Role of immunosuppression and tumor differentiation in predicting recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter study of 412 patients

AIM: To assess pre-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) factors that could be evaluated pre-operatively or con- trolled post-operatively associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and disease-free survival after liver transplantation (LT).METHODS: Four hundred and twelve patients trans- planted for HCC between 1988 and 1998 in 14 French centers, who survived the postoperative period were studied. Kaplan Meier estimates were calculated for 24 variables potentially associated with recurrence of HCC. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted to iden- tify independent predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: Overall 5-year disease-free survival was 57.1%. By univariate analysis, variables associated with disease-free survival were: presence of cirrhosis (P = 0.001), etiology of liver disease (P = 0.03), α fetoprotein level (< 200, 200 to 2000, or > 2000; P < 0.0001), γ-GT activity (N, N to 2N or > 2N; P = 0.02), the number of nodules (1, 2-3 or ≥ 4; P = 0.02), maximal diameter of the largest nodule (< 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm or > 5 cm; P < 0.0001), the sum of the diameter of the nodules (< 3 cm, 3 to 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm or >10 cm; P < 0.0001), bi- lobar location (P = 0.01), preoperative portal thrombosis (P < 0.0001), peri-operative treatment of the tumor (P = 0.002) and chemoembolization (P = 0.03), tumor differentiation (P = 0.01), initial type of calcineurin inhibitor (P = 0.003), the use of antilymphocyte antibodies (P = 0.02), rejection episodes (P = 0.003) and period of LT (P < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, 6 variables were independently associated with HCC recurrence: maximal diameter of the largest nodule (P < 0.0001), time of LT (P < 0.0001), tumor differentiation (P < 0.0001), use of anti-lymphocyte antibody (ATG) or anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) (P = 0.005), preoperative portal thrombosis (P = 0.06) and the number of nodules (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: This study identif ies immunosuppression, through the use of ATG or OKT3, as a predictive factor of tumor recurrence, and confi rms the prognostic value of tumor differentiation.

Idarubicin vs doxorubicin in transarterial chemoembolization of intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the second cause of cancerrelated deaths worldwide.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the best treatment of intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Doxorubicin is the most commonly used drug despite a low level of evidence.AIM To compare the objective response rate of idarubicin-based TACE(Ida-TACE)against doxorubicin-based TACE(Dox-TACE)in intermediate stage HCC.METHODS Between January 2012 and December 2014,all patients treated with TACE at our academic hospital were screened.Inclusion criteria were patients with Child-Pugh score A or B,a performance status below or equal to 1,and no prior TACE.Either lipiodol TACE or drug-eluting beads TACE could be performed with 10 mg of idarubicin or 50 mg of doxorubicin.Each patient treated with idarubicin was matched with two doxorubicin-treated patients.The TACE response was assessed by independent radiologists according to the mRECIST criteria.RESULTS Sixty patients were treated with doxorubicin and thirty with idarubicin.There were 93%and 87%of cirrhotic patients and 87%and 70%of Child-Pugh A in the doxorubicin and idarubicin groups,respectively.The median number of HCC per patient was two in both groups with 31%and 26%of single nodules in doxorubicin and idarubicin groups,respectively.Objective response rate after first TACE was 76.7%and 73.3%(P=0.797)with 41.7%and 40.0%complete response in doxorubicin and idarubicin groups,respectively.Progression-free survival was 7.7 mo in both groups,and liver transplant-free survival was 24.9 mo and 21.9 mo in doxorubicin and idarubicin groups,respectively.Safety profiles were similar in both groups,with grade 3-4 adverse events in 35%of Dox-TACE and 43%of Ida-TACEs.CONCLUSION Ida-TACE and Dox-TACE showed comparable results in terms of efficacy and safety.Ida-TACE may represent an interesting alternative to Dox-TACE in the management of patients with intermediate stage HCC.

Impact of sarcopenia on tumor response and survival outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization

BACKGROUND At the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),more than 90%of HCC patients present cirrhosis,a clinical condition often associated to malnutrition.Sarcopenia is an indirect marker of malnutrition assessable on computed tomography(CT).AIM To evaluate the prognostic value of sarcopenia in patients with HCC treated by trans-arterial(chemo)-embolization.METHODS Patients with HCC treated by a first session of trans-arterial(chemo)embolization and an available CT scan before treatment were included.Sarcopenia was assessed using skeletal muscle index at baseline and at the first radiological assessment.Radiological response was recorded after the first session of treatment using mRECIST.RESULTS Of 225 patients treated by trans-arterial bland embolization(n=71)or trans-arterial chemoembolization(n=154)for HCC between 2007 and 2013,Barcelona Clinic of Liver Cancer stage was A,B,and C in 27.5%,55%,and 16.8%of cases,respectively.Sarcopenia was present in 57.7%of the patients.Patients with sarcopenia presented a higher rate of progressive disease(19%vs 8%,P=0.0236),a shorter progression-free survival(8.3 vs 13.2 mo,P=0.0035),and a shorter median overall survival(19.4 mo vs 35.5 mo,P=0.0149)compared with non-sarcopenic patients.Finally,patients whose sarcopenia appeared after first transarterial treatment had the worst prognosis(P=0.0004).CONCLUSION Sarcopenia is associated with tumor progression and poor survival outcomes after trans-arterial(chemo)-embolization for HCC.