Treatment options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been rapidly evolving. Herein, we describe a patient with advanced HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) who responded decisively to a multidisciplinary approach. The patient had an ill-defined infiltrative HCC (diffuse subtype), with several intrahepatic metastasis and tumor invasion of left portal vein. Concurrent use of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and systemic therapeutics (atezolizumab + bevacizumab) ultimately proved successful. There was marked reduction in tumor volume after TARE and an additional three cycles of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. This concurrent treatment was well tolerated, without adverse events during immunotherapy. The impressive results achieved suggest that concurrent TARE and combination atezolizumab/bevacizumab is a promising treatment approach for advanced HCC with PVTT.
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Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium 90 (90Y) has been used in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for more than 10 years in Korea. There are two types of 90Y radioactive microspheres available, namely, glass and resin microspheres, with comparable clinical outcomes. In general, TARE outperforms transarterial chemoembolization regarding post-embolization syndrome, time to progression, tumor downsizing for liver transplantation, and hospitalization stay. Although TARE is commonly recommended for patients with unresectable large HCCs, it can be an alternative to or performed in combination with ablation, surgical resection, and systemic treatment. This review aimed to address 90Y radioactive microspheres, patient selection, clinical outcomes, simulation tests, radioembolization procedures, follow-up imaging, and complications.
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Optimal treatment strategies for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is yet to be determined. Herein, we present a case of advanced HCC with tumor invasion into the right anterior portal vein and right hepatic vein where complete response (CR) was achieved via a multidisciplinary approach. This patient had a 10.5 cm-sized HCC invading segment VI, without extrahepatic spread. Liver function was classified as Child-Pugh class A, and the performance status was good. Transarterial radio-embolization (TARE) was performed 6 weeks after the completion of liver-directed concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and CR was confirmed 3 months post-TARE. Adoptive cell therapies were performed as adjuvant therapy and CR was maintained for over 15 months, until the local recurrence of a 2 cm-sized HCC was found. Therefore, in selected cases with preserved liver function, combination therapies, including LRTs and systemic therapy, can be a useful therapeutic option for advanced HCC.
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.
Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma according to
the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system. However, because of its unsatisfactory
efficacy, adverse effects, and high cost, the use of sorafenib is limited, and other treatment
modalities are required. Recent studies reported that treatment modalities other than
sorafenib, such as hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and transarterial radioembolization,
showed comparable or better response rates and survival rates than sorafenib. In this review,
treatment modalities that could be used as alternatives to sorafenib will be discussed. (J Liver
Cancer 2016;16:1-6)
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Yttrium-90 radioembolization has emerged as a novel therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) of intermediate or advanced stage. Yttrium-90 has characteristics of short half-life and
tissue penetration depth. Potent anti-cancer effect by this isotope enables to kill the tumor
for 6 months after administration. Although transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the
standard modality for multinodular HCC without vascular invasion, big size or numerous nodules
does not allow enough treatment effect of TACE. Post-embolization syndrome resulting
poor quality of life, liver dysfunction and hepatic arterial damage are other pitfalls of TACE.
In several studies, radioembolization showed survival comparable to TACE, shorter hospital
stay and less treatment sessions. In advanced HCC with portal vein invasion, radioembolization
demonstrated similar or better survival compared with sorafenib. The atrophy of lobe
treated by radioembolization and hypertrophy in the contralateral lobe can be called radiation
lobectomy, which makes it possible to perform a following curative therapy. The role of
radioembolization in unresectable HCC in terms of downstaging or bridge to transplantation
needs to be further studied. Radioembolization is contraindicated in HCC patients with main
portal vein occlusion and with poor liver function. The International guidelines for HCC have
some limitations and thus rooms for radioembolization to be incorporated.
Radioembolization is an emerging treatment modality in patients with hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) and is a form of brachytherapy in which intra-arterially injected Ytrrium-90
microspheres are used for internal radiation purpose. Ytrrium-90 is a high energy beta
particle-emitting radioisotope. Ytrrium-90 microspheres administered via arterial route direct
the highly concentrated radiation to the tumor while normal liver parenchyma is relatively
spared due to its preferential blood supply from portal venous blood. Main complications
do not result from the microembolic effect, even in patients with portal vein thrombosis,
but rather from an excessive irradiation to the non-target tissues including the liver. All
the evidence that support the use of radioembolization in HCC is based on retrospective
series or non-controlled prospective studies. However, reliable data can be obtained from
the literature, particularly since the recent publication of large series. When compared to
the standard of treatment for the intermediate and advanced stages (TACE and sorafenib),
radioembolization consistently provides similar survival rates. Many randomized controlled
trials using radioembolization are underway and will provide optimal evidences as standard
treatment for unresectable HCC.
