BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a standard treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after liver resection.However,resistance to TACE considerably limits its efficacy and worsens patient ...BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a standard treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after liver resection.However,resistance to TACE considerably limits its efficacy and worsens patient prognosis.Identifying molecular markers that predict TACE response is crucial for individualized treatment strategies.AIM To investigate lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 2(LHFPL2)expression in patients with HCC and its association with TACE efficacy and overall survival(OS).METHODS A retrospective study was conducted including 60 patients with HCC who underwent≥3 standardized TACE treatments for recurrence after curative hepatectomy between January 2014 and December 2020 at Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital and Wuxi People’s Hospital.The patients were divided into TACE-resistant(n=30)and non-resistant(n=30)groups.LHFPL2 protein expression in tumor tissues was assessed using immunohistochemistry,and its association with clinicopathological features,TACE response,and OS was analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method,log-rank test,and Cox regression models were used to evaluate prognostic value.RESULTS The TACE-resistant group exhibited significantly higher LHFPL2 expression than the non-resistant group(P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the two groups in hepatitis B virus carrier status,alphafetoprotein(AFP)levels,tumor differentiation,and LHFPL2 expression(P<0.05).The median OS in the LHFPL2 high-expression group was 2.28 years,which was significantly shorter than that in the low expression group(P<0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high LHFPL2 expression,AFP≥400 ng/mL,and TACE resistance were independent risk factors for OS(P<0.05).A combined prognostic model using LHFPL2 and AFP revealed that patients with high LHFPL2 and AFP≥400 ng/mL had the poorest prognosis(median OS 1.44 years),whereas patients with low LHFPL2 and AFP<400 ng/mL had the best prognosis(median OS not reached),with significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION High LHFPL2 expression was closely associated with TACE resistance and was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with HCC.Combining LHFPL2 with AFP enhanced prognostic stratification,providing a novel molecular marker and clinical basis for personalized therapy and TACE response prediction.展开更多
Transarterial chemoembolization is a common treatment modality that significantly improves prognosis in patients with intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.However,this procedure is associated with a spectrum...Transarterial chemoembolization is a common treatment modality that significantly improves prognosis in patients with intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.However,this procedure is associated with a spectrum of potential arterial and biliary complications,ranging from mild self-limiting ones to those severely affecting patient outcomes.This review systematically integrates recent studies to explore the epidemiological characteristics,risk factors,and management strategies of these two groups of complications.Arterial complications,primarily hepatic artery stenosis,pseudoaneurysm,and arterial rupture hemorrhage,exhibit a biphasic distribution pattern with the majority occurring within 72 hours postoperatively,while a notable portion occurs within 1-4 weeks.Biliary complications,including biliary fistulas,biliary strictures,and ischemic cholangitis,exhibit higher incidence rates and more insidious clinical manifestations than arterial complications.Risk factors include the severity of cirrhosis,tumor location,procedural technique,and chemotherapeutic drug toxicity.Management strategies emphasize careful preoperative planning(primarily with computed tomography angiography),standardized intraoperative procedures(like superselective embolization),and multi-pronged postoperative monitoring(imaging combined with laboratory indicators of liver function).Interventional embolization or surgical reconstruction is used for arterial complications,while endoscopic therapy or surgical drainage is selected based on the severity of injury for biliary complications.Future research should further explore individualized treatment regimens and novel embolic materials to reduce complication rates and enhance the safety of transarterial chemoembolization.展开更多
BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is important role for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,owing to the heterogeneity of HCC tumors,TACE efficacy varies among individual ...BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is important role for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,owing to the heterogeneity of HCC tumors,TACE efficacy varies among individual HCC patients.Accurate preoperative prediction of responses to TACE among HCC patients could guide the development of individualized treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.AIM To investigate the predictive value of multiple-sequence magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)radiomic features combined with clinical indices for the response to TACE among HCC patients and to develop an interpretable machine learning model.METHODS A total of 116 patients with HCC who underwent TACE were retrospectively enrolled.Patients in this study were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group at a ratio of 7:3.The response to TACE was evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Radiomic features were extracted from axial fatsuppressed T2-weighted imaging,arterial phase and portal venous phase axial dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI sequences.