Application of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatobiliary cancers

Hepatobiliary cancers are primarily categorized into hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and biliary tract cancers(BTC).HCC is one of the most common malignant cancers,with increasing global incidence.Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have changed the approach of HCC management in recent years.The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has surpassed sorafenib as the standard regimen for first-line treatment of advanced unresectable HCC.However,the optimal choice for second-line treatment after initial treatment with ICIs lacks clinical trial confirmation.In addition,limited clinical trial data on ICIs combined with locoregional and perioperative therapies have been reported.Unlike HCC,clinical studies have found that immunotherapy is effective only for BTC with specific molecular markers.Moreover,the molecular characteristics governing immune responses and evasion remain unclear.This review provides information on the application of immunotherapy for HCC and prospects over the next few years.In addition,current evidence from clinical trials of BTC has made BTC immunotherapy a research hotspot again.Based on the findings in the literature,future clinical trials are being planned.Furthermore,biomarkers used in immunotherapies for hepatobiliary cancers that may shed light on the management of these diseases in the future were discussed.

Factors associated with 5-year survival of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma(HCC/CC)is a rare primary hepatic malignancy which carries a poor prognosis due to its aggressive nature.Few centers have enough cases to draw definitive conclusions and there is limited understanding of prognosis.Given the rarity of HCC/CC,an analysis of large national cancer database was needed to obtain larger number of HCC/CC cases.AIM To identify associated factors for 5-year survival of HCC/CC.METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of The Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)database obtained from SEER*Stat 8.3.6 software.Previously defined histology code 8180 for the International Classification of Disease for Oncology,3rd edition was used to identify HCC/CC cases from 2004 to 2015.We collected demographics,American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)stage,treatment,tumor size,and survival data.These data were converted to categorical variables.The Shapiro-Wilk normality test was used to assess normal distribution.Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables without normal distribution,and t-test was used to compare continuous variables with a normal distribution.The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyzed 5-year survival.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze factors associated with 5-year survival.Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression was done on 5-year survival.We defined P<0.05 was statistically significant.RESULTS We identified 497 patients with the following characteristics:Mean age 62.4 years(SD:11.3),149(30.0%)were female,racial distribution was:276(55.5%)white,53(10.7%)black,84(16.9%)Asian and Pacific Islander(API),77(15.5%)Hispanic,and 7(1.4%)others or unknown.Stage I/II disease occurred in 41.5%and tumor size<50 mm was seen in 35.6%of patients.Twenty-four(4.8%)received locoregional therapy(LRT),119(23.9%)underwent resection,and 50(10.1%)underwent liver transplantation.The overall median survival was 6 mo[Interquartile range(IQR):1-22].After multivariate logistic regression,tumor size<50 mm[Odds ratios(OR):2.415,P=0.05],resection(OR:12.849,P<0.01),and transplant(OR:27.129,P<0.01)showed significance for 5-year survival.Age>60,sex,race,AJCC stages,metastasis,and LRT were not significant.However,API vs white showed significant OR of 2.793(CI:1.120-6.967).Cox proportional hazard regression showed AJCC stages,tumor size<50 mm,LRT,resection,and transplant showed significant hazard ratio.CONCLUSION HCC/CC patients with tumor size<50 mm,resection,and transplant were associated with an increase in 5-year survival.API showed advantageous OR and hazard ratios over white,black.

Health-related quality of life in patients that have undergone liver resection:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Mortality after hepatectomy has decreased,and the quality of various surgical approaches to hepatectomy have been evaluated.Various assessments of quality of life(QOL)after hepatectomy have been developed and investigated in different clinical settings.AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine two clinical topics:Laparoscopic hepatectomy vs open hepatectomy,and preoperative QOL status vs postoperative QOL status.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE,including the Cochrane Library Central.The following inclusion criteria were set for inclusion in this meta-analysis:(1)Studies comparing preoperative QOL and postoperative QOL;and(2)Studies comparing QOL between laparoscopic hepatectomy and open hepatectomy.RESULTS A total of 8 articles were included in this meta-analysis.QOL was better after laparoscopic hepatectomy than after open hepatectomy.CONCLUSION The outcomes of evaluations of QOL after hepatectomy can depend on the type of questionnaire used,the timing of the assessment,and the etiology of the hepatic disease.