Landscape of transarterial chemoembolization represented interventional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

This article discusses the article written by Tan et al.Transarterial chemoembol-ization(TACE)is one of the main treatment methods for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).There are other vascular interventional therapies,including drug-eluting bead TACE,transarterial radioembolization,and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.TACE combined with anti-angiogenesis therapy may improve tumor control and prolong progression free survival.The combination therapy of TACE and immunotherapy may improve the clinical efficacy of HCC.In future research,more basic and clinical studies are needed to explore the immunogenic intervention therapy.

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.

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.

High rate of complete histopathological response in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after combined transarterial chemoembolization and stereotactic body radiation therapy

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)presents a curative treatment option in patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who are not eligible for resection or ablation therapy.Due to a risk of up 30%for waitlist drop-out upon tumor progression,bridging therapies are used to halt tumor growth.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and less commonly stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)or a combination of TACE and SBRT,are used as bridging therapies in LT.However,it remains unclear if one of those treatment options is superior.The analysis of explant livers after transplantation provides the unique opportunity to investigate treatment response by histopathology.AIM To analyze histopathological response to a combination of TACE and SBRT in HCC in comparison to TACE or SBRT alone.METHODS In this multicenter retrospective study,27 patients who received liver transplantation for HCC were analyzed.Patients received either TACE or SBRT alone,or a combination of TACE and SBRT as bridging therapy to liver transplantation.Liver explants of all patients who received at least one TACE and/or SBRT were analyzed for the presence of residual vital tumor tissue by histopathology to assess differences in treatment response to bridging therapies.Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test,Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney-U tests.RESULTS Fourteen patients received TACE only,four patients SBRT only,and nine patients a combination therapy of TACE and SBRT.There were no significant differences between groups regarding age,sex,etiology of underlying liver disease or number and size of tumor lesions.Strikingly,analysis of liver explants revealed that almost all patients in the TACE and SBRT combination group(8/9,89%)showed no residual vital tumor tissue by histopathology,whereas TACE or SBRT alone resulted in significantly lower rates of complete histopathological response(0/14,0%and 1/4,25%,respectively,P value<0.001).CONCLUSION Our data suggests that a combination of TACE and SBRT increases the rate of complete histopathological response compared to TACE or SBRT alone in bridging to liver transplantation.

Combined therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous microwave coagulation for small hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To assess the efficacy of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)for small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS:Thirty-five patients with a total of 41 HCC nodules(≤3 cm in diameter)were treated with TACE followed by computed tomograghy(CT)-guided percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT) within 1-3 wk. RESULTS:By biopsies and enhanced CT scans, complete necrosis of the tumor and 3-5 mm of the surrounding non-cancerous area were observed in 34 foci.In seven foci,incomplete necrosis of the surrounding parenchyma was observed.Serum alpha- fetoprotein(AFP)levels returned to normal 10 d after treatment in 25 patients who originally had high serum AFP levels.The follow-up period was 6-31 mo,and all patients remained alive.One patient had a recurrence in the subsegments of the liver,and another patient had a recurrence near the original lesion. CONCLUSION:Combined therapy with TACE and PMCT is a safe and effective treatment without severe complications for small HCC.

p53 gene therapy in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for HCC:One-year follow-up

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with recombinant adenovirus p53 injection (rAdp53) and transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:A total of 82 patients with advanced HCC treated only with TACE served as control group.Another 68 patients with HCC treated with TACE in combination with recombinant adenovirus-p53 injection served as p53 treatment group.Patients were followed up for 12 mo.Safety and therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the improvement in clinical symptoms,leukocyte count,Karnofsky and RECIST criteria.Survival rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS:The total effective rate was 58.3% for p53 treatment group,and 26.5% for control group (P < 0.05).The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms was lower in p53 treatment group than in control group (P < 0.05).The 3-,6-and 12-mo survival rates were significantly higher for p53 treatment group than for control group (P < 0.01).The combination treatment was well tolerated with such adverse events as fever (51.5%,P=0.006) and pain of muscles and joints (13.2%,P=0.003),which were significantly higher than the chemotherapy.Except for these minor adverse effects,no severe vector-related complications were identified.With respect to the efficacy,patients in p53 treatment group had less gastrointerestinal symptoms (P=0.062),better improvement in tumor-related pain (P=0.003),less downgrade of leukocyte counts (P=0.003) and more upgrade of Karnofsky performance score (P=0.029) than those in control group.The total effective rate (CR + PR) for p53 treatment group and control group was 58.3% and 26.5%,respectively,with distributions of different effect in two groups (P=0.042).The survival rates were 89.71%,76.13%,and 43.30% for p53 treatment group,and 68.15%,36.98%,and 24.02% for control group,respectively,3,6 and 12 mo after treatment,suggesting that the survival rates are significantly higher for p53 treatment group than for control group (P=0.0002).CONCLUSION:The rAd-p53 gene therapy in combination with TACE is a safe and effective treatment modality for advanced HCC.