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to select the best radiomic features.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to select clinical predictive factors that affect the response to TACE among patients with HCC.Logistic regression was used to construct a radiomic model of each sequence,a multiple-sequence MRI radiomics model,and a radiomic-clinical(RC)model.The predictive performance of each model was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.The risk factors in the RC model were subsequently interpreted via SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis.RESULTS The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of the fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging,arterial-phase,portal-venous-phase,joint-radiomic model and RC model were 0.771,0.668,0.725,0.845 and 0.929,respectively,in the training group and 0.705,0.666,0.675,0.799 and 0.815,respectively,in the validation group.The clinical-radiomic model had the best predictive performance.The SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm was used to illustrate the contribution of each feature in the RC model.CONCLUSION The interpretable RC model could successfully stratify HCC patients into TACE responders and TACE nonresponders and serve as a potential tool to identify more appropriate HCC patients for TACE,thus sparing patients from receiving ineffective and unnecessary treatments.展开更多
BACKGROUND The absence of standard postoperative protocols for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)undergoing transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)may negatively affect health and quality of life(QoL).Bundle ca...BACKGROUND The absence of standard postoperative protocols for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)undergoing transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)may negatively affect health and quality of life(QoL).Bundle care is a multidisciplinary,evidence-based model that offers a structured approach.Yet,its effects on this population remain underexplored.The hypothesis in this study was that the implementation of the bundle care protocol can improve QoL and nutritional status after TACE.AIM To examine the effects of a multidisciplinary bundle care protocol on the QoL and nutritional status of post-TACE HCC patients.METHODS A tertiary hospital conducted a retrospective study on 80 HCC patients who underwent TACE from June 2023 to January 2025.They were included in the routine care group(control group;n=40),routine care and bundle care group(intervention group;n=40).The bundle care protocol included multidisciplinary coordination,dynamic assessments[Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),Numerical Rating Scale],stepwise analgesia,stratified nutrition support,and intelligent follow-up with WeChat.The nutritional status(PG-SGA),psychological scores(HADS),post-embolization symptoms,and laboratory parameters were outcome measures.Independent t-tests,χ2 tests and non-parametric tests were used to analyze data.RESULTS Post-intervention,the bundle care group showed significantly lower PG-SGA scores than the control group(1.86±0.89 vs 4.46±2.13,P<0.001),lower anxiety(HADS-Anxiety:0.36±0.49 vs 4.25±2.03,P<0.001)and depression scores(HADS-Depression:0.00 vs 5.00,P<0.001).Albumin levels(38.33±4.09 g/L vs 35.60±4.87 g/L,P=0.008)and body mass index(24.24±2.45 vs 21.67±2.63,P<0.001)were significantly higher in the bundle care group.Nausea resolution was 97.5%in the bundle care group vs 87.5%in controls(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with HCC after TACE,bundle care can significantly improve nutritional status,psychological status,and symptom control to make a case for further clinical use.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is associated with a poor prognosis.Intermediate-to advanced-stage HCC patients are commonly administered transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).Recently,TACE combined with immun...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is associated with a poor prognosis.Intermediate-to advanced-stage HCC patients are commonly administered transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).Recently,TACE combined with immunotherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy;however,there is substantial interindividual heterogeneity in treatment responses.Therefore,developing efficient predictive biomarkers for therapeutic success is essential for attaining individualized therapy.AIM To assess the short-term efficacy of TACE in conjunction with immunotherapy against TACE monotherapy in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC,while also preliminarily investigating the clinical,serological,and radiomic characteristics associated with the efficacy of the combination treatment.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed 120 intermediate-advanced HCC patients admitted to our hospital between January 2023 and January 2025.Of these patients,60 received TACE+immunotherapy(combined group),while 60 received TACE monotherapy(TACE group).The objective response rate,disease control rate at 3 months post-treatment,and changes in serum levels of tumor markers(α-Lfucosidase,alpha-fetoprotein,carbohydrate antigen 19-9),angiogenic factors(hepatocyte growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor),and apoptosis-related molecules(cysteine aspartic protease-3,survivin)before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Based on the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors,the combination cohort was further stratified into responders(complete response/partial response)and non-responders(stable disease/progressive