Reply to the commentary on "The efficiency of pathological response after preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for microvascular invasion and early tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma".
Reply to the commentary on "<i>The efficiency of pathological response after preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for microvascular invasion and early tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma</i>".
Project description:The value of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC) after liver resection is uncertain. We aimed to determine its effect on postoperative complication and survival. There were 33 patients who received preoperative TACE and repeated liver resection (TACE-LR) and 119 patients who received repeated liver resection (LR) alone for rHCC. Seventy-eight patients (TACE-LR, 28; LR, 50) were identified by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis for comparison of postoperative complication, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors for survival. Before matching, the TACE-LR group had more intraoperative blood loss than the LR group (P < 0.05). After matching, the TACE-LR group had more intraoperative blood loss and a longer operation time (Both P < 0.05). In all and matched patients, both groups had similar postoperative complications rate (TACE-LR, 21.2%; LR, 7.6%; P = 0.052 and TACE-LR, 21.4%; LR, 12.0%; P = 0.435), DFS (P = 0.81 and P = 0.41) and OS (P = 0.87 and P = 0.79). Preoperative TACE was not a predictor for DFS and OS in multivariable analyses. Preoperative TACE for resectable rHCC prolongs operating time and increases intraoperative blood loss without improving survival; thus, it should not be recommended as a routine procedure before repeated resection for patients with rHCCs.
Project description:Postembolization syndrome (PES) is a common complication after embolic procedures, and it is a frequent cause of extended inpatient hospital admissions. PES is a self-limited constellation of symptoms consisting of fevers, unremitting nausea, general malaise, loss of appetite, and variable abdominal pain following the procedure. Although a definite cause is unknown, this syndrome is thought to be a result of therapeutic cytotoxicity, tumor ischemia, and resulting intrahepatic and extrahepatic inflammation. The authors report a case of PES precipitated by transcatheter intrarterial chemoembolization of hepatic metastases.
Project description:AimsTo compare the effectiveness, safety, and survival outcomes in patients with infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).MethodsA total of 160 patients with infiltrative HCCs who underwent initial TACE (n = 68) and HAIC (n = 92) treatment from January 2016 to March 2020. We applied the propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust for potential imbalances. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were compared between two groups. Multivariate analysis was evaluated through the forward stepwise Cox regression model and β coefficients was applied for the nomogram construction.ResultsThe median follow-up duration for the study population was 20.8 months. After PSM, the median OS and PFS in the HAIC group were significantly higher than those in the TACE group (OS, 13.3 vs 10.8 months; p = 0.043; PFS, 7.8 vs 4.0 months; p = 0.035) and the ORR and DCR in the HAIC group were significantly higher than those in the TACE group (ORR, 34.8% vs 11.8%; p = 0.001; DCR, 54.3% vs 36.8%; p = 0.028). A nomogram model comprising albumin-bilirubin grade, treatment responses, sessions, and treatment modalities, showed good predictive accuracy and discrimination (training set, concordance index [C-index] of 0.789; validation set, C-index of 0.757), which outperformed other staging systems and conventional indices.ConclusionHAIC improve significantly survival compared to TACE in patients with infiltrative HCC. A prospective randomized trial is ongoing to confirm this finding.
Project description:ObjectivesLarge hepatocellular carcinoma (LHCC) is prone to short-term recurrence and poor long-term survival after hepatectomy, and there is still a lack of effective neoadjuvant treatments to improve recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in solitary LHCC (≥5 cm).Materials and methodsA multicenter medical database was used to analyze preoperative TACE's effects on RFS, OS, and perioperative complications in patients with solitary LHCC who received surgical treatment from January 2005 to December 2015. The patients were divided into Group A (5.0-9.9 cm) and Group B (≥10 cm), with 10 cm as the critical value, and the effect of preoperative TACE on RFS, OS and perioperative complications was assessed in each subgroup.ResultsIn the overall population, patients with preoperative TACE had better RFS and OS than those without preoperative TACE. However, after stratifying the patients into the two HCC groups, preoperative TACE only improved the survival outcomes of patients with Group B (≥10 cm). Multivariate Cox-regression analysis showed that lack of preoperative TACE was an independent risk factor for RFS and OS in the overall population and in Group B but not in Group A.ConclusionsPreoperative TACE is beneficial for patients with solitary HCC (≥10 cm).
Project description:ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus 131I-labelled metuximab with TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and methodsA comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database with published date from the earliest to February 29th, 2016. No language restrictions were applied, but only prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-RCTs were eligible for a full-text review. The primary outcome was the overall survival (OS) and effective rate (the rate of partial atrophy or complete clearance of the tumor lesion). The odds ratios (ORs) were combined using either the fixed-effects model or random-effects model.ResultsEight trials (3 RCTs and 5 non-RCTs) were included, involving a total of 1121 patients. Patients receiving combined therapy of TACE plus 131I-labelled metuximab showed significant improvement in effective rate {OR = 4.00, (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.40-6.66), p < 0.001}, 1-year OS (OR = 2.03 [95% CI: 1.55-2.67], p < 0.001) and 2-year OS (OR = 2.57 [95% CI: 1.41-4.66], p = 0.002].ConclusionTACE plus 131I-labelled metuximab is more beneficial for treating advanced HCCs than TACE alone in terms of tumor response and OS. Large, multi-center, and blinded randomized trials are required to confirm these findings.
