Risk factors and therapeutic results of early local recurrence after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

AIM: To identify factors affecting early local recurrence after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and investigate treatments and outcomes for local recurrence.

Advanced imaging techniques in the therapeutic response of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) can significantly improve the survival rate of patients with HCC and is the first treatment choice for patients who are not suitable for surgical resections. The evaluation of the response to TACE treatment affects not only the assessment of the therapy efficacy but also the development of the next step in the treatment plan. The use of imaging to examine changes in tumor volume to assess the response of solid tumors to treatment has been controversial. In recent years, the emergence of new imaging technology has made it possible to observe the response of tumors to treatment prior to any morphological changes. In this article, the advances in studies reporting the use of computed tomography perfusion imaging, diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), intravoxel incoherent motion, diffusion kurtosis imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic resonance perfusionweighted imaging, blood oxygen level-dependent MRI, positron emission tomography(PET)/computed tomography and PET/MRI to assess the TACE treatment response are reviewed.

Computed tomography perfusion in evaluating the therapeutic effect of transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To prospectively assess the changes in parameters of computed tomography （CT） perfusion pre- and post-transarterial chemoembolization （TACE） of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） in different treatment response groups, and to correlate the changes with various responses of HCC to TACE. METHODS： Thirty-nine HCC patients underwent CT perfusion examinations pre-（1 d before TACE） and post-treatment （4 wk after TACE）. The response evaluation criteria for solid tumors （RECIST） were referred to when treatment responses were distributed. Wilcoxon-signed ranks test was used to compare the differences in CT perfusion parameters pre- and post- TACE for different response groups. RESULTS： Only one case had treatment response to CR and the CT perfusion maps of post-treatment lesion displayed complete absence of signals. In the PR treatment response group, hepatic artery perfusion （HAP）, hepatic arterial fracture （HAF） and hepatic blood volume （HBV） of viable tumors post-TACE were reduced compared with pre-TACE （P = 0.001, 0.030 and 0.001, respectively）. In the SD group, all CT perfusion parameters were not significantly different pre- and post-TACE. In the PD group, HAP, HAl=, portal vein perfusion （PVP） and hepatic blood flow （HBF） of viable tumors post-TACE were significantly increased compared with pre-TACE （P = 0.005, 0.012, 0.035 and 0.005, respectively）. CONCLUSION： Changes in CT perfusion parameters of viable tumors are correlated with different responses of HCC to TACE. Therefore, CT perfusion imaging is a feasible technique for monitoring response of HCC to TACE.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion Weighted Imaging for the Therapeutic Response of Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) can not only observe the diffusion of tissue water molecules but also reflect the blood perfusion information of tissue microcirculation. IVIM-DWI has been applied in many clinical areas. However, few studies have addressed the use of IVIM-DWI for the evaluation of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) response in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of IVIM-DWI for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients underwent IVIM-DWI scan on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging instrument 1 - 3 days before and 30 to 40 days after TACE. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters, including standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (Dslow), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (Dfast) and perfusion fraction (f) were measured. The values of IVIM-DWI parameters before and after TACE were compared using paired t tests. The values between responsive and non-responsive groups were compared using independent-samples t test. P 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Results: After TACE, the ADC and Dslow values in the tumors increased significantly, and the values of Dfast decreased significantly, while the values of f value did not change obviously. The ADC values in responsive group were remarkably higher than those in non-responsive group, the Dfast values in responsive group were significantly lower than those in non-responsive group, but the values of Dslow and f between the two groups were not different significantly. Conclusions: IVIM-DWI parameters can be used as potential markers for the therapeutic response of TACE for HCC.

