Cetuximab combined with chemotherapy for simultaneous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Multiple primary carcinomas(MPCs)are defined as two or more independent primary cancers that occur simultaneously or sequentially in the same individual.Synchronous MPCs are rarer than solitary cancers or metachronous MPCs.Accurate diagnoses of synchronous MPCs and the choice of treatment are critical for successful outcomes in these cases.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old patient presented with dysphagia,without obvious cause.A diagnosis of synchronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis was confirmed based on examination and laboratory results.After multi-disciplinary consultations,combination chemotherapy(a 3-wk cycle with oxaliplatin 212 mg administered on day 1 and capecitabine 1.5 g twice daily on days 1-14)and esophageal cancer radiotherapy were initiated.Based on the results of genetic testing,we switched to a regimen of leucovorin+fluorouracil+oxaliplatin and cetuximab regimen for 8 cycles.Subsequently,capecitabine and bevacizumab were administered until the most recent follow-up,at which the tumor remained stable.CONCLUSION Successful cetuximab chemotherapy treatment provides a reference for the nonoperative and homogeneous treatment of different pathological types of synchronous MCPs.

Lenvatinib,sintilimab combined interventional treatment vs bevacizumab,sintilimab combined interventional treatment for intermediate-advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Bevacizumab and sintilimab combined interventional treatment(BeSiIT)and L envatinib and sintilimab combined interventional treatment(LeSiIT)are two commonly used therapeutic regimens for intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in clinical practice.AIM To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of BeSiIT and LeSiIT for the treatment of intermediate and advanced HCC.METHODS Patients diagnosed with intermediate-advanced HCC and initially treated with BeSiIT or LeSiIT in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between February 2020 and July 2021 were included.The primary endpoint was progression-free survival(PFS),and the secondary endpoints were overall survival(OS),objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),conversion rate,and treatmentrelated adverse events.RESULTS Total 127 patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into BeSiIT and LeSiIT groups.Twenty-eight and fifty patients in the BeSiIT and LeSiIT groups,respectively,were assessed after 1:2 propensity score matching.PFS and OS rates were not significantly different between the two groups.No significant variations were noted in ORRs or DCRs according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST),and modified RECIST.BeSiIT group showed a better conversion rate than the LeSiIT group(P=0.043).Both groups showed manageable toxicity profiles.Multivariate analysis showed that the independent factors associated with PFS were alphafetoprotein levels and carcinoembryonic antigen score.CONCLUSION In intermediate-to-advanced HCC,the BeSiIT and LeSiIT groups exhibited acceptable toxicities and comparable PFS,OS,and ORR.

Colon signet-ring cell carcinoma with chylous ascites caused by immunosuppressants following liver transplantation:A case report

BACKGROUND Chylous ascites is caused by disruption of the lymphatic system,which is characterized by the accumulation of a turbid fluid containing high levels of triglycerides within the abdominal cavity.The two most common causes are cirrhosis and tuberculosis,and colon signer ring cell carcinoma(SRCC)due to the use of immunosuppressants is extremely rare in cirrhotic patients after liver transplantation,making it prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old man who underwent liver transplantation and was administered with immunosuppressants for 8 months was admitted with a 3-month history of progressive abdominal distention.Initially,based on lymphoscintigraphy and lymphangiography,lymphatic obstruction was considered,and cystellar chyli decompression with band lysis and external membrane stripping of the lymphatic duct was performed.However,his abdominal distention was persistent without resolution.Abdominal paracentesis revealed allogenic cells in the ascites,and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed adenocarcinoma cells with phenotypic features suggestive of a gastrointestinal origin.Gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed,and biopsy showed atypical signet ring cells in the ileocecal valve.The patient eventually died after a three-month follow-up due to progression of the tumor.CONCLUSION Colon SRCC,caused by immunosuppressants,is an unusual but un-neglected cause of chylous ascites.