Clinical Analysis of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Sequential Microwave Ablation Combined with Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE), sequential Microwave Ablation (MWA) combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy versus TACE combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma (defined as tumor diameter > 5 cm). Methods: The prospective cohort study was conducted, with 81 patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma who were admitted to Jingzhou Central Hospital from 2018 to 2022, they were divided into two groups, 41 patients received TACE sequential MWA combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy (observation group), and 40 patients received single TACE combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy (control group). The short-term efficacies after 3 months of treatment, the Disease Control Rate (DCR), the Overall Survival (OS), adverse drug reactions and complications were compared and analyzed between the two groups. Results: The Objective Response Rate (ORR) of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (ORR: 85.4% vs 57.5%, P = 0.005), The median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and median OS of the observation group were better than those of the control group (mPFS: 16 months vs 10 months, P = 0.004;mOS: 39 months. vs 24 months, P = 0.008). The 1-, 2- and 3-year progression-free survival rates of the observation group were 72.9%, 50.4%, and 25.6%, and those of the control group were 30.4%, 11.0%, and 3.7%. The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates of the observation group were 78.9%, 71.7%, and 65.2%, and those of the control group were 65.1%, versus 42.1% and 36.9%. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions and complications between the two groups. In this study, the adverse drug reactions were mild in Grades 1 - 2. Conclusion: TACE sequential MWA combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy has efficacy and safety.

Conversion therapy of hepatic artery ligation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for treating liver cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma is an aggressive tumor,and its latency and lack of clinical symptoms mean that most patients are already in the late stage when diagnosed.Large tumor volume and metastasis are the main reasons for not attempting surgery.Portal vein embolization and associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy are commonly used in clinical practice to increase the volume of remnant liver to allow surgical resection;however,research in this area is currently lacking.CASE SUMMARY A 48-year-old male patient with a history of viral hepatitis B for at least 30 years attended our center with a hepatic space-occupying lesion detected 3 d previously.Enhanced computed tomography scanning of the upper abdomen revealed a large mass in the right lobe of the liver,centered on the right posterior lobe,with the larger section measuring about 14 cm×10 cm×14 cm.He successfully underwent conversion therapy for a large right liver tumor after combined hepatic artery ligation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,and finally had an opportunity to undergo right hemi-hepatectomy and cholecystectomy.He remained asymptomatic with no obvious abnormalities on computed tomography scanning review at 2 mo after surgery.CONCLUSION This case highlights new ideas and provides a reference for conversion therapy of large liver tumors.

Radiofrequency ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy versus surgical resection for Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) A hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Purpose: The objective of our study was to compare the effectiveness of the combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) and radiofrequency ablation(RFA) with that of surgical resection(SR) in Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) A hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for comparisons of the two therapies from January 2006 to December 2017. Overall survival rate(OS), recurrence-free survival rate(RFS), complications, and the average length of hospital stay were compared and analyzed. Review Manager v. 5.2 from the Cochrane Collaboration was used for statistical analyses. Results: Seven case-control studies and one randomized controlled trial were identified, of which 717 were treated with a combination of TACE and RFA and 785 were treated with SR. Meta-analysis data revealed that TACE plus RFA had significantly better effectiveness on 1.0-y OS(OR = 0.50, p =.009). The major complications(ORcomplications = 1.88, p =.02) after the combined therapy were significantly lower than those after SR. There were three studies that reported the average length of hospital stay. The hospital stay for the SR group vs the combined therapy group was 19.8 ± 8.4 d vs 7.4 ± 2.2 d, respectively(p <.0001); 18.7 ± 4.9 d vs 11.5 ± 6.9 d, respectively(p <.0001); and 16.6 ± 6.7 d vs 8.5 ± 4.1 d, respectively(p <.0001). There was no significant difference in 3.0-or 5.0-y OS and 1.0-, 3.0-, or 5.0-y RFS. Conclusion: The combination of TACE and RFA has advantages in improving 1.0-y OS, reducing complications, and shortening the length of hospital stay over that of SR in the treatment of patients with BCLC A HCC.