Analysis on the Clinical Therapeutic Effect of Hepatic Artery Chemoembolization in the Treatment of Advanced Liver Cancer

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of hepatic artery chemoembolization in the treatment of advanced liver cancer.Methods:124 patients with advanced liver cancer admitted to our hospital from September 2019 to November 2020 were selected as the research subjects of this paper.The patients with advanced liver cancer were divided into experimental group and control group.The control group was treated with radiofrequency ablation alone,and the experimental group was administered hepatic arterial chemoembolization.The improvement in physical indicators and the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups were compared.Results:The alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)index and serum total bilirubin(TBIL)index of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group,and the alanine aminotransferase(ALT)index was higher than that of the control group.There were differences in the comparison of liver function indices between the two groups which were statistically significant.After treatment,there were 3 cases of fever,4 cases of vomiting,8 cases of bone marrow transplantation,4 cases of abdominal pain,2 cases of proteinuria,and 1 case of diarrhea occurred in the experimental group;whereas there were 6 cases of fever,8 cases of vomiting,14 cases of bone marrow transplantation,7 cases of abdominal pain,5 cases of proteinuria,and 6 cases of diarrhea occurred in the control group.The difference in incidence of adverse reactions between patients after different treatment interventions was statistically significant.Analyzing the remission rate of tumor diseases in patients,the remission rate of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference in the remission rate between the two groups of patients was statistically significant.Conclusion:The implementation of hepatic arterial chemoembolization for patients with advanced liver cancer can promote the improvement of the patient's short-term treatment efficacy,enhance the liver functions of the patient,reduce the incidence of adverse reactions,improve the efficiency of the patient's body rehabilitation,and enhance the quality of life of the patient after treatment.

Meta-analysis of transarterial chemoembolization combined with cryoablation vs transarterial chemoembolization alone for≥5 cm hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)ranks sixth globally in cancer incidence and third in mortality rates.Unfortunately,over 70% of HCC patients forego the opportunity for curative surgery or liver transplantation due to inadequate physical examinations,poor physical condition,and limited organ availability upon diagnosis.Clinical guidelines endorse transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as the frontline treatment for intermediate to advanced-stage HCC.Cryoablation(CRA)is an emerging local ablative therapy increasingly used in HCC management.Recent studies suggest that combining CRA with TACE offers complementary and synergistic effects,potentially improving long-term survival rates.However,the superiority of combined TACE+CRA therapy over TACE alone for HCC lesions equal to or exceeding 5 cm requires further investigation.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with CRA vs TACE alone in the treatment of HCC with a diameter of≥5 cm.METHODS PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane Library,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP databases were searched to retrieve all relevant studies on TACE and CRA up to July 2022.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.RESULTS After screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,6 articles were included,including 2 randomized controlled trials and 4 nonrandomized controlled trials,with a total of 575 patients included in the meta-analysis.The results showed that the objective response rate[odds ratio(OR)=2.56,95%confidence interval(CI):1.66-3.96,P<0.0001],disease control rate(OR=3.03,95%CI:1.88-4.89,P<0.00001),1-year survival rate(OR=3.79,95%CI:2.50-5.76,P<0.00001),2-year survival rate(OR=2.34,95%CI:1.43-3.85,P=0.0008),and 3-year survival rate(OR=3.34,95%CI:1.61-6.94,P=0.001)were all superior to those of the control group;the postoperative decrease in alpha-fetoprotein value(OR=295.53,95%CI:250.22-340.85,P<0.0001),the postoperative increase in CD4 value(OR=10.59,95%CI:8.78-12.40,P<0.00001),and the postoperative decrease in CD8 value(OR=6.47,95%CI:4.44-8.50,P<0.00001)were also significantly higher than those in the TACE-alone treatment group.CONCLUSION Compared with TACE-alone treatment,TACE+CRA combined treatment not only improves the immune function of HCC patients with a diameter of≥5 cm,but also enhances the therapeutic efficacy and long-term survival rate,without increasing the risk of complications.Therefore,TACE+CRA combined treatment may be a more recommended treatment for patients with HCC with a diameter of≥5 cm.

