Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Díaz-González ◽  
María Reig ◽  
Jordi Bruix

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the most frequent primary liver cancer. This disease usually arises as a result of a chronic liver disease, but may appear without any underlying disease. In most units, the staging and treatment decision in patients with HCC follows the Barcelona Clínic Liver Cancer (BCLC) strategy. Following this approach, patients diagnosed with HCC are classified according to tumour burden, liver function and ECOG-Performance Status (PS). This stratifies patients according to prognosis and links each stage with the evidence-based treatment approach to be first considered. Patients correspond to BCLC stage 0 (very early) when the tumour burden accounts for just one nodule and it measures 2 cm or less. BCLC stage A includes patients with just one nodule or 3 nodules under 3 cm. Both stages 0 and A gather patients with preserved liver function according to Child-Pugh score, being Child-Pugh A. Patients in BCLC B stage (intermediate stage) are patients with multinodular liver cancer confined to the liver, without extrahepatic disease, ECOG-PS 0 and preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A or B). Patients with portal venous invasion, extrahepatic disease or cancer-related symptoms measured by PS (1-2) and still with preserved liver function correspond to BCLC C (advanced) stage. Finally, patients classified in BCLC stage D are those with a severe alteration of liver function (Child-Pugh C) or severe cancer-related symptoms with PS above 2. In very early and early stages (BCLC 0 and A), treatment options include surgical treatment, ablation and liver transplantation. Intermediate stage (BCLC B) patients should be considered for transarterial chemoembolization. At advanced stage (BCLC C), the recommended treatment is sorafenib. Finally, at the end stage (BCLC D), symptomatic treatment is the suggested option. The treatment stage migration concept refers to patients who at first glance would be treated with the option that corresponds to their BCLC stage but, because of any coexisting comorbidity, technical issue or even treatment failure/progression but still within the original stage cannot be treated by the initial suggested treatment. These patients then move to the treatment that would correspond to the next stage/s.

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Elbassiouny ◽  
M Y Mustafa ◽  
M E Saleh ◽  
N G A Gebril

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer. Globally, liver cancer is the 5th and 7th most common cancer in men and women, respectively. Most of HCC burden lies in developing countries. The regions of high incidence include Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, Middle and Western Africa. Worldwide, it is the third most common cause of cancer deaths Aim of the Work A retrospective study of Hepatocellular carcinoma patients presented to Ain Shams University Hospital clinical oncology department between the period of 1/2013 till the end of 12/2016 aiming to review of epidemiological and clinical risk factors, response to the therapy used, progression free survival and overall survival. Patients and Methods The current study is a retrospective analysis carried out in Ain-Shams clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine department, Faculty of medicine, Ain Shams University between the period of 1st January 2013 till the end of 2016, where 136 medical records were planned to be analyzed, from which 18 records were not included in analysis (8 records weren’t available in the archive, 10 contained inadequate data) and 118 were analyzed aiming at detection of the prognostic factors, response, progression free survival and overall survival of patients with HCC. Results Regarding age, the median age at diagnosis was 58 years (SD = 8.29), where the average median age was 57.5 years. In our study most of patients were presented with good PS, where 100 (84.7%) of them had performance status less than or equals 2 and only 18 patients (11.8%) were more than or equals 3 performance status < 2 in 84 % of all cases and >2 in 16 %. Conclusion To conclude, age as a prognostic factor significantly affects survival in favor of patients < =58 years. RFA affects survival. Performance status significantly affects survival. The quality of data reported was to some extent impaired due unavailability of complete clinical, analytical and radiological information in the charts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Takeshi Hatanaka ◽  
Atsushi Naganuma ◽  
Satoru Kakizaki

Lenvatinib, which is an oral multikinase inhibitor, showed non-inferiority to the sorafenib in terms of overall survival (OS) and a higher objective response rate (ORR) and better progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A good liver function and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate stage were the key factors in achieving therapeutic efficacy. The management of adverse events plays an important role in continuing lenvatinib treatment. While sequential therapies contributed to prolonging overall survival, effective molecular targeted agents for the administration after lenvatinib have not been established. Repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was associated with a decline in the liver function and poor therapeutic response in BCLC intermediate patients. Recently, the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE) Consensus Statement proposed the criteria for TACE unsuitability. Upfront systemic therapy may be better for the BCLC intermediate stage HCC patients with a high tumor burden, while selective TACE will be recommended for obtaining a curative response in patients with a low tumor burden. This article reviews the therapeutic response, management of adverse events, post-progression treatment after Lenvatinib, and treatment strategy for BCLC intermediate stage HCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (Sup10) ◽  
pp. S18-S26
Author(s):  
Sofi Dhanaraj ◽  
Tahir Shah ◽  
Joanne O'Rourke ◽  
Shishir Shetty