Successful management of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma with p53 gene therapy combining transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has become the standard treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But this method has some shortages. p53 gene, which was found to be mutant in many human tumors, has been proved with broadspectrum anti-tumor effects. We reported a 23-year-old patient with recurrent HCC after irregular hepatectomy. The p53 gene was applied to this patient. We injected percutaneously and infused transcatheterally p53 gene (Gendicine, Shenzhen Sibiono Bentech, China) into his recurrent nodules in liver respectively and 4 d later, the patient received TACE therapy. In the 2 mo follow-up, the patient was in good clinical condition with normal liver function and no recurrence was identified. The case report proposed that recurrent HCC could be successfully treated with p53 gene therapy combining TACE.

Regorafenib-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres designed to improve transarterial chemoembolization therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)has been widely introduced to treat hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)especially for unresectable patients for decades.However,TACE evokes an angiogenic response due to the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),resulting in the formation of new blood vessels and eventually tumor recurrence.Thus,we aimed to develop regorafenib(REGO)-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA)microspheres that enabled localized and sustained drug delivery to limit proangiogenic responses following TACE in HCC treatment.REGO-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared using the emulsion-solvent evaporation/extraction method,in which DMF was selected as an organic phase co-solvent.Accordingly,we optimized the proportion of DMF,which the optimal ratio to DCM was 1:9(v/v).After preparation,the microspheres provided high drug loading capacity of 28.6%,high loading efficiency of 91.5%,and the average particle size of 149μm for TACE.IR spectra and XRD were applied to confirming sufficient REGO entrapment.The in vitro release profiles demonstrated sustained drug release of microspheres for more than 30 d To confirm the role of REGO-loaded microspheres in TACE,the cell cytotoxic activity on HepG2 cells and anti-angiogenic effects in HUVECs Tube-formation assay were studied in combination with miriplatin.Moreover,the microspheres indicated the potential of antagonizing miriplatin resistance of HepG2 cells in vitro.Pharmacokinetics preliminary studies exhibited that REGO could be sustainably released from microspheres for more than 30d after TACE in vivo.In vivo anti-tumor efficacy was further determined in HepG2 xenograft tumor mouse model,demonstrating that REGO microspheres could improve the antitumor efficacy of miriplatin remarkably compared with miriplatin monotherapy.In conclusion,the obtained REGO microspheres demonstrated promising therapeutic effects against HCC when combined with TACE.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of glucocorticoid therapy for hyperbilirubinemia in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of glucocorticoid treatment for hyperbilirubinemia in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who have undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 198 patients with HCC who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from June 2014 to August 2019 and underwent TACE therapy.The patients were divided into glucocorticoid(GCC)treatment group and control group.Standard liver-protecting procedures were used in both groups.The treatment group also received intravenous injections of methylprednisolone sodium succinate for 3–5 days.Reduction in bilirubin concentration,mean duration of hospitalization,and complications were compared between the two groups to investigate the safety and efficacy of GCCs for treatment of hyperbilirubinemia after TACE treatment.Results Bilirubin concentrations were significantly lower in the treatment group than in control group on days 3 and 5 after GCC/conventional liver-protecting treatment(P<0.05).The treatment group had significantly shorter durations of total post-surgery hospitalization,and recovery time than the control group(14.5±4.6 days vs.17.5±6.6 days,P<0.001;9.2±3.3 days vs.11.8±5.4 days,P=0.001;7.0±3.3 days vs.9.3±4.6 days,P<0.001).No GCC-associated complications were detected in the treatment group.Conclusion Short-term use of GCCs to treat hyperbilirubinemia in patients with HCC who have undergone TACE is safe and associated with rapid decline in bilirubin concentration and shorter hospital stay compared with patients who did not receive GCCs.

Short-term efficacy assessment of transarterial chemoembolization combined with radioactive iodine therapy in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is an effective treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC).Radioactive iodine therapy has been used in the treatment of advanced PHC,especially in patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis.However,data on the therapeutic effect of TACE combined with radioactive iodine therapy in PHC are scarce.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of TACE combined with radioactive iodine implantation therapy in advanced PHC via perfusion computed tomography(CT).METHODS For this study,98 advanced PHC patients were recruited and divided randomly into the study and control groups.Patients in the study group were treated with TACE combined radioactive iodine implantation therapy.Patients in the control group were treated with only TACE.The tumor lesion length,clinical effect,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)and CT perfusion parameters were compared before and after therapy,and statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS There was no significant difference in tumor length and serum AFP between the study and control groups(P>0.05)before treatment.However,the tumor length and serum AFP in the study group were lower than those in the control group 1 mo and 3 mo after therapy.After 3 mo of treatment,the complete and partial remission rate of the study group was 93.88%,which was significantly higher than the control group(77.55%)(P<0.05).Before treatment,there were no significant differences between the two groups on the perfusion CT variables,including the lesion blood volume,permeability surface,blood flow,hepatic artery flow and mean transit time(P>0.05).After 3 mo of treatment,all perfusion CT variables were lower in the study group compared to the control group(P<0.05).The survival time of patients in the study group was 22 mo compared to 18 mo in the control group,which was significantly different[log rank(Mantel-Cox)=4.318,P=0.038].CONCLUSION TACE combined with radioactive iodine implantation in the treatment of advanced PHC can inhibit the formation of blood vessels in tumor tissue and reduce the perfusion level of tumor lesions,thereby improving the clinical efficacy and prolonging the survival time of patients.

