compensation, up to BCLC-B stage. Surgical indication for liver resection in case of HCC should be extensively revised.

First-Line Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Role of Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Combination.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy accounting for 90% of primary liver malignancies. Therapeutic options for HCC are primarily based on the baseline functional status, the extent of disease at presentation and the underlying liver function that is clinically evaluated by the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer system and Child–Pugh score. In patients with advanced HCC, the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) approved systemic therapies include the combination of atezolizumab–bevacizumab, sorafenib, and lenvatinib in the first line setting while cabozantinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab (in patients with alfa-fetoprotein [AFP] > 400 ng/mL), pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and nivolumab-ipilimumab combination are reserved for patients who progressed on sorafenib. European Medical Agency (EMA) approved the use of atezolizumab–bevacizumab, sorafenib, and lenvatinib in the first line setting, while cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab (in patients with alfa-fetoprotein [AFP] > 400 ng/mL) are approved for use in patients that progressed on first-line therapy. In the first line setting, sorafenib demonstrated a median overall survival (OS) benefit of 3 months as compared to that of best supportive care in randomized phase III trials, while lenvatinib was shown to be non-inferior to sorafenib. Recently, phase 3 studies with immunotherapeutic agents including atezolizumab plus a bevacizumab combination and tremelimumab plus durvalumab combination demonstrated a better OS and progression free survival (PFS) compared to sorafenib in the first-line setting, making them attractive first-line options in advanced HCC. In this review, we outlined the tumorigenesis and immune landscape of HCC in brief and discussed the role and rationale of combining immunotherapy and anti-VEGF therapy. We further expanded on potential limitations and the future directions of immunotherapy in combination with targeted agents in the management of advanced HCC.

Combining Pre- and Postoperative Lymphocyte-C-Reactive Protein Ratios Can Better Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis After Partial Hepatectomy.

BackgroundVarious preoperative inflammatory indicators have been identified as potential predictors of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the role of postoperative inflammatory indicators remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of the postoperative lymphocyte–C-reactive protein ratio (PostLCR) on its own and combined with preoperative LCR (PreLCR).MethodsA total of 290 patients with primary HCC were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Univariate analysis was used to identify factors significantly associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), then multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic indicators of poor survival. Prognostic models based on preoperative, postoperative, and both types of indicators were then constructed, and their predictive performance were evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and the concordance index (C-index).ResultsPreLCR and PostLCR levels correlated with DFS and OS more strongly than other pre- and postoperative inflammatory indicators, respectively. Decreased PreLCR and PostLCR were independent prognostic factors for both DFS and OS, while HCC patients with decreased PreLCR and PostLCR had worse prognosis than patients with increased PreLCR and PostLCR. Patients into three groups based on their cut-off values of PreLCR and PostLCR, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that HCC patients with low PreLCR and PostLCR had the worst DFS and OS. The combined model showed better predictive performance at 1 and 3 years post-surgery than individual pre- and postoperative models, the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Tumor-Node-Metastasis (8th edition) staging system and the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system. The combine model demonstrated a markedly superior C-index compared with the other models in DFS and OS.ConclusionOur study showed PreLCR and PostLCR are independent predictors of DFS and OS in HCC patients after partial hepatectomy. Models that include both PreLCR and PostLCR can predict prognosis better than well-established clinical staging systems.

Cirrhosis, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Locoregional Therapies

Cirrhosis is the development of damage and subsequent scarring of hepatic tissues leading to the development of fibrosis. The development of cirrhosis is one of the major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is the sixth most common form of cancer worldwide and the fourth cause of cancer-related deaths. This is often because HCC is not diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. In the United States and Europe, HCC is staged and managed according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system. Treatment for HCC includes transplantation, surgical resection, locoregional radiology therapies, targeted systemic chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. This article is an overview of cirrhosis, HCC, and various treatment modalities and associated postprocedural syndromes.

TARE in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From the Right to the Left of BCLC.

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system is the most commonly used staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Western countries. BCLC aims to categorize patients into fivestages with different prognoses and to allocate treatment according to these stages based on the best possible contemporary evidence. Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) has recently entered at the left of the BCLC algorithm (i.e., BCLC 0-A), mainly because of negative phase III trials in BCLC Cstage. TARE has shown a steady increase in nationwide studies over the past 20years and has even been adopted in some tertiary centers as the primary HCC treatment across all BCLC stages. We aimed to review the history of TARE in HCC, starting from advanced HCC and gradually expanding to earlier stages at the left of the BCLC system.