Early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on BCLC staging system can be curatively treated by liver transplantation,
surgical resection or percutaneous ablation. However, transarterial approaches, including transarterial chemoembolization
(TACE) or transarterial radioembolization (TARE), are standard of care for intermediate stage HCC and can be an alternative
treatment in the patients with early stage HCC which are unresectable, unsuitable for percutaneous ablation, or not eligible for
liver transplantation. Many previous TACE studies in early stage HCC revealed that the overall survival rate was competitive
with those of curative therapies considering their operation risks, but recurrence-free survival rate was significantly lower than
curative therapies. Moreover, the histopathologic reports about TACE in early stage HCC demonstrated that only 38% of the
HCC nodules were completely necrotic after TACE and only 81% of the nodules with complete response by EASL criteria
showed complete necrosis. Although there is no long-term survival data about TARE in early stage HCC, a histopathologic report
about TARE showed that 73% of the HCC nodules were completely necrotic after TARE and 100% of the nodules with complete
response by EASL criteria showed complete necrosis. In conclusion, TACE is now limited to be categorized into a curative
therapy in early stage HCC, according to the previous data about TACE. However, new recent technologies including C-arm CT,
superselective embolization technique, drug-eluting bead (DEB) may sufficiently improve the survival data of TACE to prove its
curative role. Considering its RFA-comparable histopathologic tumor response, TARE may prove to be a potential curative
therapeutic for early stage HCC.
Bilobar multifocal hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) can be treated with transarterial radioembolization in a sequential lobar, or whole liver manner. However, radioembolization could result in a risk of radiation-induced liver toxicity in patients with reduced functional reserve. Here we describe a case with bilobar HCCs successfully treated with a combination therapy using radioembolization and transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads without significant side effects. A 72-year-old female with liver cirrhosis was diagnosed of hepatocellular carcinoma with bilobar involvement. The main mass in the left lobe was treated with radioembolization while the other lesion in the right lobe was treated with transarterial chemoembolization using drug-eluting beads, and the patient was tolerable. A combination of radioembolization and selective transarterial chemoem- bolization may be considered for an alternative option in patients with bilobar multifocal HCCs with decreased liver function.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in childhood is rare but is the second most common malignant liver neoplasm after
hepatoblastoma in children. Surgical resectability is the foundation of curative therapy but only one third of newly diagnosed
HCCs are resectable, and unresectable HCC remains largely unresponsive to systemic chemotherapy. In all reported series of
HCC in children, therapeutic results are poor with overall survival less than 30%. Systemic chemotherapy is only partially
effective but if preoperative downstaging can be achieved, it would result in a higher survival rate. There are scarce data
regarding local ablative treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and therefore survival benefits are still
unclear. TACE may be considered as a therapeutic alternative in cases of unresectable tumors after systemic chemotherapy or in
unresectable, non-metastatic HCCs. The use of orthotopic liver transplantation in childhood HCC remains controversial.
Radioembolization is a mode of treatment that aims to selectively target radiation to all liver tumors using yttrium-90
microspheres while limiting the dose to normal liver parenchyma. It may be considered as another treatment option in childhood
HCC with the purpose of preoperative downstaging but further studies are required to determine the treatment benefits and safety
of radioembolization treatment.
Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) using Yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres is emerging as a mainstream treatment
modality in the management of patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer. Yttrium-90 is a high energy beta particle
emitting radioisotope. The intellectual basis of Y-90 microsphere treatment is the preferential distribution of microspheres,
when injected in the hepatic artery, yielding much higher concentrations in the tumor compartment than the normal liver
parenchyma. The technique involves the administration of Y-90 microspheres into the hepatic artery accessed via transfemoral
route, showing almost similar procedure with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The Y-90 microspheres are entrapped
within the microvasculature, and release beta radiation. The high tumor to liver concentration ratio results in an effective
tumoricidal radiation absorbed dose whilst limiting the radiation injury to the normal liver. With such a therapeutic
mechanism of this method, Y-90 microspheres have been used as a treatment modality both for primary HCC and for
pre-transplant management of HCC with promising results. But preliminary evidence also suggests that the TACE and TARE
provided similar effectiveness and toxicity in patients with unresectable HCC. In conclusion, we think that prospective,
randomized controlled trials using current therapies are needed to better define optimal management of unresectable HCC.