The prognostic significance of a histological response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases

Objective: Preoperative chemotherapy (PC) for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is widely used to improve prognosis, but its clinical benefit has not been fully established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of PC for synchronous CRLM and the correlation between the histological response to PC and survival. Summary of Background Data: We enrolled 69 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for synchronous CRLM between 2004 and 2018 at Gifu University Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological factors and outcomes of 69 patients who underwent hepatectomy after receiving PC (PC group: n = 43) or who underwent upfront hepatectomy (non-PC group: n = 26). In the PC group, the patients were divided into the Grade 1 (n = 27) and Grade 2/3 (n = 16) groups according to their histological responses to PC. Results: The median survival and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 80.9 months and 61.5%, respectively, in the PC group and 71.7 months and 61.5%, respectively, in the non-PC group ( P = 0.867). Regarding recurrence-free survival (RFS) and remnant liver-RFS, there were no significant differences between the two groups ( P = 0.087 and 0.291). However, in a subgroup analysis, the median 5-year OS, RFS, and remnant liver RFS were significantly longer in the Grade 2/3 than Grade 1 group ( P = 0.008, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Some patients benefit from PC, and the histological response to PC had prognostic significance for patients with synchronous CRLM.

The prognostic significance of a histological response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases

Background Preoperative chemotherapy (PC) for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is widely used to improve prognosis, but its clinical benefit has not been fully established. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of PC for synchronous CRLMs, and to analyze the correlation between histological response to PC and survival. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological factors and outcomes of 69 patients who underwent initial hepatectomy for synchronous CRLM between 2004 and 2018 after receiving PC (PC group: n = 43) or who underwent upfront hepatectomy without PC (Non-PC group: n = 26). In the PC group, the patients were divided into two groups, Grade 1 (n = 27) and Grade 2/3 (n = 16) groups according to their histological responses to PC. Results The median survival and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 80.9 months and 61.5%, respectively, in the PC group and 71.7 months and 61.5%, respectively, in the Non-PC group (P = 0.867). Regarding recurrence-free survival (RFS) and remnant liver-RFS, there were no significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.087 and 0.291). However, in a subgroup analysis according to the histological response to PC, the median 5-year OS, RFS, and remnant liver-RFS in the Grade 2/3 group were significantly longer than in the Grade 1 group (OS: 66 vs. 53 months; P = 0.008, RFS: 15 vs. 6.7 months; P = 0.002, remnant liver-RFS: 62 vs. 8.3 months; P < 0.001). Surgical margin positive status (< 1 mm) was associated with a high remnant liver recurrence rate (hazard ratio 2.597, P = 0.008). Conclusion PC should not be routinely administered to all patients with synchronous CRLMs. However, some patients benefit from PC, and the histological response to PC had prognostic significance for patients with synchronous CRLM.

The Predictive Value of Vessels Encapsulating Tumor Clusters in Treatment Optimization for Recurrent Early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: The predictive value of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) in recurrent early-stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of VETC in patients with recurrent early-stage HCC after repeat hepatic resection (RHR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods: From December 2005 to December 2016, 138 patients receiving RHR and 188 patients receiving RFA were recruited. VETC was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for CD34. The survival outcomes of patients with VETC pattern or not were investigated. Results: There was no significant difference between the RHR and RFA groups in disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) as determined by univariate analysis of the whole cohort. In the subgroup analysis of the VETC-positive cohort, the patients in the RHR group showed a longer median DFS time in contrast to those in the RFA group (15.0 vs 5.0 months, P=0.001). Similarly, the patients in the RHR group showed a longer median OS time in contrast to those in the RFA group (39.5 vs 19 months, P=0.001). In the VETC-negative cohort, no significant differences in DFS and OS rates between the RHR and RFA groups were observed (P>0.05).Conclusions: The results of our study suggested that RHR was relatively safe and superior to RFA in improving survival outcomes for recurrent early-stage HCC after initial hepatectomy. Furthermore, the VETC pattern may represent a reliable marker for selecting HCC patients who may benefit from RHR.