Modulatory role of plant-derived metabolites on host-microbiota interactions:personalized therapeutics outlook

A diverse array of microbes in and on the human body constitute the microbiota.These micro-residents continuously interact with the human host through the language of metabolites to dictate the host’s physiology in health and illnesses.Any biotic and abiotic component ensuring a balanced host-microbiota interaction are potential microbiome therapeutic agents to overcome human diseases.Plant metabolites are continually being used to treat various illnesses.These metabolites target the host’s metabolic machinery and host-gut microbiota interactions to overcome human diseases.Despite the paramount therapeutic significance of the factors affecting host-microbiota interactions,a comprehensive overview of the modulatory role of plant-derived metabolites in host-microbiota interactions is lacking.The current review puts an effort into comprehending the role of medicinal plants in gut microbiota modulation to mitigate various human illnesses.It would develop a holistic understanding of hostmicrobiota interactions and the role of effectors in health and diseases.

Advances in Zika virus vaccines and therapeutics:A systematic review

Zika virus(ZIKV)is the causative agent of a viral infection that causes neurological complications in newborns and adults worldwide.Its wide transmission route and alarming spread rates are of great concern to the scientific community.Numerous trials have been conducted to develop treatment options for ZIKV infection.This review highlights the latest developments in the fields of vaccinology and pharmaceuticals developments for ZIKV infection.A systematic and comprehensive approach was used to gather relevant and up-to-date data so that inferences could be made about the gaps in therapeutic development.The results indicate that several therapeutic interventions are being tested against ZIKV infection,such as DNA vaccines,subunit vaccines,live-attenuated vaccines,virus-vector-based vaccines,inactivated vaccines,virus-like particles,and mRNA-based vaccines.In addition,approved anti-ZIKV drugs that can reduce the global burden are discussed.Although many vaccine candidates for ZIKV are at different stages of development,none of them have received Food and Drug Authority approval for use up to now.The issue of side effects associated with these drugs in vulnerable newborns and pregnant women is a major obstacle in the therapeutic pathway.

Efficacy and predictive factors of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)for unresectable hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)have rarely been evaluated and it is unknown which factors are related to efficacy.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and independent predictive factors of TACE combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable HCC.METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled patients with unresectable HCC who received TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment between March 2019 and April 2022.Overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were determined.The objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)were evaluated in accordance with the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Additionally,the prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome were assessed.RESULTS One hundred and two patients were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 12.63 months.The median OS was 26.43 months(95%CI:17.00-35.87),and the median PFS was 10.07 months(95%CI:8.50-11.65).The ORR and DCR were 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.The patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Classification(BCLC)B stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)response(decrease),or early alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)response(decrease>20%)had superior OS and PFS than their counterparts.CONCLUSION This study showed that TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment was well tolerated with encouraging efficacy in patients with unresectable HCC.The patients with BCLC B-stage disease with early NLR response(decrease)and early AFP response(decrease>20%)may achieve better clinical outcomes with this triple therapy.

