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.

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.

Omics-imaging signature-based nomogram to predict the progression-free survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)is widely used in the diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),but it can not effectively reflect the heterogeneity within the tumor and evaluate the effect after treatment.Preoperative imaging analysis of voxel changes can effectively reflect the internal heterogeneity of the tumor and evaluate the progression-free survival(PFS).AIM To predict the PFS of patients with HCC before operation by building a model with enhanced MRI images.METHODS Delineate the regions of interest(ROI)in arterial phase,portal venous phase and delayed phase of enhanced MRI.After extracting the combinatorial features of ROI,the features are fused to obtain deep learning radiomics(DLR)_Sig.DeLong's test was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different typological features.K-M analysis was applied to assess PFS in different risk groups,and the discriminative ability of the model was evaluated using the Cindex.RESULTS Tumor diameter and diolame were independent factors influencing the prognosis of PFS.Delong's test revealed multi-phase combined radiomic features had significantly greater area under the curve values than did those of the individual phases(P<0.05).In deep transfer learning(DTL)and DLR,significant differences were observed between the multi-phase and individual phases feature sets(P<0.05).K-M survival analysis revealed a median survival time of high risk group and low risk group was 12.8 and 14.2 months,respectively,and the predicted probabilities of 6 months,1 year and 2 years were 92%,60%,40%and 98%,90%,73%,respectively.The C-index was 0.764,indicating relatively good consistency between the predicted and observed results.DTL and DLR have higher predictive value for 2-year PFS in nomogram.CONCLUSION Based on the multi-temporal characteristics of enhanced MRI and the constructed Nomograph,it provides a new strategy for predicting the PFS of transarterial chemoembolization treatment of HCC.

Efficacy and safety analysis of transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial radioembolization in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma descending hepatectomy

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world,which is seriously threatening the lives of patients.Due to the rapid development of the disease,patients were in the middle and advanced stages at the time of diagnosis and missed the best time for treatment.With the development of minimally invasive medicine,interventional therapy for advanced HCC has achieved promising results.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and transarterial radioembolization(TARE)are currently recognized as effective treatments.This study aimed to investigate the clinical value and safety of TACE alone and combined with TACE in the treatment of progression in patients with advanced HCC and to find a breakthrough for the early diagnosis and treatment of patients with advanced HCC.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of hepatic TACE and TARE in advanced descending hepatectomy.METHODS In this study,218 patients with advanced HCC who were treated in the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital from May 2016 to May 2021 were collected.Of the patients,119 served as the control group and received hepatic TACE,99 served as the observation group and were treated with hepatic TACE combined with TARE.The patients in two groups were compared in terms of lesion inactivation,tumor nodule size,lipiodol deposition,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)level in different periods,postoperative complications,1-year survival rate,and clinical symptoms such as liver pain,fatigue,and abdominal distension,and adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting.RESULTS The observation group and the control group had good efficacy in treatment efficiency,reduction of tumor nodules,reduction of postoperative AFP value,reduction of postoperative complications,and relief of clinical symptoms.In addition,compared with the control group,the treatment efficiency,reduction of tumor nodules,reduction of AFP value,reduction of postoperative complications,and relief of clinical symptoms in the observation group were better than those in the TACE group alone.Patients in the TACE+TARE group had a higher 1-year survival rate after surgery,lipiodol deposition was significantly increased and the extent of tumor necrosis was expanded.The overall incidence of adverse reactions in the TACE+TARE group was lower than that in the TACE group,and the difference had statistical significance(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with TACE alone,TACE combined with TARE is more effective in the treatment of patients with advanced HCC.It also improves postoperative survival rate,reduces adverse effects,and has a better safety profile.

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.