disease).The differences and correlations between baseline clinical characteristics and radiomic features(e.g.,entropy,gray-level variance,texture features)were acquired from pre-treatment computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans.RESULTS The objective response rate(36.7%vs 23.3%)and disease control rate(76.7%vs 60.0%)in the combination group were substantially higher than those in the TACE group(both P<0.05).The combination group had superior efficacy in reducing serum tumor marker levels,suppressing angiogenic factors,upregulating cysteine aspartic protease-3 expression,and downregulating survivin expression relative to the TACE group(all P<0.05).Moreover,the combination group’s radiomic features(including gray-level co-occurrence matrix contrast,arterialphase entropy,and gray-level variance)were significantly correlated with clinical features,including tumor volume,number,and location(all P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics between responders and non-responders.CONCLUSION TACE+immunotherapy indicated improved short-term efficacy and serological molecules modulation compared with TACE monotherapy in intermediate-advanced HCC patients.Radiomic features can quantitatively reflect tumor heterogeneity and correlate with basic tumor characteristics,indicating their potential as non-invasive biomarkers.However,the predictive value of these radiomic characteristics for the effectiveness of combination therapy necessitates more validation in prospective investigations.展开更多
BACKGROUND There have been no comparative studies on doxorubicin(DOX),oxaliplatin(OXA)and gemcitabine(GEM)drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolisation(DEBTACE)in treating patients with unresectable non-small cell...BACKGROUND There have been no comparative studies on doxorubicin(DOX),oxaliplatin(OXA)and gemcitabine(GEM)drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolisation(DEBTACE)in treating patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of different loading drugs in the treatment of these patients.METHODS A total of 123 patients with unresectable NSCLC were enrolled,including the DOX-eluting DEB-TACE group(DOX group,n=47),OXA-eluting DEB-TACE group(OXA group,n=29)and GEM-eluting DEB-TACE(GEM group,n=47).Treatment response,overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS)and adverse events were evaluated.RESULTS The 1-and 3-month tumor response showed no significant change among the three groups.Both the 6-month objective response rate and disease control rate showed highest trends in the OXA group[objective response rate(ORR):33.3%/disease control rate(DCR):57.1%],followed by the GEM(ORR:17.1%/DCR:42.9%)and DOX groups(ORR:17.6%/DCR:41.2%),although not statistically significant(ORR:P=0.29/DCR:P=0.47).Both OS and PFS were highest in the OXA group[OS:29.6 months,interquartile range(IQR):4.6-18.5 months/PFS:9.9 months,IQR:2.5-13.4 months].The OXA group exhibited prolonged PFS and increased OS compared with the DOX group(P=0.10,χ2=2.720,P=0.03,χ2=4.806)and GEM groups(P=0.30,χ2=1.095,P=0.08,χ2=3.165).The incidence rates of adverse events were comparable between the DOX and OXA groups but were lower in the GEM group;however,no statistical significance was observed(P=0.63),and all adverse events were tolerable in the three groups.CONCLUSION DOX,OXA and GEM eluting DEB-TACE may be an effective and safe treatment approach for unresectable NSCLC,with patients in the OXA group potentially exhibiting a prolonged OS.Randomized controlled trials are required to further clarify the efficacy of different drug-eluting DEB-TACE in unresectable NSCLC.展开更多
To the Editor:We read with great interest the recent article by Shi et al.pub-lished in Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Diseases International[1].Shi’s study was based on radiological features and clinical factors to constr...To the Editor:We read with great interest the recent article by Shi et al.pub-lished in Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Diseases International[1].Shi’s study was based on radiological features and clinical factors to construct a model to predict the effectiveness of first transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in prolonging patient survival.The results showed that area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.964 for the training cohort and 0.949 for the validation cohort.展开更多
Background:The high recurrent rate after surgery hinders the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus transarte...Background:The high recurrent rate after surgery hinders the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as an adjuvant therapy in HCC patients with high risk of recurrence.Methods:Patients were enrolled from eight hepatobiliary centers in China.The primary endpoint was disease-free survival(DFS).The secondary endpoints were overall survival(OS)and safety.Additionally,propensity score matching(PSM)and other three propensity score analyses were performed to balance the potential baseline bias to validate the conclusion.The adverse events(AEs)were recorded throughout the study.The study was registered at Clinical Trials.gov(NCT03838796).Results:A total of 297 patients were enrolled,with 147 in the LEN+TACE group and 150 in the TACE group.Before PSM,the LEN+TACE group achieved significantly better DFS than the TACE group(19.0 vs.10.0 months,P=0.011).PSM analysis identified 111 matched pairs.After PSM,the LEN+TACE group also showed better DFS(19.0 vs.9.0 months,P=0.018).Other three propensity score analyses yielded similar DFS benefit tendency.Furthermore,favorable OS was also obtained in the LEN+TACE group before PSM.Lenvatinib related AEs of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 28.6%of the patients in the LEN+TACE group.Conclusions:Adjuvant lenvatinib plus TACE might be a promising adjuvant approach for HCC patients with high risk of recurrence,which could significantly prolong DFS and potentially OS with a manageable safety profile.