Computed tomography radiomic features and clinical factors predicting the response to first transarterial chemoembolization in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Background:According to clinical practice guidelines,transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment modality for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Early prediction of treatment response can help patients choose a reasonable treatment plan.This study aimed to investigate the value of the radiomic-clinical model in predicting the efficacy of the first TACE treatment for HCC to prolong patient survival.Methods:A total of 164 patients with HCC who underwent the first TACE from January 2017 to September 2021 were analyzed.The tumor response was assessed by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors(mRECIST),and the response of the first TACE to each session and its correlation with overall survival were evaluated.The radiomic signatures associated with the treatment response were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO),and four machine learning models were built with different types of regions of interest(ROIs)(tumor and corresponding tissues)and the model with the best performance was selected.The predictive performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calibration curves.Results:Of all the models,the random forest(RF)model with peritumor(+10 mm)radiomic signatures had the best performance[area under ROC curve(AUC)=0.964 in the training cohort,AUC=0.949 in the validation cohort].The RF model was used to calculate the radiomic score(Rad-score),and the optimal cutoff value(0.34)was calculated according to the Youden’s index.Patients were then divided into a high-risk group(Rad-score>0.34)and a low-risk group(Rad-score≤0.34),and a nomogram model was successfully established to predict treatment response.The predicted treatment response also allowed for significant discrimination of Kaplan-Meier curves.Multivariate Cox regression identified six independent prognostic factors for overall survival,including male[hazard ratio(HR)=0.500,95%confidence interval(CI):0.260–0.962,P=0.038],alpha-fetoprotein(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.002–1.004,P<0.001),alanine aminotransferase(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.001–1.005,P=0.025),performance status(HR=2.400,95%CI:1.200–4.800,P=0.013),the number of TACE sessions(HR=0.870,95%CI:0.780–0.970,P=0.012)and Rad-score(HR=3.480,95%CI:1.416–8.552,P=0.007).Conclusions:The radiomic signatures and clinical factors can be well-used to predict the response of HCC patients to the first TACE and may help identify the patients most likely to benefit from TACE.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with PD-1 inhibitors and Lenvatinib for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients complicated with portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT)exhibit poor prognoses and treatment responses.AIM To investigate efficacies and safety of the combination of PD-1 inhibitor,transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)and Lenvatinib in HCC subjects comorbid with PVTT.METHODS From January 2019 to December 2020,HCC patients with PVTT types Ⅰ-Ⅳ were retrospectively enrolled at Beijing Ditan Hospital.They were distributed to either the PTL or TACE/Lenvatinib(TL)group.The median progression-free survival(mPFS)was set as the primary endpoint,while parameters like median overall survival,objective response rate,disease control rate(DCR),and toxicity level served as secondary endpoints.RESULTS Forty-one eligible patients were finally recruited for this study and divided into the PTL(n=18)and TL(n=23)groups.For a median follow-up of 21.8 months,the DCRs were 88.9%and 60.9%in the PTL and TL groups(P=0.046),res-pectively.Moreover,mPFS indicated significant improvement(HR=0.25;P<0.001)in PTL-treated patients(5.4 months)compared to TL-treated(2.7 months)patients.There were no treatment-related deaths or differences in adverse events in either group.CONCLUSION A triplet regimen of PTL was safe and well-tolerated as well as exhibited favorable efficacy over the TL regimen for advanced-stage HCC patients with PVTT types Ⅰ-Ⅳ.

Combined transarterial chemoembolization and tislelizumab for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)often presents as unresectable,necessitating effective treatment modalities.Combining transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)with immunotherapy and targeted therapy has shown promise,yet real-world evidence is needed.AIM To investigate effectiveness and safety of TACE with tislelizumab±targeted therapy for unresectable HCC in real-world setting.METHODS This retrospective study included patients with unresectable HCC receiving combined treatment of TACE and tislelizumab.The clinical outcomes included progression-free survival(PFS),overall survival(OS),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR).All patients were evaluated according to the mRECIST criteria.The adverse event(AE)was also assessed.RESULTS In this study of 56 patients with median follow-up of 10.9 months,7 had previous immunotherapy.Tislelizumab was administered before TACE in 21(37.50%)and after in 35(62.50%)patients,with 91.07%receiving concurrent targeted therapy.Median PFS was 14.0(95%CI:7.0-18.00)months,and OS was 28(95%CI:2.94-53.05)months.Patients with prior immunotherapy had shorter PFS(6 vs.18 months,P=0.006).Overall ORR and DCR were 82.14%and 87.50%.Grade≥3 treatment-related AEs included increased alanine aminotransferase(8.93%),aspartate aminotransferase(10.71%),and total bilirubin(3.57%).CONCLUSION The combination of TACE and tislelizumab,with or without targeted therapy,demonstrated promising efficacy and safety in unresectable HCC,especially in immunotherapy-naive patients,warranting further prospective validation studies.