A proposed five-step simplified algorithm for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in India

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the eighth-most frequent cause of cancer mortality in India. The staging system most often used for treatment decisions in India is the Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) system. However, this staging system is often criticised for several reasons, such as heterogeneity of patient prognosis in each BCLC stage, limited guidance on expanding the role of liver transplantation (LT), no recommendation on combination therapies, no guidance on downstaging and limited treatment options for late presenters (stages C or D). Hence, we propose a simplified five-step algorithm for making treatment decisions for HCC patients in India. This algorithm incorporates evidence-based treatment allocations based on the step-by-step assessment of major prognostic and treatment-related parameters. The five steps of the algorithm are – Step 1: assessment of performance status, Step 2: assessment of extrahepatic spread and macrovascular invasion, Step 3: assessment for living donor LT, Step 4: assessment for the eligibility of liver resection and Step 5: assessment for appropriate locoregional therapy. Each of these steps does not require any separate investigations, and the initial workup for the diagnosis of HCC (dynamic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and routine laboratory tests) would suffice in this five-step algorithm. We hope that this algorithm will not only simplify the management approach to HCC patients in India, but also it will bring uniformity in the treatment protocol for HCC in India.

Comparison of tumor response following conventional versus drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization in early- and very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

ObjectiveTo compare the safety of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) vs drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) in very early- and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsData of patients with early- and very early-stage HCC treated with cTACE or DEB-TACE were evaluated retrospectively in this study. A total of 40 patients were included, 20 treated with cTACE and 20 with DEB-TACE. The cTACE and DEB-TACE groups were comprised of 80% and 75% males, while there were 20% females in cTACE group and 25% in Deb-TACE group respectively. The mean age of patients in cTACE group was 57.43 ​+ ​5.6 years, while it was 56.4 ​+ ​5.5 years in DEB-TACE group. All patients had liver status of Child–Pugh Class A and a score ≤ 7 in Child-Pugh class type B in very early- (stage 0) or early-phase (stage A) stages according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system. ResultsThe Child-Pugh class degradation in the cTACE group was slightly higher than that in the DEB-TACE group. Serious complications like peritumoral parenchymal ischemia were observed in 4 patients in the cTACE group and 5 in the DEB-TACE group. Localized bile duct dilation was seen in 2 patients in the cTACE group and 6 in the DEB-TACE group.No significant variation in serious complications between the two groups was established in localized bile duct dilatation. Other minor complications noted were liver failure, liver abscess, liver infarction, acute cholecystitis, biliary tree necrosis, and mortality. Further, no substantial variation in tumor response between the groups was reported immediately and 1-year post-procedural assessment. Conversion rate to other treatment modalities such as surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), or swap between cTACE and DEB-TACE was substantially higher in the DEB-TACE group (40%) than in the cTACE group (10%) at the 1-year completion period of the study. ConclusionIn terms of tumor response, the DEB-TACE group showed a better response, to some extent, as an initial therapy for HCC in the early stages as compared to the cTACE group, and DEB-TACE also exhibited better clinical efficacy in patients with HCC.

Validation of an alpha-fetoprotein model to predict recurrence after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

To validate a previously reported alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) model (including three variables: preoperative image-diagnosed tumor number and size and AFP level) for the prediction of recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who have undergone liver resection (LR). This retrospective study enrolled patients who underwent curative LR for newly diagnosed HCC in our institution between 2011 and 2018. The probabilities of overall survival (OS) and recurrence were compared according to the aforementioned AFP model. A total of 838 patients were included. AFP score ≥ 3 versus ≤ 2 independently predicted recurrence and OS. However, net reclassification improvements (NRI) indicated that the AFP model was not superior to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system for predicting 1-year recurrence (p = 0.746). Relatedly, we developed a modified AFP model based on our cohort. The modified AFP score ≥ 3 versus ≤ 2 independently predicted recurrence and OS. However, NRI again indicated that the modified AFP model was not superior to the BCLC system for predicting 1-year recurrence (p = 0.69). Patients with a modified AFP score ≤ 2 had a risk of recurrence similar to that of patients with a modified AFP score ≥ 3 in BCLC stage 0-A (p = 0.57). However, patients with a modified AFP score ≤ 2 had a lower risk of recurrence than patients with a modified AFP score ≥ 3 in BCLC stage B-C (p = 0.02). The original AFP model was not feasible in our cohort. However, the modified AFP model may be useful for predicting recurrence in BCLC B-C patients who underwent LR in our cohort.