Impact of hepatectomy and postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization on serum tumor markers and prognosis in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a common malignant tumour,and its early symptoms are often not obvious,resulting in many patients experiencing middle-to late-stage disease at the time of diagnosis.The optimal time for surgery is often missed for these patients,and those who do undergo surgery have unsatisfactory long-term outcomes and a high recurrence rate within five years.Therefore,postoperative follow-up treatments,such as transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE),have become critical to improving survival and reducing recurrence rates.AIM To validate the prophylactic role of TACE after hepatic resection and to assess its impact on patient prognosis.METHODS This study investigated the efficacy of TACE in patients with intermediate-stage HCC after hepatectomy.When the post-treatment results of the observation group and the control group were compared,it was found that the inclusion of TACE significantly improved the clinical efficacy,reduced the levels of tumour markers and did not aggravate the damage to liver function.Thus,this may be an effective and comprehensive treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC that helps to improve their quality of life and survival time.RESULTS When the baseline data were analysed,no statistical differences were found between the two groups in terms of gender,age,hepatitis B virus,cirrhosis,Child-Pugh grading,number of tumours,maximum tumour diameter and degree of tumour differentiation.The assessment of clinical efficacy showed that the post-treatment overall remission rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group.In terms of changes in tumour markers,the alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in the patients in the observation group decreased more significantly after treatment compared with those in the control group.When post-treatment changes in liver function indicators were analysed,no statistical differences were found in the total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels between the two groups.CONCLUSION In patients with intermediate-stage HCC,post-hepatectomy TACE significantly improved clinical outcomes,reduced tumour-marker levels and may have improved the prognosis by removing residual lesions.Thus,this may be an effective and comprehensive treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC.

Percutaneous microwave ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for serum tumor markers and prognostics of middle-late primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC)has an insidious onset and is usually diagnosed in the middle and late stages.Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the preferred option for treating middle-and advanced-stage PHC,it has limited efficacy in killing tumor cells and poor long-term efficacy.TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)is more effective than interventional therapy alone and can improve survival time.However,there are few reports on the effects of TACE and PMCT on serum marker levels and the prognosis of patients with advanced PHC.AIM To investigate the effect of PMCT+TACE on serum tumor markers and the prognosis of middle-late PHC.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with middle-late PHC admitted to Zhongshan People’s Hospital between March 2018 and February 2021.Patients were divided into a single group(treated with TACE,n=75)and a combined group(treated with TACE+PMCT,n=75).Before and after treatment,the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels[carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)]of both groups were observed.The 1-year survival rates and prognostic factors of the two groups were analyzed.RESULTS The combined group had 21 and 35 cases of complete remission(CR)and partial remission(PR),respectively.The single group had 13 and 25 cases of CR and PR,decreased,with the decrease in the combined group being more significant(P<0.05).The 1-year survival rate of the combined group(80.00%)was higher than that of the single group(60.00%)(P<0.05).The average survival time within 1 year in the combined group was 299.38±61.13 d,longer than that in the single group(214.41±72.97 d,P<0.05).COX analysis revealed that tumor diameter,tumor number,and the treatment method were prognostic factors for patients with middle-late PHC(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+PMCT is effective in treating patients with mid-late PHC.It reduces the levels of tumor markers,prolongs survival,and improves prognosis.

Efficacy of continuous arterial perfusion chemotherapy combined with transarterial chemoembolization regional arterial thermal perfusion in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with liver metastases