Nomogram predicting the prognosis of primary liver cancer after radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rates of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are high,and the conventional treatment is radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE);however,the 3-year survival rate is still low.Further,there are no visual methods to effectively predict their prognosis.AIM To explore the factors influencing the prognosis of HCC after RFA and TACE and develop a nomogram prediction model.METHODS Clinical and follow-up information of 150 patients with HCC treated using RFA and TACE in the Hangzhou Linping Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to December 2022 was retrospectively collected and recorded.We examined their prognostic factors using multivariate logistic regression and created a nomogram prognosis prediction model using the R software(version 4.1.2).Internal verification was performed using the bootstrapping technique.The prognostic efficacy of the nomogram prediction model was evaluated using the concordance index(CI),calibration curve,and receiver operating characteristic RESULTS Of the 150 patients treated with RFA and TACE,92(61.33%)developed recurrence and metastasis.Logistic regression analysis identified six variables,and a predictive model was created.The internal validation results of the model showed a CI of 0.882.The correction curve trend of the prognosis prediction model was always near the diagonal,and the mean absolute error before and after internal validation was 0.021.The area under the curve of the prediction model after internal verification was 0.882[95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.820-0.945],with a specificity of 0.828 and sensitivity of 0.656.According to the Hosmer-Lemeshow test,χ^(2)=3.552 and P=0.895.The predictive model demonstrated a satisfactory calibration,and the decision curve analysis demonstrated its clinical applicability.CONCLUSION The prognosis of patients with HCC after RFA and TACE is affected by several factors.The developed prediction model based on the influencing parameters shows a good prognosis predictive efficacy.

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma:Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib in combination with programmed death-1 inhibition is a possible approach

In this editorial,we review the article“Efficacy and predictive factors of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma”.We specifically focused on whether transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib in combination with a programmed death 1 inhibitor could be used in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Since both transarterial chemoembolization as well as lenvatinib in combination with programmed death 1 inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of advanced liver cancer,but the combination of all three therapeutic approaches needs more research.

Small particle drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization combined with targeted therapy in the clinical treatment of unresectable liver cancer

BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a highly malignant tumor with significant clinical impact.Chemotherapy alone often yields suboptimal outcomes in both the short and long term,characterized by high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis,leading to a poor long-term prognosis.AIM To evaluate the clinical efficacy of small particle drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)combined with targeted therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.METHODS We analyzed clinical data from 74 patients with unresectable liver cancer admitted between January 2019 and December 2020.Based on the different treatment regimens administered,patients were divided into the control(36 patients receiving sorafenib alone)and joint(38 patients receiving small particle DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib)groups.We compared liver function indicators[alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),albumin(ALB)]and serum tumor markers[alpha fetoprotein(AFP)]before and after treatment in both groups.Short-term efficacy measures[complete response(CR),partial response,progression disease,stable disease,objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR)]were assessed post-treatment.Long-term follow-up evaluated median overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and adverse reaction rates between the two groups.RESULTS One month post-treatment,the joint group demonstrated significantly higher rates of CR,ORR,and DCR compared to the control group(P<0.05).Three days after treatment,the joint group showed elevated levels of ALT,AST,and TBIL but reduced levels of ALB and AFP compared to the control group(P<0.05).The median OS was 18 months for the control group and 25 months for the joint group,while the median PFS was 15 months for the control group and 22 months for the joint group,with significant differences observed(log-rank:χ2=7.824,6.861,respectively;P=0.005,0.009,respectively).The incidence of adverse reactions was not significantly different between the groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of small particle DEB-TACE and sorafenib significantly improves both short-and long-term outcomes in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer while preserving liver function.

Comparative study between Embosphere®and Marine gel®as embolic agents for chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND While gelatin sponge particles and calibrated microspheres are commonly used as embolic materials in conventional transarterial chemoembolization(cTACE),direct comparisons between these embolic agents are rare.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of superselective cTACE using Embosphere®or Marine gel®in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS This retrospective study included 70 patients with small(<4 cm)HCC who underwent cTACE with Embosphere®(n=33)or Marine gel®(n=37)as the embolic agent at a single center between March 2021 and July 2022.The radiologic images and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed,with an emphasis on tumor response,procedure-related complications,and local tumor recurrence.The primary index tumor was assessed on a 1-mo follow-up image,and local progression-free survival was obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method and was compared by the log-rank test.RESULTS The median tumor size of both groups was 1.5 cm,and 69 patients achieved a complete response one month after cTACE.The cumulative local recurrence rate at 12 mo was 15.5%in the Embosphere®group and 14.4%in the Marine gel®group.The local progression-free survival was not significantly different between the two groups(P=0.83).In the multivariate analysis,high serum alphafetoprotein was the only significant poor prognostic factor for local tumor progression(P=0.01).Postembolization syndrome occurred in 36.4%of the Embosphere®group and 35.1%of the Marine gel®group,and there were no cases of biloma,biliary duct dilation,or liver abscess in either group.CONCLUSION Calibrated gelatin sponge particles(Marine gel®)and calibrated microspheres(Embosphere®)have similar outcomes in terms of tumor response for superselective cTACE of small HCC.