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,with advanced stages posing significant treatment challenges.Al-though hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has emerged as a...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,with advanced stages posing significant treatment challenges.Al-though hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has emerged as a promising modality for treating advanced HCC,particularly in Asian clinical practice,its adoption in Western medicine remains limited due to a lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials.This editorial reviews and comments on the meta-analysis conducted by Zhou et al,which evaluates the efficacy and safety of HAIC and its combination strategies for advanced HCC.The authors performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of various clinical trials and cohort studies comparing HAIC and its combinations to other first-line treatments,such as sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).In this work,HAIC showed significantly better results regarding overall survival and progression-free survival compared to sorafenib or TACE alone and their combination.HAIC in combination with lenvatinib,ablation,programmed cell death 1 inhibitors,and radiotherapy further enhanced patient outcomes,indicating a synergistic effect.This editorial focuses on the critical role of multimodal treatment strategies in managing advanced HCC.It advocates for a paradigm shift towards integrated treatment approaches to enhance survival rates and improve the quality of life in patients with advanced HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA)has emerged as a promising t...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA)has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for patients with unresectable HCC.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TACE combined with RFA compared to TACE alone in the management of primary HCC.METHODS A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted at our institution from January 2020 to January 2024,involving 106 patients diagnosed with intermediate to advanced-stage HCC.Patients were divided into two groups:Those receiving TACE alone(n=56)and those undergoing combined TACE and RFA therapy(n=50).Treatment efficacy was assessed based on tumor response rates,serum alphafetoprotein(AFP)levels,and survival outcomes.Statistical analyses,includingχ2tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,were performed to compare the outcomes between the two groups.RESULTS The TACE+RFA group demonstrated significantly higher rates of complete response(15 vs 4,P<0.01)and partial response(23 vs 15,P=0.046)compared to the TACE group.Conversely,the TACE group exhibited higher rates of stable disease(25 vs 7,P<0.01)and progressive disease(12 vs 5,P<0.01).Serum AFP levels decreased over time in the TACE+RFA group,while they increased in the TACE group.Survival analysis revealed superior survival outcomes in the TACE+RFA group,with higher survival rates and a prolonged median survival time compared to the TACE group.CONCLUSION The combination of RFA with TACE could offer enhanced treatment response and prolonged survival in patients with primary HCC compared to TACE alone.These findings might support the adoption of multimodal therapeutic approaches,emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment strategies in the management of HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)and Southeast Asia account for 80%of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cases globally.Public healthcare systems in low-and middleincome countries often face significant economic constraint...BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)and Southeast Asia account for 80%of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cases globally.Public healthcare systems in low-and middleincome countries often face significant economic constraints,resulting in limited treatment options.The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)stage C and D undergoing transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and to compare their outcomes to patients treated tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)or best supportive care(BSC)only.AIM To assess clinical outcomes and identify predictive factors that may facilitate the broader implementation of TACE in patients with advanced HCC within resource-constrained settings such as SSA.METHODS A single-center,retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with the outcome of TACE in patients with BCLC stage C and D using univariate and multivariate regression analysis.Frequency matching was used to ensure comparable distributions of confounding factors across patients treated with TACE,TKIs,or BSC.Survival analysis was performed to compare outcomes among the matched groups.RESULTS Patients with BCLC stage C and D presenting with elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase levels or elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels or portal vein infiltration were identified as high-risk and demonstrated poor response to TACE treatment.In contrast,patients with BCLC stage C disease who lacked these highrisk features showed significantly longer overall survival when treated with TACE compared to those who received BSC or TKIs.CONCLUSION Gamma-glutamyl transferase levels,aspartate aminotransferase levels,and portal vein infiltration are critical risk factors to consider when determining treatment strategies for HCC patients in SSA.Patients without these factors can derive significant benefits from TACE as an alternative to BSC or TKIs.展开更多