Background:The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of continuous transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis.Methods:Sixty patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and liver metastases were enrolled in this study.In the treatment group,31patients underwent continuous transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with TACE regional arterial thermal perfusion,whereas 29 patients included in the control group received intravenous chemotherapy with gemcitabine and S-1.All patients received maintenance chemotherapy with S-1 after 4 cycles of the study regimen.Treatment efficacy,quality of life,survival,and toxicity were evaluated.Results:Efficacy was better in the treatment group than in the control group,as reflected by the objective remission,partial remission,and disease progression rates(all P<0.05).The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and Numerical Rating Scale pain scores were also higher in the treatment group(both P<0.05).In survival analysis,the 1-year overall survival rates in the treatment and control groups were64.516%and 10.345%,respectively,whereas the median overall survival times were 16 and 6 months,respectively(both P<0.05).The6-month progression-free survival rates in the treatment and control groups were 77.419%and 13.790%,respectively,and the median progression-free survival times were 12 and 3 months,respectively(both P<0.05).The rates of hematological and nonhematological toxicological adverse effects were also lower in the treatment group(both P<0.05).Although the rate of liver dysfunction was higher in the treatment group,this finding had no adverse effects on prognosis.Conclusions:Continuous transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with TACE regional arterial perfusion chemotherapy resulted in better efficacy and safety outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer and liver metastasis,suggesting its utility as a reference method for the clinical treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pain management in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Pain after transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation(TACE)can seriously affect the prognosis of patients and the insertion of additional medical resources.AIM To develop an early warning model for predicting pain after TACE to enable the implementation of preventive analgesic measures.METHODS We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 857 patients(from January 2016 to January 2020)and prospectively enrolled 368 patients(from February 2020 to October 2022;as verification cohort)with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)who received TACE in the Hepatic Surgery Center of Tongji Hospital.Five predictive models were established using machine learning algorithms,namely,random forest model(RFM),support vector machine model,artificial neural network model,naive Bayes model and decision tree model.The efficacy of these models in predicting postoperative pain was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,decision curve analysis and clinical impact curve analysis.RESULTS A total of 24 candidate variables were included in the predictive models using the iterative algorithms.Age,preoperative pain,number of embolised tumours,distance from the liver capsule,dosage of iodised oil and preoperative prothrombin activity were closely associated with postoperative pain.The accuracy of the predictive model was compared between the training[area under the curve(AUC)=0.798;95%confidence interval(CI):0.745-0.851]and verification(AUC=0.871;95%CI:0.818-0.924)cohorts,with RFM having the best predictive efficiency(training cohort:AUC=0.869,95%CI:0.816-0.922;internal verification cohort:AUC=0.871;95%CI:0.818-0.924).CONCLUSION The five predictive models based on advanced machine learning algorithms,especially RFM,can accurately predict the risk of pain after TACE in patients with HCC.RFM can be used to assess the risk of pain for facilitating preventive treatment and improving the prognosis.

Analysis of the Effects of Preoperative Hepatic Artery Chemoembolization and Quality Nursing Intervention on the Perioperative Safety and Short-term Prognosis of Liver Transplantation in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative hepatic artery chemoembolization (TACE) and quality nursing interventions on the perioperative safety and short-term prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation. Methods: The study period spanned from January 2021 to December 2023, and 125 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma admitted to our hospital were selected, all of whom underwent liver transplantation. They were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 63) and a control group (n = 62). The patients in the control group did not undergo TACE before the operation, and the patients in the observation group underwent TACE and quality nursing intervention before the operation. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospitalization, liver- free period, complication rate, short-term prognosis, and liver function indexes between the two groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospitalization between the two groups (P < 0.05). The liver-free period of patients in the observation group was longer than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The two groups had no significant difference in the incidence of biliary complications, vascular complications, and postoperative infections (P > 0.05). The rate of immune reactive complications in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the perioperative mortality rate, 1-year postoperative survival rate, and 2-year postoperative survival rate (P > 0.05). The two groups had no significant difference in postoperative liver function indexes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative TACE and high-quality nursing intervention in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had no adverse effect on the perioperative safety and short-term prognosis, prolonged the liver-free time, and reduced the incidence of immune-reactive complications.

Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy using mFOLFOX versus transarterial chemoembolization for massive unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma:a prospective non.randomized study

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) is recommended as the standard care for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) stage A-B. However, the efficacy of TACE on large(> 10 cm) stage A-B HCC is far from satisfactory, and it is proposed that hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)might be a better first-line treatment of this disease. Hence, we compared the safety and efficacy of HAIC with the modified FOLFOX(mFOLFOX) regimen and those ofTACE in patients with massive unresectable HCC.Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, phase II study was conducted on patients with massive unresectable HCC. The protocol involved HAIC with the mFOLFOX regimen(oxaliplatin, 85 mg/m^2 intra-arterial infusion; leucovorin,400 mg/m^2 intra-arterial infusion; and fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2 bolus infusion and 2400 mg/m^2 continuous infusion)every 3 weeks and TACE with 50 mg of epirubicin, 50 mg of lobaplatin, 6 mg of mitomycin, and lipiodol and polyvinyl alcohol particles. The tumor responses, time-to-progression(TTP), and safety were assessed.Results: A total of 79 patients were recruited for this study: 38 in the HAIC group and 41 in the TACE group. The HAIC group exhibited higher partial response and disease control rates than did the TACE group(52.6% vs. 9.8%, P < 0.001;83.8% vs. 52.5%, P = 0.004). The median TTPs for the HAIC and TACE groups were 5.87 and 3.6 months(hazard radio[HR] = 2.35,95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-4.76, P = 0.015). More patients in the HAIC group than in the TACE group underwent resection(10 vs. 3,P = 0.033). The proportions of grade 3-4 adverse events(AE) and serious adverse events(SAE) were lower in the HAIC group than in the TACE group(grade 3-4 AEs: 13 vs. 27, P = 0.007;SAEs: 6 vs. 15,p = 0.044). More patients in the TACE group than in the HAIC group had the study treatment terminated early due to intolerable treatment-related adverse events or the withdrawal of consent(10 vs. 2,P = 0.026).Conclusions: HAIC with mFOLFOX yielded significantly better treatment responses and less serious toxicity than did TACE. HAIC might represent a feasible and promising first-line treatment for patients with massive unresectable HCC.