Project description:Targeted therapy is currently the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but an effective treatment after the discontinuation of sorafenib therapy remains uncertain. We aim to investigate the survival benefits of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after stopping sorafenib therapy. We retrospectively analyzed all patients with advanced HCC, who had received palliative TACE after terminating sorafenib therapy, from January 2008 to June 2016. Patients who were in the terminal stage (Child-Pugh class C or performance status 3-4), who received a liver transplantation, or who had received any HCC treatment other than TACE, were excluded. Finally, 28 patients were recruited as the TACE group, and were randomly matched 1:1 by age, gender, Child-Pugh class, extrahepatic metastasis, and portal vein thrombosis with 28 controls who only received supportive care. For avoiding any immortal time bias, the index date of outcome follow-up was also matched. Cumulative incidences of, and hazard ratios (HRs) for, patient mortality were analyzed. The baseline demographic data between the TACE group and the control group were similar, but the 1-year overall survival rate in the TACE group was significantly higher than that of the control group (41.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.4-63.0% vs. 24.5%, 95% CI: 6.3-42.7%; p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for alpha-fetoprotein > 400ng/mL, Child-Pugh class B, and tumor extension > 50% of liver volume, TACE was independently associated with a decreased mortality risk(HR 0.19, 95% CI: 0.08-0.42). In addition, tumor extension > 50% of the liver was another independent prognostic factor associated with an increased mortality risk (HR 2.99, 95% CI: 1.31-6.82). Multivariate stratified analyses verified the association of TACE with a decreased mortality rate in each patient subgroup (all HR < 1.0). By controlling intrahepatic tumor growth, TACE may be a treatment option for use in improving patient survival in advanced HCC, after the termination of sorafenib therapy.
Project description:Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most prevalent cancer in China. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a common interventional therapy for HCC. In this study, we aimed to explore specific metabolites that can accurately predict prognosis after TACE in patients with HCC. Methods: Patients with HCC and healthy volunteers (n = 20 each) were recruited to our study; plasma samples were collected from patients before and after TACE and from healthy volunteers. Plasma samples were subjected to untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis, to identify metabolites significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC after TACE. Results: Orthogonal filtered partial least squares discriminant analysis confirmed significant separation of the pre-TACE, post-TACE, and healthy groups, and 34 differential metabolites were identified between the pre-TACE and post-TACE groups. KEGG analysis revealed that phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways and the phenylalanine metabolism pathway were potentially altered in HCC genesis and during TACE. Phenylalanine and tyrosine are involved in both pathways and were increased in the pre-TACE group relative to controls, with phenylalanine further increased in the post-TACE group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that PC 36:4|PC 18:2_18:2 (area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.798) is a potential marker for assessment of prognosis in patients with HCC after TACE. Moreover, ROC curve analysis indicated that palmitoylcarnitine (AUC = 1) is a marker with potential value for HCC diagnosis. Conclusions: Limited studies had been conducted on the detection of metabolites in the plasma of HCC patients before and after TACE. PC 36:4|PC 18:2_18:2 is a potential marker for evaluation of the therapeutic effects of TACE. This finding may be beneficial for the treatment of patients with HCC after TACE.
Project description:Background and aimWe evaluated the efficacy of rechallenge transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after lenvatinib (LEN) treatment in patients with previous TACE failure/refractoriness.MethodsWe enrolled 63 consecutive patients with a history of TACE failure/refractoriness prior to LEN treatment as a first-line systemic therapy. We reviewed the clinical backgrounds and courses of the patients.ResultsIn total, 25 patients underwent rechallenge TACE after LEN due to LEN-refractoriness (17 cases) or intolerance (8 cases). A complete or partial response was obtained for 13 (65.0%) of the 20 patients whose therapeutic effects were determined. The survival rate of patients who underwent rechallenge TACE was significantly higher than that of patients who did not undergo rechallenge TACE (median survival time, not reached vs 403 days, P = 0.015). Rechallenge TACE significantly reduced the risk of death in univariate (hazard ratio [HR] 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-0.69, P = 0.008) and multivariate analyses (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.80, P = 0.019). If complete or partial response was obtained by rechallenge TACE, the median survival time of these patients was significantly longer than those of the progressive disease (PD) group (P = 0.05), and the median survival time of the PD group after rechallenge TACE was not different from that of the group who did not undergo rechallenge TACE (P = 0.36). We did not observe a decrease in the ALBI score after TACE.ConclusionRechallenge TACE after LEN is an effective treatment that may result in a favorable prognosis.
Project description:Background and objective In the process of tumor occurrence, evolution and development, immune, inflammation and nutrition are principal elements. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of systemic immune-inflammation index/albumin (SII/ALB) for patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A total of 125 HBV-related HCC patients met inclusion criteria and were all enrolled in this research. The survminer R package. was used to calculate the best SII/ALB cutoff values. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between SII/ALB and clinicopathological parameters. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the effect of SII/ALB on overall survival (OS). Results The cutoff value of SII/ALB was 2.992. In the derivation cohort, the patients were divided into SII/ALB-low (SII/ALB≤2.992) and SII/ALB-high (SII/ALB >2.992) groups. SII/ALB-high was found in patients with tumor size ≥3 (cm), white blood cell ≥3.5 (109/L), platelet ≥100 (109/L), neutrophils ≥1.8 (109/L), PT ≥ 14(s), SII ≥100, NLR ≥1.50 and PLR ≥60, (P < 0.05). The Kaplan–Meier curves showed that elevated SII/ALB were associated with decreased OS. OS rate of SII/ALB-low and SII/ALB-high groups at 1 and 2 years were 96.6% vs. 70.3% and 87.8% vs. 48.5%, respectively (C2 = 9.804, P = 0.002). The BCLC stage, tumor number, tumor size, vascular invasion, AST, SII/ALB, SII, NLR and PNI were all significant prognostic indicators of OS. The SII/ALB (HR: 17.98; 95%CI: 1.82–177.32) and tumor size (HR: 3.26; 95%CI: 1.27–8.35) were all independent prognostic factors for OS, (p < 0.05). Conclusion: we found that SII/ALB could be an important prognostic parameter for HBV-related HCC patients after TACE treatment.