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, with increasing prevalence and mortality worldwide. The greatest risk factor for HCC is liver cirrhosis; however, these patients are often asymptomatic, making them difficult to identify for surveillance. Diagnosis is made with contrast-enhanced imaging and/or liver biopsy. HCC is assessed with the validated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system, which encompasses tumour size, liver function and patient performance status. HCC without extrahepatic manifestations or vascular invasion may be cured with surgical intervention, involving either partial resection or full resection and liver transplantation. Locoregional therapies include tumour ablation, used for minimally invasive cure of early disease, and transarterial chemo-embolisation (TACE), used for control of intermediate disease. Both ablation and TACE are also used for downstaging as a bridge to transplantation. More advanced HCC can be controlled with drug-based systemic therapies involving either an oral kinase inhibitor (e.g. sorafenib, lenvatinib or regorafenib) or intravenous immunotherapy with one or more monoclonal antibodies (e.g. atezolizumab and bevacizumab). Best outcomes in HCC management require a multidisciplinary approach, including nutritional support and palliative care. The clinical nurse specialist plays an integral role by co-ordinating the treatment care pathway and responding to patient needs.


Liver Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatoshi Kudo ◽  
Kwang-Hyub Han ◽  
Sheng-Long Ye ◽  
Jian Zhou ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Huang ◽  
...  

The Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert (APPLE) Consensus Statement on the treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was established on August 31, 2019, in Sapporo, Hokkaido during the 10th Annual APPLE Meeting. This manuscript summarizes the international consensus statements developed at APPLE 2019. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the only guideline-recommended global standard of care for intermediate-stage HCC. However, not all patients benefit from TACE because intermediate-stage HCC is a heterogeneous disease in terms of tumor burden and liver function. Ten important clinical questions regarding this stage of HCC were raised, and consensus statements were generated based on high-quality evidence. In intermediate-stage HCC, preservation of liver function is as important as achieving a high objective response (OR) because the treatment goal is to prolong overall survival. Superselective conventional TACE (cTACE) is recommended as the first choice of treatment in patients eligible for effective (curative) TACE, whereas in patients who are not eligible, systemic therapy is recommended as the first choice of treatment. TACE is not indicated as the first-line therapy in TACE-unsuitable patients. Another important statement is that TACE should not be continued in patients who develop TACE failure/refractoriness in order to preserve liver function. Targeted therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for TACE-unsuitable patients. Especially, the drug, which can have higher OR rate, is preferred. Immunotherapy, transarterial radioembolization, TACE + targeted therapy or other modalities may be considered alternative options in TACE-unsuitable patients who are not candidates for targeted therapy. Better liver function, such as albumin-bilirubin grade 1, is an important factor for maximizing the therapeutic effect of systemic therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiga Komiyama ◽  
Takahiro Yamada ◽  
Nobuyuki Takemura ◽  
Norihiro Kokudo ◽  
Koji Hase ◽  
...  

AbstractLiver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer that results from chronic hepatitis caused by multiple predisposing factors such as viral infection, alcohol consumption, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Accumulating studies have indicated that dysfunction of the gut epithelial barrier and hepatic translocation of gut microbes may be implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC. However, the translocated bacteria in HCC patients remains unclear. Here, we characterised tumour-associated microbiota in patients with liver cancer and focused on HCC. We observed that the number of amplicon sequence variants in tumour-associated microbiota was significantly higher compared with that in non-tumour regions of the liver. The tumour-associated microbiota consisted of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria as the dominant phyla. We identified an unclassified genus that belonged to the Bacteroides, Romboutsia, uncultured bacterium of Lachnospiraceae as a signature taxon for primary liver cancer. Additionally, we identified Ruminococcus gnavus as a signature taxon for HCC patients infected with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C viruses. This study suggests that tumour microbiota may contribute to the pathology of HCC.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Elena S. George ◽  
Surbhi Sood ◽  
Anna Broughton ◽  
Georgia Cogan ◽  
Megan Hickey ◽  
...  

Globally, liver cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the most common type of primary liver cancer. Emerging evidence states that diet is recognised as a potential lifestyle-related risk factor for the development of HCC. The aim of this systematic review is to determine whether there is an association between diet and the development of HCC. Using the PRISMA guidelines, three databases (MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL and Embase) were systematically searched, and studies published until July 2020 were included. Thirty observational studies were selected. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019135240). Higher adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, the Urban Prudent Dietary Pattern, the Traditional Cantonese Dietary Pattern, intake of vegetables, wholegrains, fish, poultry, coffee, macronutrients such as monounsaturated fats and micronutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin B9, β-carotene, manganese and potassium were associated with a reduced risk of HCC. The results suggest a potential role of diet in the development of HCC. Further quantitative research needs to be undertaken within a range of populations to investigate diet and the relationship with HCC risk.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3740
Author(s):  
Chunye Zhang ◽  
Ming Yang