Expected outcomes and patients' selection before chemoembolization-"Six-and-Twelve or Pre-TACE-Predict" scores may help clinicians: Real-life French cohorts results.

BACKGROUNDCareful selection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients prior to chemoembolization treatment is a daily reality, and is even more necessary with new available therapeutic options in HCC. AIMTo propose two new models to better stratify patients and maximize clinical benefit: “6 and 12” and “pre/post-TACE-predict” (TACE, transarterial chemoembolization). METHODSWe evaluated and compared their performance in predicting overall survival with other systems {Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC), Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) and NIACE [Number of tumor(s), Infiltrative HCC, alpha-fetoprotein, Child-Pugh (CP), and performance status]} in two HCC French cohorts of different stages enrolled between 2010 and 2018. RESULTSThe cohorts included 324 patients classified as BCLC stages A/B (cohort 1) and 137 patients classified as BCLC stages B/C (cohort 2). The majority of the patients had cirrhosis with preserved liver function. “Pre-TACE-predict” and “6 and 12” models identified three distinct categories of patients exhibiting different prognosis in cohort 1. However, their prognostic value was no better than the BCLC system or NIACE score. Liver function based on CP and ALBI grades significantly impacted patient survival. Conversely, the “post-TACE-predict” model had a higher predictive value than other models. The stratification ability as well as predictive performance of these new models in an intermediate/advanced stage population was less efficient (cohort 2). CONCLUSIONThe newly proposed “Pre-TACE-predict” and “6 and 12” models offer an interesting stratification into three categories in a recommended TACE population, as they identify poor candidates, those with partial control and durable response. The models' contribution was reduced in a population with advanced stage HCCs.

Therapies for hepatocellularcarcinoma: overview, clinical indications, and comparative outcome evaluation-part one: curative intention.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) offers unique management challenges as it commonly occurs in the setting of underlying chronic liver disease. The management of HCC is directed primarily by the clinical stage. The most commonly used staging system is the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer system, which considers tumor burden based on imaging, liver function and the patient's performance status. Early-stage HCC can be managed with therapies of curative intent including surgical resection, liver transplantation, and ablative therapies. This manuscript reviews the various treatment options for HCC with a curative intent, such as locablative therapy types, surgical resection, and transplant. Indications, contraindications and outcomes of the various treatment options are reviewed. Multiple concepts relating to liver transplant are discussed including Milan criteria, OPTN policy, MELD exception points, downstaging to transplant and bridging to transplant.

Cost-Effectiveness of Tumor Response Criteria After Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Working Harder May Be Worth It.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) improves survival among patients with HCC [ 1 Llovet J.M. Real M.I. Montaña X. et al. Arterial embolisation or chemoembolisation versus symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002; 359: 1734-1739 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2719) Google Scholar ] and is the recommended first-line treatment for patients with intermediate-stage disease according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system. As such, it remains the most widely used liver-directed therapy. However, a single TACE treatment infrequently yields complete response in such patients with multiple or large masses. A recent meta-analysis of 101 clinical studies including 10,108 subjects receiving TACE revealed a combined complete and partial response rate of 52.5% [ 2 Lencioni R. Baere T de Soulen M.C. Rilling W.S. Geschwind J.-F.H. Lipiodol transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review of efficacy and safety data. Hepatology. 2016; 64: 106-116 Crossref PubMed Scopus (271) Google Scholar ]. Timely and accurate identification of residual disease after TACE is therefore critical to guide retreatment and prolong patient survival. Multiple imaging criteria have been developed over the past two decades for systematic assessment of treatment efficacy. In this issue, Malhotra et al [ 3 Wu X. Chapiro J. Malhotra A. Cost-effectiveness of imaging tumor response criteria in hepatocellular cancer after transarterial chemoembolization. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021; 18: 927-934 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (2) Google Scholar ] report the results of a decision analytic model comparing the incremental cost-effectiveness of three tumor response criteria—Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), modified RECIST (mRECIST), and quantitative European Association for Study of the Liver (qEASL)—for assessment of treatment response after TACE for intermediate-stage HCC. Cost-Effectiveness of Imaging Tumor Response Criteria in Hepatocellular Cancer After Transarterial ChemoembolizationJournal of the American College of RadiologyVol. 18Issue 7PreviewSeveral tumor response criteria on cross-sectional imaging have been used in hepatocellular cancer after locoregional, intra-arterial therapy. The cost implications of their efficacy and accuracy are not well established. Full-Text PDF