Association of preoperative antiviral treatment with incidences of post-hepatectomy liver failure in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)is a common consequence of radical partial hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIMS To investigate the relationship between preoperative antiviral therapy and PHLF,as well as assess the potential efficacy of hepatitis B virus(HBV)DNA level in predicting PHLF.METHODS A retrospective study was performed involving 1301 HCC patients with HBV who underwent radical hepatectomy.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis was used to assess the capacity of HBV DNA to predict PHLF and establish the optimal cutoff value for subsequent analyses.Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the independent risk factors of PHLF.The increase in the area under the ROC curve,categorical net reclassification improvement(NRI),and integrated discrimination improvement(IDI)were used to quantify the efficacy of HBV DNA level for predicting PHLF.The P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS Logistic regression analyses showed that preoperative antiviral therapy was independently associated with a reduced risk of PHLF(P<0.05).HBV DNA level with an optimal cutoff value of 269 IU/mL(P<0.001)was an independent risk factor of PHLF.All the reference models by adding the variable of HBV DNA level had an improvement in area under the curve,categorical NRI,and IDI,particularly for the fibrosis-4 model,with values of 0.729(95%CI:0.705-0.754),1.382(95%CI:1.341-1.423),and 0.112(95%CI:0.110-0.114),respectively.All the above findings were statistically significant.CONCLUSION In summary,preoperative antiviral treatment can reduce the incidence of PHLF,whereas an increased preoperative HBV DNA level has a correlative relationship with an increased susceptibility to PHLF.

Successful treatment of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in the rectosigmoid colon: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Compared with colorectal adenocarcinoma,basaloid squamous cell carcinomas(BSCCs)arising in the colorectum are rare and have very poor prognosis.To date,only nine cases have been reported.Most BSCCs are extensively involved in metastasis to the lymph node,liver,and lung at diagnosis.Despite many clinicians attempting to effectively treat BSCCs,therapeutic consensus has not been established due to lack of information.CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain,diarrhea,fever,and hematochezia.She was referred from a department of gynecology and was diagnosed with a suspicious leiomyosarcoma of the rectum or a pedunculated myoma of the uterus.An exophytic growing mass at the right lateral wall of the rectum with an internal cystic portion and hemorrhage was observed on magnetic resonance imaging.The patient underwent low anterior resection and total hysterectomy with bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy.Histopathological findings revealed a cellular mass with a solid growth pattern and few glandular structures,many foci of intratumoral necrosis,and a palisading pattern.The pathologist diagnosed tumor as a BSCC,and the patient received chemotherapy with fluorouracil/leucovorin without radiotherapy.The patient is currently alive 8 years after the surgery with no manifestations of metastatic colon cancer.CONCLUSION Our case suggest that curative resection and chemotherapy play important roles in improving survival,and radiotherapy may be an option to avoid radiationassociated enteritis.

GINS1 as a Novel Biomarker of Survival in Colon Adenocarcinoma Patients-A Secondary Publication

The study focused on elaborating the role of GINS1 expression and its regulatory mechanisms in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Using the UALCAN informational index, GINS1 expression assessment unveiled a critical up- regulation in malignant cells that stood out from normal controls, suggesting its contribution to COAD expansion. Further dismantling GINS1 expression across various boundaries revealed unsurprising up-regulation in different malignant development stages, racial groups, genders, and age classes in COAD patients, characteristics for its imperative role in cancer progression. Moreover, this study investigated the promoter methylation status of GINS1, uncovering a critical uniqueness between COAD samples and normal controls. Analyzing promoter methylation across various clinical boundaries uncovered powerful variations, with particular methylation patterns seen across cancer stages, race groups, genders, and age groups. Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter tool showed a colossal connection between GINS1 expression levels and overall survival (OS) in COAD patients, with low GINS1 expression interfacing with higher OS. Additionally, mutational examination using the cBioPortal stage revealed that no critical change was found in COAD. Overall, these findings revealed the complex contribution of GINS1 in COAD pathogenesis, underlining its actual limit as a prognostic biomarker and supportive therapeutic agent in COAD management.