BACKGROUND Acute cholecystitis due to unintended cystic artery embolism is an uncommon and mostly self-limiting complication after transarterial chemoembolization procedure for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Us...BACKGROUND Acute cholecystitis due to unintended cystic artery embolism is an uncommon and mostly self-limiting complication after transarterial chemoembolization procedure for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Usually,conservative management is sufficient for complete recovery of patients who develop this complication.If conservative treatment is ineffective,urgent surgical inter-vention may be required to prevent the progression of complications.CASE SUMMARY This article reports a rare and serious case of acute cholecystitis complicated by gallbladder necrosis and biliary peritonitis,which was initially treated conservatively but eventually necessitated emergency laparotomy.The patient initially presented with equivocal symptoms of fever and upper abdominal pain and distention,which worsened at the two weeks mark along with emergence of signs of peritonitis.This was managed by emergency laparotomy and cholecystostomy,allowing rapid symptom relief.The patient ultimately discharged and succumbed to advanced liver cancer 11 months after diagnosis.CONCLUSION After cholecystostomy,the patient showed symptom relief and was discharged,surviving 11 months post-stage IIIB liver cancer diagnosis.展开更多
With continuous advancements in interventional radiology,considerable progress has been made in transarterial therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in recent years,and an increasing number of research papers on t...With continuous advancements in interventional radiology,considerable progress has been made in transarterial therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in recent years,and an increasing number of research papers on transarterial therapies for HCC have been published.In this editorial,we comment on the article by Ma et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology:“Efficacy and predictive factors of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for unresectable HCC”.We focus specifically on the current research status and future directions of transarterial therapies.In the future,more studies are needed to determine the optimal transarterial local treatment for HCC.With the emergence of checkpoint immunotherapy modalities,it is expected that the results of trials of transarterial local therapy combined with systemic therapy will bring new hope to HCC patients.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)gene expression for postoperative survival in patients with advanced liver cancer undergoing hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization...Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)gene expression for postoperative survival in patients with advanced liver cancer undergoing hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization treatment.Method:Bioinformatics methods,including gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis,were used to identify genes related to survival prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.A retrospective analysis of 115 advanced liver cancer patients treated between January 2016 and October 2017 was conducted.Patients were categorized into SPP1 high-expression(n=89)and low-expression groups(n=26).Additionally,115 healthy individuals served as the control group.The relationship between SPP1 expression and clinical pathological features was analyzed.A 60-month follow-up and logistic regression analysis identified risk factors affecting survival.Results:SPP1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in liver cancer patients compared to healthy controls(P<0.05).SPP1 expression levels were significantly associated with tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging(P<0.05).High SPP1 expression,along with tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging,were independent risk factors for survival(P<0.05).The 60-month survival rate was 17.39%,with a median survival of 40 months in the low-expression group versus 18 months in the high-expression group(P<0.05).Conclusion:SPP1 expression is significantly upregulated in advanced liver cancer patients and has predictive value for postoperative survival following hepatic artery chemoembolization treatment.SPP1,combined with clinical indicators such as tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging,may serve as a prognostic biomarker for interventional treatment outcomes.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a major health concern in Thailand,with most patients diagnosed at the intermediate stage.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment;however,postembolizat...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a major health concern in Thailand,with most patients diagnosed at the intermediate stage.