Backgrounds/Aims Systemic therapy is the current standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with extrahepatic metastasis (EHM). However, some patients with HCC and EHM undergo transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to manage intrahepatic tumors. Herein, we aimed to explore the appropriateness of TACE in patients with HCC and EHM in an era of advanced systemic therapy.
Methods This study analyzed 248 consecutive patients with HCC and EHM (median age, 58.5 years; male, 83.5%; Child-Pugh A, 88.7%) who received TACE or systemic therapy (83 sorafenib, 49 lenvatinib, 28 immunotherapy-based) between January 2018 and January 2021.
Results Among the patients, 196 deaths were recorded during a median follow-up of 8.9 months. Patients who received systemic therapy had a higher albumin-bilirubin grade, elevated tumor markers, an increased number of intrahepatic tumors, larger-sized tumors, and more frequent portal vein invasion than those who underwent TACE. TACE was associated with longer median overall survival (OS) than sorafenib (15.1 vs. 4.7 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.1-22.2 vs. 3.7-7.3; hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; P<0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, TACE was associated with statistically similar survival outcomes to those of lenvatinib (median OS, 8.0 months; 95% CI, 6.5-11.0; HR, 1.21; P=0.411) and immunotherapies (median OS, 14.3 months; 95% CI, 9.5-27.0; HR, 1.01; P=0.973), demonstrating survival benefits equivalent to these treatments.
Conclusions In patients with HCC and EHM, TACE can provide a survival benefit comparable to that of newer systemic therapies. Accordingly, TACE remains a valuable option in this era of new systemic therapies.
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The position of loco-regional therapy in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastases Beom Kyung Kim Journal of Liver Cancer.2024; 24(2): 129. CrossRef
Background/Aim Patients with large (>5 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have limited treatment options, thus necessitating the identification of prognostic factors and the development of predictive tools. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors and to construct a nomogram to predict survival outcomes in patients with large HCC.
Methods A cohort of 438 patients, who were diagnosed with large HCC at a tertiary hospital between 2015 and 2018, was analyzed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify key prognosticators of overall survival (OS), and an independent set of prognostic factors was used to develop a nomogram. The discrimination and calibration abilities of the nomogram were assessed and internal validation was performed using cross-validation and bootstrapping methods.
Results During a median follow-up of 9.3 months, the median OS was 9.9 months, and the 1-year OS rate was 43.9%. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that performance status, modified albumin-bilirubin grade, tumor size, extent of portal vein tumor thrombosis, and initial treatment significantly affected OS. The newly developed nomogram incorporating these variables demonstrated favorable accuracy (Harrell’s concordance index, 0.807).
Conclusions The newly developed nomogram facilitated the estimation of individual survival outcomes in patients with large HCC, providing an acceptable level of accuracy.
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Prognostic Role of Basal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Suitable for Curative Treatment Stefano Mazza, Chiara Frigerio, Daniele Alfieri, Aurelio Mauro, Francesca Torello Viera, Davide Scalvini, Chiara Barteselli, Carmelo Sgarlata, Letizia Veronese, Marco Bardone, Laura Rovedatti, Simona Agazzi, Elena Strada, Lodovica Pozzi, Marcello Maestri, Medicina.2024; 60(5): 692. CrossRef
Prognostic Index for Liver Radiation (PILiR) Laura Callan, Haddis Razeghi, Natalie Grindrod, Stewart Gaede, Eugene Wong, David Tan, Jason Vickress, John Patrick, Michael Lock Current Oncology.2024; 31(10): 5862. CrossRef
Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium-90 microspheres has become widely utilized in managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The utility of TARE is expanding with new insights through experiences from real-world practice and clinical trials, and recently published data suggest that TARE in combination with sorafenib may improve the overall survival in selected patients. Here, we report a case of advanced stage HCC that was successfully treated with TARE and sorafenib. The patient achieved complete response (CR) at 12 months after the initial treatment with TARE and sorafenib, followed by additional transarterial chemoembolization and proton beam therapy for local tumor recurrence at 19-month post-TARE. The patient was followed up every 3 months thereafter and still achieved CR both biochemically and radiologically for the following 12 months. A combination strategy of TARE and systemic therapy may be a useful alternative treatment option for selected patients with advanced stage HCC.