Transarterial chemoembolization as initial treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in southern China

AIM:To identify prognostic factors from pretreatment variables of the initial transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)procedure in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS:One thousand and five hundred and sixtynine patients with unresectable HCC underwent TACE as initial treatment were retrospectively studied.Pretreatment variables of the initial TACE procedure with a P value less than 0.05 by univariate analysis were subjected to Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS:The median overall survival time and 1-, 5-,10-year survival rates were 10.37 mo,47%,10%, and 7%,respectively.A Cox proportional hazard model showed that 8 pretreatment factors of regional lymphnodes metastasis,Child-Pugh class,macrovascular invasion,greatest dimension,α-fetoprotein(AFP), Hepatitis virus B,tumor capsule,and nodules were independent prognostic factors.Patients with multimodality therapy have better survival than those with TACE treatment only. CONCLUSION:Tumor status,hepatic function reserve,AFP,and hepatitis virus B status were independent prognostic factors for unresectable HCC.Distant metastasis might not be a contraindication to TACE. Multimodality therapy might improve survival.

Multimodal treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis: An update

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most frequent primary liver tumor,and overall,it is one of the most frequent cancers.The association of HCC with chronic liver disease,and cirrhosis in particular,is well known,making treatment complex and challenging.The treatment of HCC must take into account the presence and stage of chronic liver disease,with the aim of preserving hepatic function that is often already impaired,the stage of HCC and the clinical condition of the patient.The different treatment options include surgical resection,transplantation,local ablation,chemoembolization,radioembolization and molecular targeted therapies;these treatments can be combined in various ways to achieve different goals.Ideally,liver transplantation is best treatment for early stage HCC on cirrhosis because it removes both the tumor and the chronic disease that produced it;however,the application of this powerful tool is limited by the scarcity of donors.Downstaging and bridging are different strategies for the management of HCC patients who will undergo liver transplantation.Several professionals,including gastroenterologists,radiologists and surgeons,are involved in the choice of the most appropriate treatment for a single case,and a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to optimize the outcome.The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the current treatment options for patients with HCC by analyzing the advantages,disadvantages and rationale for their use.

Bridging and downstaging treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation

Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)awaiting liver transplantation(LT).The most used treatments include transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation.Surgical resection has also been successfully used as a bridging procedure,and LT should be considered a rescue treatment in patients with previous HCC resection who experience tumor recurrence or post-treatment severe decompensation of liver function.The aims of bridging treatments include decreasing the waiting list dropout rate before transplantation,reducing HCC recurrence after transplantation,and improving post-transplant overall survival.To date,no data from prospective randomized studies are available;however,for HCC patients listed for LT within the Milan criteria,prolonging the waiting time over 6-12 mo is a risk factor for tumor spread.Bridging treatments are useful in containing tumor progression and decreasing dropout.Furthermore,the response to pre-LT treatments may represent a surrogate marker of tumor biological aggressiveness and could therefore be evaluated to prioritize HCC candidates for LT.Lastly,although a definitive conclusion can not be reached,the experiences reported to date suggest a positive impact of these treatments on both tumor recurrence and post-transplant patient survival.Advanced HCC may be downstaged to achieve and maintain the current conventional criteria for inclusion in the waiting list for LT.Recent studies have demonstrated that successfully downstaged patients can achieve a 5-year survival rate comparable to that of patients meeting the conventional criteria without requiring downstaging.

Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous colonic perforation:Analysis of 10 cases

AIM: To investigate the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous perforation of the colon. METHODS: The clinical data of 10 cases of spontaneous perforation of the colon, observed at Fuding hospital from January 2004 to December 2007, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age at onset was 65 years (range from 45 to 73). Seven patients had a history of chronic constipation. All patients complained of sudden lower abdominal pain. The perforation occurred after coloclysis and administration of senna leaves in two patients. Nine patients had signs of peritoneal irritation. Seven cases underwent abdominal paracentesis, which was diagnostic in six. Only one case was definitely diagnosed prior to surgery. One patient underwent neoplasty of the colon, another a partial resection of colon, six a neoplasty of the colon plus sigmoid colostomy, and two underwent Hartmann surgery. All perforation sites were opposite to the mesenteric edge. The perforation sites were located on descending colon in one case, sigmoid colon in three cases, and rectosigmoid colon in six cases. In five patients, surgical pathological examination was consistent with the microscopical changes of colonic perforation caused by feces. Three patients died after surgery. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous perforation of the colon most commonly occurs among the elderly with chronic constipation. Abdominal paracentesis is helpful for the diagnosis. The perforation site is located opposite to the mesenteric edge. Sigmoid colon and rectosigmoid colon are the most frequent locations. Neoplasty of the colon and sigmoid colostomy are the most frequenttreatment. The prognosis is bad and the mortality rate after surgery is high.

Monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy with circulating tumor cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

This study investigated whether changes in circulating tumor cell(CTC) numbers reflect tumor progression and treatment efficacy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). A 47-year-old male patient with ESCC is presented in this case study. The patient was evaluated for a series of serum tumor markers and subjected to radiological examinations before and after surgery and during follow-up over the course of five years. In addition, the CTCs in 7.5 m L of peripheral blood were enriched by magneticactivated cell sorting negative selection and identified by immunofluorescence staining. Serum tumor markers remained within normal ranges and were discordant with imaging scans during the follow-up. Initially, one CTC was detected in the peripheral blood sample, and 14 were observed seven days after the operation. After 12 wk, subcutaneous metastases and bone metastases occurred, and the number of CTCs increased to 84. After 48 wk, lung metastases were noted, and the CTC level was 21. At 104 wk, the number of CTCs was 14, and disease recurrence was detected by positron emission tomography-computed tomography. The CTC counts were in accord with the imaging studies at several time points. The additional information provided by CTC enumeration could thus facilitate monitoring of disease status and treatment efficacy and provide support for treatment decisions.

Clinicopathological,treatment,and prognosis study of 43 gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas

AIM To provide more information and therapeutic methods about gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas(G-NECs) which occur rarely but are highly malignant and clinically challenging.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of 43 G-NEC patients at our hospital between January 2007 and December 2014. The diagnosis was based on the 2010 World Health Organization criteria.RESULTS Forty-three G-NECs containing 39 small cell carcinomas and 4 large cell NECs with Ki67 > 60% were included in this study, accounting for only 0.95% of all gastric carcinomas. The median patient age was 62 years (range, 33-82) and the male-to-female ratio was 4.4:1. All patients underwent surgery, including 38 curative resections and 5 palliative resections. Among these 43 patients, nearly half(48.84%) of these tumors were located in the cardiac region of the stomach, regional lymph node metastasis was found in 31 cases(72.09%), and liver metastasis was found in 6 cases(13.95%). Follow-up information was got for 40 patients. Twentythree die of this disease with a median survival of 31 mo(range 1-90). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rate was 77.50%, 57.04%, 44.51%, and 35.05%, respectively. Survival was better in patients with tumor located in the cardiac region of the stomach, less than 7 lymph nodes metastasis and no liver metastasis. Five patients did not undergo postoperative chemotherapy, and the median survival time for these patients was 15 mo. For the remaining 34 patients who received postoperative chemotherapy, the median survival time was 44 mo and those received etoposide, cisplatin, and Paclitaxel survived the best. One patient with resected liver metastasis who received postoperative Capecitabine plus Oxaliplatin and Paclitaxel systemic chemotherapy plus octreotide LAR(30 mg intramuscularly, every 4 wk, for 2 years) has survived for 74 mo with no recurrence.CONCLUSION G-NECs are mostly nonfunctioning, which lead to a delay in detection. Local and/or distant metastases were noticed in most patients when diagnosed, and they required postoperative medical treatment. Adjuvant etoposide, cisplatin plus Paclitaxel systemic chemotherapy is recommended for these patients.

Outcome of transarterial chemoembolization-based multi-modal treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)-based multimodal treatment in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:A total of 146 consecutive patients were included in the analysis,and their medical records and radiological data were reviewed retrospectively.RESULTS:In total,119 patients received TACE-based multi-modal treatments,and the remaining 27 received conservative management.Overall survival(P<0.001)and objective tumor response(P=0.003)were significantly better in the treatment group than in the conservative group.After subgroup analysis,survival benefits were observed not only in the multi-modal treatment group compared with the TACE-only group(P=0.002)but also in the surgical treatment group compared with the loco-regional treatment-only group(P<0.001).Multivariate analysis identified tumor stage(P<0.001)and tumor type(P=0.009)as two independent pre-treatment factors for survival.After adjusting for significant pre-treatment prognostic factors,objective response(P<0.001),surgical treatment(P=0.009),and multi-modal treatment(P=0.002)were identified as independent post-treatment prognostic factors.CONCLUSION:TACE-based multi-modal treatments were safe and more beneficial than conservative management.Salvage surgery after successful downstaging resultedin long-term survival in patients with large,unresectable HCC.