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment;however,postembolization syndrome(PES)remains a common complication.Although both dexamethasone(DEXA)and N-acetylcysteine(NAC)have shown efficacy in reducing PES,no study has directly compared their effects.AIM To compare the incidence of PES between DEXA and NAC in intermediate-stage HCC patients undergoing conventional TACE(cTACE).METHODS A randomized,double-blind,controlled trial was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Thailand from November 2024 to April 2025.Eligible HCC patients(aged 18-70 years)were randomized(1:1)to receive either NAC(150 mg/kg/hour loading dose,followed by 50 mg/kg over 4 hours,then 6.25 mg/kg/hour for 48 hours post-cTACE)or DEXA(8 mg IV 1 hour before cTACE).cTACE was performed by blinded interventional radiologists.The primary outcome was PES occurrence within 48 hours,assessed using South West Oncology Group toxicity coding and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.The secondary outcomes were post-cTACE liver decompensation and the dynamic changes in the albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score.RESULTS A total of 56 intermediate-stage HCC patients were included(DEXA,n=28;NAC,n=28).Most had preserved liver function,with 92.9%classified as Child-Pugh A.The maximum tumor size was 6.2 cm,and 85.7%had multiple lesions.Additionally,39 patients(69.6%)met the beyond up-to-7 criteria.Overall,27 patients(48.2%)developed PES.After adjusting for confounding factors,the NAC group had a significantly lower incidence of PES than the DEXA group(32.1%vs 64.3%;adjusted odds ratio=0.17,95%confidence interval:0.03-0.87,P=0.033).Only two patients(3.6%)developed post-cTACE liver decompensation.Furthermore,51.8%patients experienced worsening ALBI scores within 48 hours post-procedure;however,the rate of ALBI score worsening did not significantly differ between the groups.CONCLUSION Compared with DEXA,NAC significantly reduces the incidence of PES,regardless of its impact on liver function recovery.Therefore,NAC is a preferable option for reducing PES in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-B stage HCC patients with preserved liver function.展开更多
BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer,predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),is a major cause of cancer-related mortality.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a key palliative option for unresectable HCC.However,pro...BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer,predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),is a major cause of cancer-related mortality.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a key palliative option for unresectable HCC.However,prognostic outcomes after TACE vary significantly.This study evaluated the prognostic value of the fibrinogen and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(F-NLR)score,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and prealbumin(PA)in patients undergoing TACE.AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of F-NLR score,AFP,and PA in patients undergoing TACE.METHODS Variables such as F-NLR score,AFP,PA,and other clinical indicators were assessed.Follow-ups determined prognosis as good or poor.Statistical asse-ssments,including receiver operating characteristic analyses,were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance and develop an integrated predictive model.RESULTS A retrospective analysis of 162 patients with primary liver cancer undergoing TACE was conducted.Low F-NLR scores and AFP levels and high PA were significantly associated with a good prognosis.The combined model,which integrated F-NLR,AFP,and PA,demonstrated a favorable prognostic predictive capability,with an area under the curve of 0.933.CONCLUSION Preoperative F-NLR,AFP,and PA are valuable prognostic predictors in patients with HCC undergoing TACE.展开更多
BACKGROUND Although the triple therapy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors is becoming an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellul...BACKGROUND Although the triple therapy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors is becoming an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).However,there is still a lack of effective tools for predicting therapeutic effects at present.AIM To develop a predictive tool for the prognosis of uHCC patients treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib.METHODS Based on multicenter data,this study constructed and validated an AADN score as variables to predict overall survival in patients treated with this combination therapy.This study included 188 uHCC cases(training cohort:n=101,validation cohort:n=87)from three different hospitals.Who were treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib.RESULTS In multivariate analysis,alpha-fetoprotein≥100 ng/mL[hazard ratio(HR)=2.579,P=0.010],alkaline phosphatase>120 U/L,(HR=2.234,P=0.021),direct bilirubin>7.3μmol/L(HR=2.931,P=0.007)and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio>2.5(HR=3.127,P=0.006)were identified as independent prognostic factors and were used to establish the AADN score.Kaplan-Meier survival curves and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the accuracy of the AADN score,with area under receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.827(training cohort,95%confidence interval:0.743-0.911)and 0.832(validation cohort,95%confidence interval:0.742-0.923).According to the score,the patients were divided into low-risk,intermediate-risk and highrisk groups.Overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly different between groups.CONCLUSION The AADN score can distinguish the prognostic risk of uHCC patients treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib,provides a basis for individualized treatment decision-making,and have clinical application prospect.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common form of liver cancer that has limited treatment options and a poor prognosis.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the first-line treatment for intermediate...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common form of liver cancer that has limited treatment options and a poor prognosis.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the first-line treatment for intermediate-stage HCC but can induce tumour hypoxia,thereby promoting angiogenesis.Recent studies suggested that combining TACE with anti-angiogenic therapies and immunotherapy might im-prove efficacy.Lenvatinib,a tyrosine kinase inhibitor,has demonstrated superior outcomes compared to sorafenib,while immune checkpoint inhibitors such as sintilimab show potential when combined with TACE.However,the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab(TACE+SL)compared to TACE with lenvatinib alone(TACE+L)in patients with intermediate-ad-vanced HCC has not yet been investigated.