Journal of Liver Cancer

Review Article

Intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: refining substaging or shifting paradigm?: Bernardo Stefanini, Luca Ielasi, Dante Pio Pallotta, Sofia Penazza, Mariarosaria Marseglia, Fabio Piscaglia; J Liver Cancer. 2024;24(1):23-32. Published online March 12, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2024.02.21

11,915 Views
403 Downloads
4 Citations

This review explores the evolution of cancer staging, focusing on intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the challenges faced by physicians. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, introduced in 1999, was designed to address the limitations associated with providing accurate prognostic information for HCC and allocating specific treatments, to avoid overtreatment. However, criticism has emerged, particularly regarding the intermediate stage of HCC (BCLC-B) and its heterogeneous patient population. To overcome this limitation, various subclassification systems, such as the Bolondi and Kinki criteria, have been proposed. These systems are aimed at refining categorizations within the intermediate stage and have demonstrated varying degrees of success in predicting outcomes through external validation. This study discusses the shift in treatment paradigms, emphasizing the need for a more personalized approach rather than strictly adhering to cancer stages, without dismissing the relevance of staging systems. It assesses the available treatment options for intermediate-stage HCC, highlighting the importance of considering surgical and nonsurgical options alongside transarterial chemoembolization for optimal outcomes. In conclusion, the text advocates for a paradigm shift in staging systems prioritizing treatment suitability over cancer stage. This reflects the evolving landscape of HCC management, where a multidisciplinary approach is crucial for tailoring treatments to individual patients, ultimately aiming to improve overall survival.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Usefulness of preoperative peripheral blood GPC3‐positive circulating tumor cells in subclassification of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study
Yosuke Namba, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Yoshito Hirata, Takeshi Tadokoro, Sotaro Fukuhara, Ko Oshita, Naruhiko Honmyo, Ryosuke Nakano, Hiroshi Sakai, Seiichi Shimizu, Shintaro Kuroda, Hiroyuki Tahara, Masahiro Ohira, Kentaro Ide, Yuka Tanaka, Hideki Ohdan
Hepatology Research.2025; 55(8): 1172. CrossRef
Potential anticancer therapeutic targets of resveratrol and its role in the therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
Wasnaa H. Mohammed, Ghassan M. Sulaiman, Hamdoon A. Mohammed
Food Bioscience.2025; 69: 106935. CrossRef
Role of immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations in resectable and unresectable, embolization-eligible hepatocellular carcinoma
Brandon M. Meyers, Howard J. Lim, Mayur Brahmania, Dave M. Liu, Vincent C. Tam, Deanna McLeod, Ravi Ramjeesingh, Jennifer J. Knox, Arndt Vogel
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The Neoangiogenic Transcriptomic Signature Impacts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis and Can Be Triggered by Transarterial Chemoembolization Treatment
Rosina Maria Critelli, Federico Casari, Alberto Borghi, Grazia Serino, Cristian Caporali, Paolo Magistri, Annarita Pecchi, Endrit Shahini, Fabiola Milosa, Lorenza Di Marco, Alessandra Pivetti, Simone Lasagni, Filippo Schepis, Nicola De Maria, Francesco Di
Cancers.2024; 16(20): 3549. CrossRef

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search