Balloon-occluded transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) is widely accepted as a treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the intermediate stage according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) guidelines. Recently, balloon-occluded TACE(B-TACE) was developed in Japan. Despite the lack of a clear definition, B-TACE is generally defined as the infusion of emulsion of chemotherapeutic agents with lipiodol followed by gelatin particles under the occlusion of feeding arteries by a microballoon catheter, which leads to the dense lipiodol emulsion(LE) accumulation in HCC nodules. This phenomenon cannot be explained only by the prevention of proximal migration and leakage of embolization materials; it further involves causing local changes in the hemodynamics of the surrounding occlusion artery and targeted HCC nodules. Balloon-occluded arterial stump pressure plays an important role in the dense LE accumulation in targeted HCC nodules. Although randomized controlled trials comparing the therapeutic effect and the prognosis of B-TACE to those of the other TACE procedures, such as conventional-TACE and drug-eluting beads TACE, are still lacking, B-TACE is thought to be a promising treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the mechanism, therapeutic effect, indication, prognosis and complications of BTACE.

Chemoembolization alone vs combined chemoembolization and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of chemoem-bolization alone or chemoembolization combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC),including oxaliplatin(OXA),5-fluorouracil(5-FU) and folinic acid(CF),in inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) without distant metastasis. METHODS: Eighty-four inoperable HCC patients were enrolled. Thirty-ninepatient sunderwent chemoembolization alone,and the other 45 patients underwent chemoembolization + HAIC(OXA/5-FU/CF) treatment non-randomly. The progression free survival(PFS),objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR) and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: A significant difference in the ORR was observed between the chemoembolization alone and chemoembolization + HAIC groups. There was no statistically significant difference in DCR between the two groups. The median PFS(m PFS) showed a significant difference between the two groups. For patients with BCLC stage A/B disease,with or without vessel invasion,the chemoembolization + HAIC group showed better m PFS when compared to chemoembolization alone,but no significant difference was found in patients with BCLC stage C disease. The parameter of pain(grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ) in the chemoembolization + HAIC group was increased statistically. CONCLUSION: Chemoembolization combined with HAIC with OXA/5-FU/CF may be safe and more effective than chemoembolization alone for inoperable HCC patients without distant metastasis.

Application of gemstone spectral imaging for efficacy evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma after transarterial chemoembolization

AIM: To assess the value of gemstone spectral imaging(GSI) in efficacy evaluation in hepatocellular cancer(HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) treatment.METHODS: Thirty patients with HCC underwent GSI, including nonenhanced, arterial, portalvenous and delayed phase scans, after TACE treatment. Arterial phase images were acquired with GSI for reconstruction of virtual nonenhanced images and color overlay images. Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) was performed in all these patients. Two blinded and independent readers evaluated the data in two reading sessions; standard nonenhanced, arterial, portalvenous, and delayed phase images were read in session A, and the optimal monochromatic images, iodine/water based images and spectrum features were read in session B. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated with the DSA data as the reference standard. The sensitivity and specificity were compared using the χ2 test.RESULTS: DSA revealed 154 lesions in 30 patients, and 100 of them had blood supply. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 72%( 72/100) and 77.8 %(42/54) for session A, and 97%(97/100) and 94.4%(51/54) for session B, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the two reading sessions were significantly different(χ2 = 23.04, χ2 = 7.11, P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional CT, GSI could significantly improve the detection of small and multiple lesions without increasing the radiation dose. Based on spectrum features, GSI could assess tumor homogeneity and more accurately identify residual tumors and recurrent or metastatic lesions during efficacy evaluation and follow-up in HCC after TACE treatment.

