Journal of Liver Cancer

Special Contribution

Expert survey on systemic therapy indications for hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea: bridging clinical practice and reimbursement criteria: Hyun Yang, Soon Sun Kim, Seong Hee Kang, Jieun Kwon, Do Young Kim, Eunju Kim, Hyun Phil Shin, Jeong Il Yu, Jeong-Ju Yoo, Eileen L. Yoon, Sangheun Lee, Young Eun Chon, Janghan Jung, Jaekyung Cheon, Woosun Choi, Seul Ki Han, Ji Eun Han, Moon Haeng Hur, Hyun Woong Lee, Hyung Joon Kim; J Liver Cancer. 2025;25(2):160-168. Published online July 7, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.2025.07.02

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Abstract PDF: This survey aimed to collect expert opinions from multidisciplinary specialists involved in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea regarding real-world criteria for systemic therapy indications. In response to discrepancies between national reimbursement policies and clinical decision-making, members of the Korean Liver Cancer Association and Korean Association for the Study of the Liver participated in a web-based survey from February 4 to 14, 2025. A total of 89 respondents, primarily experienced clinicians, provided their views on major clinical scenarios including infiltrative HCC, bilobar multifocal disease, huge tumors, vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastasis, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) refractoriness. There was high agreement for including infiltrative HCC (69.7%), suspected portal vein invasion (70.8%), and TACE refractoriness (82.0%) as systemic therapy indications. TACE refractoriness, in particular, aligns with current guideline definitions. Additionally, over half of respondents (51.7%) supported extrahepatic metastasis under similar conditions. Notably, multidisciplinary discussion was emphasized across scenarios, but many respondents also favored allowing primary physician discretion in select cases. This report provides consolidated expert input to inform future updates to reimbursement policies and promote alignment with real-world clinical practice. These findings may help bridge the gap between national coverage criteria and clinical decision in systemic therapy for HCC.

Case Reports

A Case of Achieving Partial Remission with Combination of Radiation Therapy and Sorafenib inChild-Pugh Class B Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Main Portal Vein Invasion and Lymph Node Metastasis: Sang Youn Hwang, Seon-Mi Lee, Jung Woo Im, Joon Suk Kim, Sang Bu Ahn, Eun Kyeong Ji, Hyun-Cheol Kang, Cheol-Won Choi, Gwang-Mo Yang; J Liver Cancer. 2014;14(2):120-126. Published online September 30, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.14.2.120

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Abstract PDF: Reserved liver function is one of the most important determinants of survivial in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Especially in cirrhotic patient with decompensated liver function, sorafenib for HCC with main portal vein invasion have limited efficacy and survival benefit. Therefore many clinicians or centers still try locoregional therapy (LRT) such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiation therapy (RT), or combination with LRT and sorafenib in this situation. However this multidisciplinary approach may increase treatment related toxicity such as liver failure, etc. Recently, studies for combination of RT and sorafenib for HCC with portal vein invasion have been tried and reported not only better therapeutic efficacy, but also more hepatic toxicity.Based on above suggestions, we herein offer our experience of a patient that although achieved survival gain via partial remission of intrahepatic tumor and main portal vein thrombosis and metastatic lymph node by combination therapy of RT and sorafenib, finally expired due to hepatictoxicity. Further study, maybe regarding a combination of locoregional and systemic therapy, is necessary on how to manage decompenstated cirrhotic patients with HCC with main portal vein invasion. (J Liver Cancer 2014;14:120-126)

A Case of Perforation of Gastric Ulcer after Complete Remission of Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma Invading Main Portal Vein with Combination Therapy of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Sorafenib: Sang Youn Hwang, Seon-Mi Lee, Jung Woo Im, Joon Suk Kim, Sang Bu Ahn, Eun Kyeong Ji, Chul Won Choi, Gwang-Mo Yang; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2014;14(1):46-52. Published online March 31, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.14.1.46

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Abstract PDF

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein invasion have a poor prognosis associated with a median survival time of 2.7 months. Though many guidelines recommended sorafenib in HCC patients with macrovascular invasion (MVI), many clinicians or centers still select locoregional therapy (LRT) such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiation therapy (RT), or combination with LRT and sorafenib because the survival improvement by sorafenib only is expected to be shorter than that without MVI. However this multidisciplinary approach may increase treatment related toxicity such as liver failure etc. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is new technology providing very highly conformal ablative radiation dose for a small numbers (3-5 fractions) of large fraction size and is expected to new effective modality for HCC with MVI. Based on above suggestions, we herein offer our experience of a patient with perforation of radiation induced gastric ulcer after complete remission of tumor and main portal vein thrombosis by combination therapy of SBRT and sorafenib. Further study, maybe regarding a combination of locoregional and systemic therapy, is necessary on how to manage HCC patients with main portal vein invasion.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Novel management of expected post-radiotherapy complications in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a case report
Sung Hoon Chang, Tae Suk Kim, Yong Hwan Jeon, Nuri Hyun Jung, Dae Hee Choi
Journal of Liver Cancer.2022; 22(2): 183. CrossRef

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Curative Resection after Repeated Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: Jae Hyuk Do, Joon Won Park, Hyung Joon Kim, Hyung Jin Shim, Byung Chul Yoo, Sung Il Park, Sil Moo Park; Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group. 2001;1(1):110-113. Published online June 30, 2001

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Abstract PDF: A 57 year-old-male, who had a 40-year history of chronic alcohol dirnking, was referred to general weakness and jaundice for 1 month. Physical findings revealed that he had jaundice and spider angioma on anterior chest wall. The serum chemistries showed the total bilirubin 9.3 mg/dL and direct bilirubin level 6.1 mg/dL. The serum level of AST/ALT/AP was 130/192/494 IU/L. And the serum level of AFP was 18225.7 ng/ml. abdomen CT scan revealed the huge ill-defined hypodense mass was involving segment 2 and 3. The main portal vein and left portal vein were involved by this mass. Abdominal ultrasonography (US) showed huge echogenic mass in hilar portion of bile duct and tumor thrombosis in main and left portal vein. ERCP showed intraluminal-filling defect in CHD and complete obstruction of left IHD. We had a diagnosis this mass as hepatocellular carcinoma by US guided gun biopsy. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was selected as the treatment due to TNM stage Ⅳa. After three times repeated TACE tumor decreased in size, regression of left portal vein invasion and normalization of jaundice, as a result, curative left lobectomy could be performed.

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