Current systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma:A review of the literature

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the fifth most common form of human cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. The strategies of various treatments for HCC depend on the stage of tumor,the status of patient's performance and the reserved hepatic function. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) staging system is currently used most for patients with HCC. For example,for patients with BCLC stage 0(very early stage) and stage A(early stage) HCC,the curable treatment modalities,including resection,transplantation and radiofrequency ablation,are taken into consideration. If the patients are in BCLC stage B(intermediate stage) and stage C(advanced stage) HCC,they may need the palliative transarterial chemoembolization and even the target medication of sorafenib. In addition,symptomatic treatment is always recommended for patients with BCLC stage D(end stage) HCC. In this review,we will attempt to summarize the historical perspective and the current developments of systemic therapies in BCLC stage B and C in HCC.

Targeted therapy or immunotherapy? Optimal treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Sorafenib is the only food and drug administration(FDA) approved as first line systemic treatment in HCC. Regorafenib and nivolumab are the only FDA approved second line treatment after progression on sorafenib. We will discuss all potential first and second line options in HCC. In addition, we also will explore sequencing treatment options in HCC, and examine biomarkers that can potentially predict benefits from treatments such as immune checkpoint inhibitor. This minireview summarizes potential treatments in HCC based on clinical trials that have been published in manuscript or abstract format from 1994-2018.

Treatment strategies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma:Sorafenib vs hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy

Sorafenib is used worldwide as a first-line standardsystemic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) on the basis of the results of two large-scale Phase Ⅲ trials. Conversely,hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC) is one of the most recommended treatments in Japan. Although there have been no randomized controlled trials comparing sorafenib with HAIC,several retrospective analyses have shown no significant differences in survival between the two therapies. Outcomes are favorable for HCC patients exhibiting macroscopic vascular invasion when treated with HAIC rather than sorafenib,whereas in HCC patients exhibiting extrahepatic spread or resistance to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,good outcomes are achieved by treatment with sorafenib rather than HAIC. Additionally,sorafenib is generally used to treat patients with Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is indicated for those with either Child-Pugh A or B. Based on these findings,we reviewed treatment strategies for advanced HCC. We propose that sorafenib might be used as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC patients without macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A,while HAIC is recommended for those with macroscopic vascular invasion or Child-Pugh A or B. Additional research is required to determine the best second-line treatment for HAIC non-responders with Child-Pugh B through future clinical trials.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix associated with adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon and hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver:Report of a case

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix is a rare condition and represents one of the three entities with the common name mucocele of the appendix. It is characterized by a cystic dilatation of the lumen with stasis of mucus inside it. Histopathologically mucocele is divided into three groups： focal or diffuse mucosal hyperplasia, mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. This condition is often associated with other neoplasia, especially adenocarcinoma of the colon and ovaries. We here describe a 57 year old male patient who presented with abdominal discomfort, constipation, fresh blood in stool and frequent urination. He had a big cystadenoma of the appendix associated with adenocarcinoma of the colon and hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver. The patient underwent right haemicolectomy, sigmoid colon resection and segmental resection of the liven Now 3 years later he has no evidence of disease relapse. According to this, we stress the need of accurate preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative exploration of the whole abdomen in these patients.

Silencing Fas-associated phosphatase 1 expression enhances efficiency of chemotherapy for colon carcinoma with oxaliplatin

AIM:To investigate whether silencing Fas-associated phosphatase 1(FAP-1)expression enhances the efficiency of chemotherapy for colon carcinoma with oxaliplatin.METHODS:Expression of FAP-1 in mRNA and protein was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and flow cytometry.Small interfering RNA(siRNA)was designed according to the FAP-1 mRNA sequence.Cell proliferation was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay.Anenxin V-and propidine iodine(PI)were assayed by flow cytometry for the detection of apoptosis. RESULTS:The expression of FAP-1 was increased in SW480 cells after chemotherapy with oxaliplatin. Transfection of FAP-1 siRNA into SW480 cells silenced the expression of FAP-1 and consequently abolished the inhibitory function of Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis pathway,thus increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy for colon carcinoma with oxaliplatin. CONCLUSION:RNA interference combined with conventional chemotherapy is more effective against colon cancer.