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, followed by cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). HCC is the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide, and its incidence is rising, associated with an increased prevalence of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, current treatment options are limited. Genetic factors and epigenetic factors, influenced by age and environment, significantly impact the initiation and progression of NAFLD-related HCC. In addition, both transcriptional factors and post-transcriptional modification are critically important for the development of HCC in the fatty liver under inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. The early diagnosis of liver cancer predicts curative treatment and longer survival. However, clinical HCC cases are commonly found in a very late stage due to the asymptomatic nature of the early stage of NAFLD-related HCC. The development of diagnostic methods and novel biomarkers, as well as the combined evaluation algorithm and artificial intelligence, support the early and precise diagnosis of NAFLD-related HCC, and timely monitoring during its progression. Treatment options for HCC and NAFLD-related HCC include immunotherapy, CAR T cell therapy, peptide treatment, bariatric surgery, anti-fibrotic treatment, and so on. Overall, the incidence of NAFLD-related HCC is increasing, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanism implicated in the progression of NAFLD-related HCC is essential for improving treatment and prognosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A479-A480
Author(s):  
Zhendong Chen ◽  
Nianfei Wang ◽  
Dayong Luo ◽  
Bo Jiang ◽  
Mu Yuan ◽  
...  

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the landscape of PLC management at all evolutionary stages.1 As an anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody, camrelizumab monotherapy and in combination with apatinib, an anti-angiogenetic tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, chemotherapy or locoregional therapy, have demonstrated their efficacy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).2 3 4 5MethodsThis prospective, open-label, multi-center, observational RWS was conducted to evaluate efficacy and safety of camrelizumab in treatment of PLC in clinical practice. Eligible patients were histopathologically or cytologically identified HCC or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, who were going to receive camrelizumab treatment, with age ≥18 ages, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score of 0–2 and Child-Pugh score ≤ 9. Patients were treated at clinician discretion. Three hundred patients were planned to enroll, including advanced or peri-operative PLC. The primary endpoint was progress-free survival for advanced PLC, whose efficacy was available to analysis. Efficacy was assessed per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.ResultsFrom March 29, 2020 to June 10, 2021,a total of 147 eligible patients of advanced PLC were enrolled and included in this interim analysis, with 128 (87.1%) men, 130 (94.9%) ECOG PS of 0–1, 139 (94.6%) HCC, 74 (50.4%) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, 98 (66.7%) Child-Pugh B, and 72 (49.0%) with extrahepatic metastases, shown in table 1. Of the 147 patients, 45 (30.1%) patients were treated with camrelizumab monotherapy, 79 (53.8%) patients with combination with angiogenesis inhibitors, of which 55 (37.4%) in combination with apatinib, 21 (14.3%) patients with camrelizumab and chemotherapy. Patients, who had at least one efficacy assessment, were included in the efficacy analyses. Up to July 19, 2021, with a median follow time of 6.2 months, 132 patients were available for efficacy analyses. Patient disposition was shown in figure 1. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 10%/30.8%/35.3% and 75.0%/86.5%/70.6% in camrelizumab monotherapy/combined with apatinib/combined with chemotherapy, respectively. (table 2) The most common camrelizumab-treatment related adverse events (AEs) included reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP) (12, 8.2%), ICI-induced pneumonia (2, 1.4%), enterocolitis (2, 1.4%), and nephritis (1, 0.7%), of which all these AEs recovered. Other AEs included increase of transaminase (5, 3.4%) and hypertension (4, 2.7%). All AEs were 1–2 grade and no treatment-related death occurred.Abstract 452 Table 1Baseline characteristicsAbstract 452 Figure 1Patient dispositionAbstract 452 Table 2Confirmed tumor response assessed by investigators per RECIST v1.1ConclusionsCamrelizumab, combined with anti-angiogenetic agents or chemotherapy, or monotherapy, demonstrated good efficacy and safety in treatment of PLC.Trial RegistrationChiCTR2000034264ReferencesLlovet JM, Kelley RK, Villanueva A, et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2021;7(1):6–28.Qin S, Ren Z, Meng Z, et al. Camrelizumab in patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol 2020;21(4):571–580.Xu J, Shen J, Gu S, et al. Camrelizumab in Combination with Apatinib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (RESCUE): A Nonrandomized, Open-label, Phase II Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(4):1003–1011.Mei K, Qin S, Chen Z, et al. Camrelizumab in combination with apatinib in second-line or above therapy for advanced primary liver cancer: cohort A report in a multicenter phase Ib/II trial. J Immunother Cancer 2021;9(3).Qin S, Bai Y, Lim HY, et al. Randomized, multicenter, open-label study of oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin versus doxorubicin as palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma from Asia. J Clin Oncol 2013;31(28):3501–3508.Ethics ApprovalThis study was approved by China registered clinical trial ethics review committee with No.ChiECRCT20200042.


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