Radiomic advances in the transarterial chemoembolization related therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiomics is a hot topic in the research on customized oncology treatment,efficacy evaluation,and tumor prognosis prediction.To achieve the goal of mining the heterogeneity information within the tumor tissue,the image features concealed within the tumoral images are turned into quantifiable data features.This article primarily describes the research progress of radiomics and clinicalradiomics combined model in the prediction of efficacy,the choice of treatment modality,and survival in transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and TACE combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Influence on liver function of hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization combined reduced glutathione therapy for elderly patients with advanced liver cancer

Objective:To explore the influence on liver function of hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization combined reduced glutathione therapy for elderly patients with advanced liver cancer.Methods:A total of 120 cases of elderly patients with advanced liver cancer from digestive surgery in-patient department of our hospital during the period of January 2014 and January 2016 were selected as the research object, the patients were divided into two groups by using the random number table method,each for 60 cases.The control group were given conventional drugs chemotherapy, the study group were given hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization combined reduced glutathione therapy, serum liver function indexes of Direct Bilirubin(DBil), Total Bilirubin(TBil), Aspartate Transaminase(AST) and Alanineamino Transferase (ALT)were detected by using automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: The clinical remission rate of study group was significantly higher than the control group, the recurrence rate was obviously lower than the control group,compared between the two groups with statistically significant differences. The average survival time of study group (29.36±6.25) months, was significantly longer than the control group (18.02±4.16) months .Before the treatment, serum DBil, TBil, AST and ALT levels compared between the two groups with no statistically significant differences,after the treatment,the indexes of study group was significantly lower than the control group. The indexes levels compared between pre-therapy and post-therapy in study group with no statistically significant differences, while the indexes levels of post-therapy in the control group were significantly higher than those pre-therapy. Before the treatment, the life quality score compared between the two groups with no statistically significant differences, after treatment,the score of all patients were significantly higher than those pre-therapywhich the score of study group was significantly higher than the control group.The incidence rate of drug adverse reactions compared between the two groups with no statistically significant differences.Conclusion: The clinical efficacy of hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization combined reduced glutathione therapy for elderly patients with advanced liver cancer is satisfying, and helps to significantly improve liver function, improve life quality, it is worth popularization and application in the clinical practice.

Genetic factors that predict response and failure of biologic therapy in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)represents a significant disease burden marked by chronic inflammation and complications that adversely affect patients’quality of life.Effective diagnostic strategies involve clinical assessments,endoscopic evaluations,imaging studies,and biomarker testing,where early diagnosis is essential for effective management and prevention of long-term complications,highlighting the need for continual advancements in diagnostic methods.The intricate interplay between genetic factors and the outcomes of biological therapy is of critical importance.Unraveling the genetic determinants that influence responses and failures to biological therapy holds significant promise for optimizing treatment strategies for patients with IBD on biologics.Through an indepth examination of current literature,this review article synthesizes critical genetic markers associated with therapeutic efficacy and resistance in IBD.Understanding these genetic actors paves the way for personalized approaches,informing clinicians on predicting,tailoring,and enhancing the effectiveness of biological therapies for improved outcomes in patients with IBD.

Impact of oral anti-hepatitis B therapy on the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma initially treated with chemoembolization