Efficacy of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with microvascular invasion

AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(PA-TACE) in preventing tumor recurrence and improving survival in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) early(A) and intermediate(B) stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients with microvascular invasion(MVI).METHODS A total of 519 BCLC A or B HCC patients treated by liver resection alone or followed by PA-TACE between January 2012 and December 2015 were studied retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors for recurrence-free survival(RFS) and overall survival(OS). Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the clinicopathological characteristics associated with MVI. The rates of RFS and OS were compared among patients with or without MVI treated with liver resection alone or followed by PA-TACE. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that serum AFP level > 400 ng/m L, tumor size > 5 cm, tumor capsule invasion, MVI, and major hepatectomy were risk factors for poor OS. Tumor capsule invasion, MVI, tumor size > 5 cm, HBV-DNA copies > 1 x 104 IU/m L, and multinodularity were risk factors for poor RFS. Multiple logistic regression identified serum AFP level > 400 ng/m L, tumor size > 5 cm, and tumor capsule invasion as independent predictors of MVI. Both OS and DFS were significantly improved in patients with MVI who received PA-TACE as compared to those who underwent liver resection alone. Patients without MVI did not show a significant difference in OS and RFS between those treated by liver resection alone or followed by PA-TACE.CONCLUSION PA-TACE is a safe adjuvant intervention and can efficiently prevent tumor recurrence and improve the survival of BCLC early-and intermediate-stage HCC patients with MVI.

Association between vascular endothelial growth factor and metastasis after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia up-regulates vascular endothelialgrowth factor (VEGF) and stimulates the growth of hepa-tocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This study was designedto investigate the association between changes in plasmaVEGF levels after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) and HCC progression, especially in relation tometastasis.METHODS: Plasma VEGF levels were measured by quati-tative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA R&D system). Plasma VEGF levels were measuredbefore, 3 days and 4 weeks after TACE in 30 patients withHCC. The development of metastasis was evaluated at theend of the third month after TACE.RESULTS: The plasma VEGF levels of the 30 patients withHCC were 154.47±90.17 pg/ml. The total plasma VEGFlevels after TACE increased compared with their basal levels(P<0.05), and the plasma VEGF levels had a tendency toincrease in patients with heterogenous uptake of iodizdoiland portal vein thrombosis. Follow-up for six monthsshowed metastatic foci in 20 patients (74%) with increasedplasma VEGF, but none of the patients with decreased plas-ma VEGF developed metastasis.CONCLUSION: Increased plasma VEGF expression is asso-ciated with the development of metastasis in HCC after TA-CE.

Combination of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: observation of clinical effects

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of radiofrequency ablation （RFA） combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） for advanced hepatocellnlar carcinoma （HCC）. Methods： A total of 92 eases of advanced primary liver cancer underwent TACE and RFA treatment from June 2005 to 2011 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. A total of 88 cases with complete clinical treatment and follow-up data were divided into two groups： 43 patients treated with TACE （TACE group） and 45 patients that received TACE combined with RFA treatment （TACE ＋ RFA group）. After clinical data assessment, tumor size and survival status were not significantly different between the groups as determined by stratified analysis. Results： Before and after surgery, spiral CT radiography and color comparison observed ablation conditions. The tumor necrosis rates after treatment （CR ＋ PR） were 67.4% （29/43） and 91.1% （41/45） for the TACE and combined treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. The quality of life was significantly improved for patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Survival duration was not significantly different in patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Conclusions： In this study, the effect of RFA combined with TACE treatment was better than TACE alone in treating advanced HCC.

Clostridium perfringens infection after transarterial chemoembolization for large hepatocellular carcinoma

We report an unusual case of Clostridium perfringens liver abscess formation after transcatheter arterialchemoembolization(TACE) for large hepatocellular carcinoma.Severe deterioration in liver and renal function accompanied with hemocytolysis was found on the 2nd day after TACE.Blood culture found Clostridium perfringens and abdominal computed tomography revealed a gas-containing abscess in the liver.Following antibiotics administration and support care, the infection was controlled and the liver and renal function turned normal.The 2nd TACE procedure was performed 1.5 mo later and no recurrent Clostridium perfringens infection was found.

Radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by comparing with radiofrequency ablation alone

Objective：To compare radiofrequency ablation （RFA） or microwave ablation （MWA） and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） with RFA or MWA monotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.Methods：A prospective,randomized,controlled trial was conducted on 94 patients with HCC ≤7 cm at a single tertiary referral center from June 2008 to June 2010 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University.The patients were randomly assigned into the TACERFA or TACE-MWA （combined treatment group） and the RFA-alone or MWA-alone groups （control group）.The primary end point was overall survival.The secondary end point was recurrence-free survival,and the tertiary end point was adverse effects.Results：Until the time of censor,17 patients in the TACE-RFA or TACE-MWA group had died.The median follow-up time of the patients who were still alive for the TACE-RFA or TACE-MWA group was 47.5±11.3 months （range,29 to 62 months）.The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival for the TACE-RFA or TACE-MWA group was 93.6％,68.1％ and 61.7％,respectively.Twenty-five patients in the RFA or MWA group had died.The median follow-up time of the patients who were still alive for the RFA or MWA group was 47.0±12.9 months （range,28 to 62 months）.The 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival for the RFA or MWA group was 85.1％,59.6％ and 44.7％,respectively.The patients in the TACE-RFA or TACE-MWA group had better overall survival than the RFA or MWA group [hazard ratio （HR）,0.526; 95％ confidence interval （95％ CO,0.334-0.823; P=0.002],and showed better recurrence-free survival than the RFA or MWA group （HR,0.582; 95％ CI,0.368-0.895; P=0.008）.Conclusions：RFA or MWA combined with TACE in the treatment of HCC ≤7 cm was superior to RFA or MWA alone in improving survival by reducing arterial and portal blood flow due to TACE with iodized oil before RFA.

Doxorubicin-eluting bead vs conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation

AIM:To assess the possible effect of two different types of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)on recurrence-free survival after liver transplantation(LT)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and to analyze the effects of TACE on tumor histology.METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the histological features of 130 HCC nodules in 63 native livers removed at transplantation.Patients who received any other type of treatment such as radiofrequency tumor ablation,percutaneous ethanol ablation or who were not treated at all were excluded.All patients in the present study were within the Milan Criteria at the last imaging findings before transplantation.Doxorubicineluting bead TACE(DEB-TACE)was performed in 22patients(38 nodules),and conventional TACE(c-TACE)in 16(25 nodules).Patients’and tumors’characteristics were retrospectively reviewed.We performed a pernodule analysis of the explanted livers to establish the mean percentage of necrosis of any nodule treated by TACE(conventional or DEB)and a per-patient analysis to establish the percentage of necrosis in the cumulative tumor area,including 21 nodules not reached by TACE.Inflammatory and fibrotic changes in the tissue surrounding the tumor nodule were analyzed and categorized as poor/absent,moderate and enhanced reaction.Uni-and multivariate analysis of risk factors for HCC-recurrence were performed.RESULTS:The number and diameter of the nodules,the time spent on the waiting list and the number of treatments were similar in the two groups.A trend towards higher appropriate response rates(necrosis≥90%)was observed in the DEB-TACE group(44.7%vs32.0%,P=0.2834).The mean percentage of necrosis in the cumulative tumor area was 58.8%±36.6%in the DEB-TACE group and 50.2%±38.1%in the c-TACE group(P=0.4856).Fibrotic and inflammatory reactions surrounding the tumor nodule were markedly more common in the DEB-TACE group(P<0.0001,for both the parameters).The three-year recurrence-free survival was higher in DEB-TACE-treated patients than in conventionally treated patients(87.4%vs 61.5%,P=0.0493).Other factors affecting recurrence-free survival included viable tumor beyond Milan Criteria on histopathological examination,the percentage of necrosis on CTA≤50%and a pre-transplant serum-fetoprotein level greater than 70 ng/mL.On multivariate analysis,the lack of treatment with DEB-TACE,high levels of-fetoprotein and viable tumor beyond Milan Criteria at histology examination were identified as independent predictors of tumor recurrence.CONCLUSION:DEB-TACE can effectively promote tumor necrosis and improves recurrence-free survival after LT in HCC.