Child-Turcotte-Pugh Score as a Predictive Factor for Long-Term Survival After Repeat Hepatectomy for Recurrent Liver Metastases of Colorectal Cancer

Objective We aimed to evaluate the changes in liver function after repeat hepatectomy and their relationship with survival of patient with colorectal cancer. Summary of Background Data Repeat hepatectomy has been accepted as an effective treatment for recurrent liver metastases; however, how repeat hepatectomy changes the liver function during the follow-up period is not well understood. Methods Data regarding patients underwent R0 resections at initial hepatectomy for colorectal cancer with liver metastasis from 2012 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into groups according to the total number of hepatectomies. Overall survival and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score after hepatectomy were analyzed. Results Fifty-three patients underwent single hepatectomy and 37 patients underwent repeat hepatectomy. There was no significant difference in the overall survival rates between the 2 groups. At 27 months after the initial hepatectomy, mean Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores of patients with repeat hepatectomy started to become statistically higher than those of patients with single hepatectomy. Overall survival of patients who survived after 27 months from the initial hepatectomy showed a statistical difference between the 2 groups. The total number of liver metastases ≥ 4 and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score ≥ 6 at 27 months after the initial hepatectomy were significant risk factors for overall survival of patient who survived after 27 months from the initial hepatectomy. Conclusions Liver function after repeat hepatectomy can be deteriorated after a long-term period. Careful approach and continuous assessment of the liver function after hepatectomy are necessary to maintain long-term survival after repeat hepatectomy.

Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index is a strong prognostic indicator for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after initial hepatectomy, especially patients with preserved liver function

Background Several inflammation-based scores are used to assess the surgical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy with special attention to preoperative liver functional reserve. Methods Preoperative demographic and tumor-related factors were analyzed in 189 patients with HCC undergoing initial hepatectomy from August 2005 to May 2016 to identify significant prognostic factors. Results Multivariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that female sex (p = 0.005), tumor size (p < 0.001) and PNI (p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors. Compared to the High PNI group (PNI ≥ 37, n = 172), the Low PNI group (PNI < 37, n = 17) had impaired liver function and significantly poorer OS (13% vs. 67% in 5-year OS, p = 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (8 vs. 25 months in median PFS time, p = 0.002). In the subgroup of patients with a preserved liver function of LHL15 ≥ 0.9, PNI was also independent prognostic factor, and OS (21% vs. 70% in 5-year OS, p = 0.008) and RFS (8 vs. 28 months in median PFS time, p = 0.018) were significantly poorer in the Low PNI group than the High PNI group. Conclusions PNI was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy. Patients with PNI lower than 37 were at high risk for early recurrence and poor patient survival, especially in the patients with preserved liver function of LHL ≥ 0.9.

Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index is a strong prognostic indicator for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after initial hepatectomy, especially patients with preserved liver function

Background Several inflammation-based scores are used to assess the surgical outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy with special attention to preoperative liver functional reserve.Methods Preoperative demographic and tumor-related factors were analyzed in 189 patients with HCC undergoing initial hepatectomy from August 2005 to May 2016 to identify significant prognostic factors.Results Multivariate analysis for overall survival (OS) revealed that female sex (p=0.005), tumor size (p<0.001) and PNI (p=0.001) were independent prognostic factors. Compared to the High PNI group (PNI ≥37, n=172), the Low PNI group (PNI <37, n=17) had impaired liver function and significantly poorer OS (13% vs. 67% in 5-year OS, p=0.001) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (8 vs. 25 months in median PFS time, p=0.002). In the subgroup of patients with a preserved liver function of LHL15 ≥0.9, PNI was also independent prognostic factor, and OS (21% vs. 70% in 5-year OS, p=0.008) and RFS (8 vs. 28 months in median PFS time, p=0.018) were significantly poorer in the Low PNI group than the High PNI group.Conclusions PNI was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy. Patients with PNI lower than 37 were at high risk for early recurrence and poor patient survival, especially in the patients with preserved liver function of LHL ≥0.9.