Sorafenib plus transarterial chemoembolization vs sorafenib alone for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Although the past decade has seen remarkable advances in treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),the dismal overall prognosis still envelops HCC patients.Several comparative trials have been conducted to study whether transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)could improve clinical outcomes in patients receiving sorafenib for advanced HCC;however,the findings have been inconsistent.AIM To study the potential synergies and safety of sorafenib plus TACE vs sorafenib alone for treating advanced HCC,by performing a systematic review and metaanalysis.METHODS This study was conducted following the PRISMA statement.A systematic literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Library,Embase,PubMed,and Web of Science databases.Data included in the present work were collected from patients diagnosed with advanced HCC receiving sorafenib plus TACE or sorafenib alone.Data synthesis and meta-analysis were conducted using Review Manager software.RESULTS The present study included 2780 patients from five comparative clinical trials(1 was randomized control trial and 4 were retrospective studies).It was found that patients receiving sorafenib plus TACE had better prognoses in terms of overall survival(OS),with a combined hazard ratio(HR)of 0.65[95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.46–0.93,P=0.02,n=2780].Consistently,progression free survival(PFS)and time to progression(TTP)differed significantly between the sorafenib plus TACE arm and sorafenib arm(PFS:HR=0.62,95%CI:0.40–0.96,P=0.03,n=443;TTP:HR=0.73,95%CI:0.64-0.83,P<0.00001,n=2451).Disease control rate(DCR)was also significantly increased by combination therapy(risk ratio=1.36,95%CI:1.02-1.81,P=0.04,n=641).Regarding safety,the incidence of any adverse event(AE)was increased due to the addition of TACE;however,no significant difference was found in grade≥3 AEs.CONCLUSION The combination of sorafenib with TACE has superior efficacy to sorafenib monotherapy,as evidenced by prolonged OS,PFS,and TTP,as well as increased DCR.Additional high-quality trials are essential to further validate the clinical benefit of this combination in the treatment of advanced HCC.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization as neoadjuvant therapy pre-liver transplantation for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)as neoadjuvant therapy before liver transplantation(LT)for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to analyze the prognostic factors.AIM To determine whether DEB-TACE before LT is superior to LT for advanced-stage HCC.METHODS A total of 99 individuals diagnosed with advanced HCC were studied retrospectively.The participants were categorized into the following two groups based on whether they had received DEB-TACE before LT:DEB-TACE group(n=45)and control group(n=54).The participants were further divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of segmental portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT).The DEB-TACE group consisted of two subgroups:Group A(n=31)without PVTT and group B(n=14)with PVTT.The control group also had two subgroups:Group C(n=37)without PVTT and group D(n=17)with PVTT.Data on patient demographics,disease characteristics,therapy response,and adverse events(AEs)were collected.The overall survival(OS)and recurrence-free survival(RFS)rates were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the parameters that were independently related to OS and RFS.RESULTS The DEB-TACE group exhibited an overall response rate of 86.6%.Following therapy,there was a significant decrease in the median alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level(275.1 ng/mL vs 41.7 ng/mL,P<0.001).The main AE was post-embolization syndrome.The 2-year rates of RFS and OS were significantly higher in the DEB-TACE group than in the control group(68.9%vs 38.9%,P=0.003;86.7%vs 63.0%,P=0.008).Within the subgroups,group A had higher 2-year rates of RFS and OS compared to group C(71.0%vs 45.9%,P=0.038;83.8%vs 62.2%,P=0.047).The 2-year RFS rate of group B was markedly superior to that of group D(64.3%vs 23.5%,P=0.002).Results from multivariate analyses showed that pre-LT DEB-TACE[hazard ratio(HR)=2.73,95%confidence interval(CI):1.44-5.14,P=0.04],overall target tumor diameter≤7 cm(HR=1.98,95%CI:1.05-3.75,P=0.035),and AFP level≤400 ng/mL(HR=2.34;95%CI:1.30-4.19,P=0.009)were significant risk factors for RFS.Additionally,pre-LT DEBTACE(HR=3.15,95%CI:1.43-6.96,P=0.004)was identified as a significant risk factor for OS.CONCLUSION DEB-TACE is a safe and efficient therapy for advanced-stage HCC and also enhances patient survival after LT.