Application of cystoscope in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus

Development of portal vein tumor thrombus deteriorates the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, while surgical treatment can offer a promising prognosis for selected patients. However, the possibility of residual lesions in portal vein after conventional thrombectomy is a main risk factor leading to postoperative recurrence. Therefore, ensuring the complete removal of tumor thrombus during operation is critical to improve prognosis. For the first time, we report here one case of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus in which cystoscope was successfully applied as a substitute of intravascular endoscope to visualize the cavity of the portal vein. The patient was a 61-year-old man with a 7-cm tumor in the right lobe of the liver, with tumor thrombus invading the right branch and adjacent to the conjunction of the portal vein. After removal of the tumor, the Olympus CYF-VA2 cystoscope was used to check the portal vein from the opening stump of the right branch of the portal vein. In this case, residual thrombus tissue was found near the opening stump and the conjunction of the portal vein. The residual lesion was carefully retrieved from the stump after retraction of the cystoscope. The procedure was repeated until no residual lesion was found. The whole duration time of thrombectomy was 22.5(15 + 7.5) min. The patient was free from recurrence at 8 months after the procedure. Our work indicated that the cystoscope is a suitable substitute, with a proper size and function to check the portal vein system and ensure the curability of thrombectomy. Although welldesigned clinic trails are still needed, this procedure may further improve the postoperative prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Efficacy of capecitabine and oxaliplatin regimen for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma following local treatments

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOx) for extrahepatic metastasis after local treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Thirty-two patients with extrahepatic metastasis of HCC after local treatment were prospectively enrolled. The CapeOx regimen consisted of capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 taken orally twice daily on days 1-14, and oxaliplatin was administered at a total dose of 100 mg/m 2 on day 1. The treatment was repeated every 3 wk until disease progression or unaccetablle toxicity. Efficacy and safety were assessable for all enrolled patients. The primary objective of this study was to assess the overall response rate. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the overall survival (OS), the time to tumor progression (TTP) and the toxicity profile of the combined strategy. TTP and OS were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between the curves were analyzed using the log-rank test. The statistical software SPSS version 15.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States) was used for statistical analysis. All P values were 2-tailed, with statistical significance defined byP ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were assessable for efficacy and toxicity. The median follow-up duration was 15 mo (range, 12-20 mo). At the cut-off date of March 31, 2012, 27 patients died due to tumor progression and one patient died of myocardial infarction. Four patients were still alive (three patients with disease progression). OR was 21.9% (n = 7), the stabilization rate was 40.6% (n = 13), and the disease control rate was 62.5%. The responses lasted from 4 to 19 mo (median, 6 mo). Median TTP was 4.2 mo (95%CI: 2.5-7.4), and the median OS time was 9.2 mo (95%CI: 6.5-17.8). The 1-year survival rate was 43.6% (95%CI: 29.0-66.0). In a multivariate analysis, OS was significantly longer in patients with a Child-Pugh class A compared with class B patients (P = 0.014), with a median OS of 10.1 mo vs 5.4 mo, and there were trends towards longer OS (P = 0.065) in patients without portal vein tumor thrombosis. There were no significant effects of age, gender, performance status, cirrhosis, metastatic sites, and level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or hepatitis B virus-DNA on OS. Among the 22 patients with elevated AFP levels at baseline (≥ 400 ng/mL), the level fell by more than 50% during treatment in 6 patients (27.3%). The most frequent treatment-related grade 3 to 4 toxicities included leucopenia/neutropenia, transient elevation of aminotransferases, handfoot syndrome and fatigue. CONCLUSION: CapeOx showed modest anti-tumor activity in metastatic HCC. However, the manageable toxicity profile and the encouraging disease control rate deserve further study for these patients.