Introduction:Most hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC) develop in a background of underlying liver disease including chronic hepatitis B.However,the effect of antiviral therapy on the long-term outcome of patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related HCC treated with chemoembolization is unclear.This study aimed to evaluate the survival benefits of anti-HBV therapy after chemoembolization for patients with HBV-related HCC.Methods:A total of 224 HCC patients who successfully underwent chemoembolization were identified,and their survival and other relevant clinical data were reviewed.Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to validate possible effects of antiviral treatment on overall survival(OS).Results:The median survival time(MST) was 15.9(95%confidence interval[CI],9.5-27.7) months in the antiviral group and 9.6(95%CI,7.8-13.7) months in the non-antiviral group(log-rank test,P = 0.044).Cox multivariate analysis revealed that antiviral treatment was a prognostic factor for OS(P = 0.008).Additionally,a further analysis was based on the stratification of the TNM tumor stages.In the subgroup of early stages,MST was significantly longer in the antiviral-treatment group than in the non-antiviral group(61.8 months[95%CI,34.8 months to beyond the follow-up period]versus 26.2[95%CI,14.5-37.7]months,P= 0.012).Multivariate analysis identified antiviral treatment as a prognostic factor for OS in the early-stage subgroup(P = 0.006).However,in the subgroup of advanced stages,MST of the antiviral-treated group was comparable to that of the non-antiviral group(8.4[95%CI,5.2-13.5]months versus 7.4[95%CI,5.9-9.3]months,P = 0.219).Multivariate analysis did not indicate that antiviral treatment was a significant prognostic factor in this subgroup.Conclusion:Antiviral treatment is associated with prolonged OS time after chemoembolization for HCC,especially in patients with early-stage tumors.

Transarterial chemoembolization versus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for recurrent unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma:Development of a prognostic nomogram

Background:Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)are commonly used to treat intrahepatic recurrent liver cancers.However,there is no informa-tion regarding their effectiveness in patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)after resection.Methods:A total of 275 patients with localized recurrent ICC who received either TACE(n=183)or PMCT(n=92)were studied.A propensity score matching analysis was performed to compare prognostic impact of TACE and PMCT.Prognostic factors for TACE and PMCT were identified respectively.Predictive nomograms for each TACE and PMCT were developed using the Cox independent prognostic factors and were validated in independent patient groups by receiver operating characteristic curves and area under curve values.Results:Both TACE and PMCT provided curativeness in partial patients(5-year overall survival:21.4%and 6.1%,respectively),but TACE provided better survival benefit in both overall patients(hazard ratio[HR]=0.71;95%confidence interval[CI]:0.50–0.97;P=0.034)and propensity score matching analysis(HR=0.69;95%CI:0.47–0.98;P=0.041).Independent prognostic factors for TACE were tumor size>5 cm,poor differentiation,and major resection,whereas poor differentiation,hepatitis B virus infection,cholelithiasis,and lymph node metastasis were identified for PMCT.Both predictive nomograms for TACE and PMCT were validated to be effective with area under curve values of 0.77 and 0.70,respectively.Conclusions:TACE provided better survival benefits compared to PMCT.However,there was a disparity in prognostic factors,suggesting evaluation of the two nomograms may be supportive in modality selection.Further prospective validation studies are required for the results to be applied in clinical medicine.

Treatment of spinal cord injury with biomaterials and stem cell therapy in non-human primates and humans

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of sensory,motor,and autonomic functions,which almost always produces permanent physical disability.Thus,in the search for more effective treatments than those already applied for years,which are not entirely efficient,researches have been able to demonstrate the potential of biological strategies using biomaterials to tissue manufacturing through bioengineering and stem cell therapy as a neuroregenerative approach,seeking to promote neuronal recovery after spinal cord injury.Each of these strategies has been developed and meticulously evaluated in several animal models with the aim of analyzing the potential of interventions for neuronal repair and,consequently,boosting functional recovery.Although the majority of experimental research has been conducted in rodents,there is increasing recognition of the importance,and need,of evaluating the safety and efficacy of these interventions in non-human primates before moving to clinical trials involving therapies potentially promising in humans.This article is a literature review from databases(PubMed,Science Direct,Elsevier,Scielo,Redalyc,Cochrane,and NCBI)from 10 years ago to date,using keywords(spinal cord injury,cell therapy,non-human primates,humans,and bioengineering in spinal cord injury).From 110 retrieved articles,after two selection rounds based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,21 articles were analyzed.Thus,this review arises from the need to recognize the experimental therapeutic advances applied in non-human primates and even humans,aimed at deepening these strategies and identifying the advantages and influence of the results on extrapolation for clinical applicability in humans.

Optimizing care for gastric cancer with overt bleeding:Is systemic therapy a valid option?

Gastric cancer(GC)and gastroesophageal junction cancer(GEJC)represent a significant burden globally,with complications such as overt bleeding(OB)further exacerbating patient outcomes.A recent study by Yao et al evaluated the effectiveness and safety of systematic treatment in GC/GEJC patients presenting with OB.Using propensity score matching,the study balanced the comparison groups to investigate overall survival and treatment-related adverse events.The study's findings emphasize that systematic therapy can be safe and effective and contribute to the ongoing debate about the management of advanced GC/GEJC with OB,highlighting the complexities of treatment decisions in these high-risk patients.