Liver abscess and tracheal fistula induced by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a standard treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).The complications of TACE include biliary tract infection,liver dysfunction,tumor lysis syndrome,biloma,partial intestinal obstruction,cerebral lipiodol embolism,etc.There are few reports about tracheal fistula induced by TACE.CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old man came to our hospital with cough and expectoration for 1 month after TACE for HCC.Laboratory test results showed abnormalities of albumin,hemoglobin,prothrombin time,C-reactive protein,D-dimer,and prothrombin.Culture of both phlegm and liver pus revealed growth of Citrobacter flavescens.Computed tomography showed infection in the inferior lobe of the right lung and a low-density lesion with gas in the right liver.Liver ultrasound showed that there was a big hypoechoic liquid lesion without blood flow signal.Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance was performed.After 1 month of drainage and anti-infection therapy,the abscess in the liver and the infection in the lung were reduced obviously,and the symptom of expectoration was relieved.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of complications of liver abscess and tracheal fistula after TACE for HCC.Drainage for liver abscess by needle puncture under ultrasonic guidance could relieve the liver abscess and tracheal fistula.

Clinical efficacy of Gamma Knife® combined with transarterial chemoembolization and immunotherapy in the treatment of primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Gamma Knife®combined with transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and immunotherapy in the treatment of primary liver cancer.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Gamma Knife®combined with TACE and immune-targeted therapy in the treatment of primary liver cancer.METHODS Clinical data from 51 patients with primary liver cancer admitted to our hospital between May 2018 and October 2022 were retrospectively collected.All patients underwent Gamma Knife®treatment combined with TACE and immunotherapy.The clinical efficacy,changes in liver function,overall survival(OS),and progression-free survival(PFS)of patients with different treatment responses were evaluated,and adverse reactions were recorded.RESULTS The last follow-up for this study was conducted on October 31,2023.Clinical evaluation of the 51 patients with primary liver cancer revealed a partial response(PR)in 27 patients,accounting for 52.94%(27/51);stable disease(SD)in 16 patients,accounting for 31.37%(16/51);and progressive disease(PD)in 8 patients,accounting for 15.69%(8/51).The objective response rate was 52.94%,and the disease control rate was 84.31%.Alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,lactate dehydrogenase,and alpha-fetoprotein isoform levels decreased after treatment compared with pretreatment(all P=0.000).The median OS was 26 months[95%confidence interval(95%CI):19.946-32.054]in the PR group and 19 months(95%CI:14.156-23.125)in the SD+PD group,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.015).The median PFS was 20 months(95%CI:18.441-34.559)in the PR group and 12 months(95%CI:8.745-13.425)in the SD+PD group,with a statistically significant difference(P=0.002).Common adverse reactions during treatment included nausea and vomiting(39.22%),thrombocytopenia(27.45%),and leukopenia(25.49%),with no treatment-related deaths reported.CONCLUSION Gamma Knife®combined with TACE and immune-targeted therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of primary liver cancer and has a good effect on improving the clinical benefit rate and liver function of patients.