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE+SL therapy in comparison to TACE+L therapy in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with intermediate-advanced HCC who received TACE plus lenvatinib with or without sintilimab between September 2019 and September 2022.Baseline characteristics were compared,and propensity score matching was applied.Overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and objective response rate(ORR)were evaluated between the two groups,and adverse events were analyzed.RESULTS The study included 57 patients,with 30 in the TACE+SL group and 27 in the TACE+L group.The TACE+SL group demonstrated significantly improved median PFS and OS compared to the TACE+L group(PFS:14.1 months vs 9.6 months,P=0.016;OS:22.4 months vs 14.1 months,P=0.039),along with a higher ORR(70.0%vs 55.6%).After propensity score matching,30 patients were included,with the TACE+SL group again showing longer median PFS and a trend toward improved OS(PFS:14.6 months vs 9.2 months,P=0.012;OS:23.9 months vs 16.3 months,P=0.063),and a higher ORR(73.3%vs 53.3%).No severe adverse events were reported.CONCLUSION TACE+SL demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of OS and PFS,compared to TACE+L.These findings suggest that the addition of sintilimab might enhance the therapeutic response in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective treatment options.This is particularly true for advanced HCC,for which conventional therapies...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective treatment options.This is particularly true for advanced HCC,for which conventional therapies often lead to a poor prognosis.AIM To assess the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)with donafenib and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)for unresectable HCC.METHODS We retrospectively assessed the data of patients with HCC who underwent TACE combined with donafenib and an ICI(tislelizumab or cedilimumab).Patients received oral donafenib daily for 2 weeks before TACE,followed by tislelizumab or cedilimumab 200 mg intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day therapeutic cycle.The primary endpoints were objective response rate,disease control rate,and duration of response according to the modified RECIST criteria.The secondary endpoint was presence of treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs).RESULTS The median follow-up was 7.8 months(95%CI:5.0-11.8 months).The objective response rate was 60.0%(18/30),while the disease control rate was 93.3%.The median duration of response in confirmed responders was 6.6 months(95%CI:1.3-12.9 months).The median progression-free survival was 11.8 months(95%CI:8.3-15.4 months).More than half of the patients survived until the end of the study.Grade>3 TRAEs occurred in 40%of the patients with no grade 5 TRAEs reported.The most common grade 3/4 TRAE was palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia,a dermatologic condition characterized by painful redness and swelling of the palms and soles,with an incidence of 56.7%.No ICI-related adverse effects were observed.CONCLUSION TACE combined with donafenib and ICI is a promising and safe therapeutic regimen for unresectable HCC.展开更多
Background The CRAFITY score can predict survival and radiological response to systemic front-line treatment in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Aims In this study,we aimed to externally validate the CRAFITY...Background The CRAFITY score can predict survival and radiological response to systemic front-line treatment in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Aims In this study,we aimed to externally validate the CRAFITY score and compare it with other simple prognostic models in patients with unresectable HCC who underwent transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with systemic therapies.Methods Patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs),with or without immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs),were retrospectively analyzed to determine whether the CRAFITY score can predict overall survival(OS)through multivariate analysis and Kaplan‒Meier curves.Prediction of 3-and 6-month objective response rates(ORRs)was validated by the area under the curve(AUC).Results Among 147 patients with unresectable HCC,113 received TACE+TKI and 34 received TACE+TKI+ICI.The CRAFITY score was identified as an independent predictor for OS(P<0.001)and showed a good ability to categorize all included patients into low-,moderate-,and high-risk groups(P<0.001).For predicting the 3-and 6-month ORRs,the CRAFITY score exhibited poor performance,with AUCs of 0.555 and 0.515,respectively.Conclusion The CRAFITY score is effective in predicting OS but demonstrates limited accuracy in predicting 3-and 6-month ORRs for patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE combined with systemic therapies.展开更多
摘要BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a standard treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after liver resection.However,resistance to TACE considerably limits its efficacy and worsens patient prognosis.Identifying molecular markers that predict TACE response is crucial for individualized treatment strategies.AIM To investigate lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 2(LHFPL2)expression in patients with HCC and its association with TACE efficacy and overall survival(OS).METHODS A retrospective study was conducted including 60 patients with HCC who underwent≥3 standardized TACE treatments for recurrence after curative hepatectomy between January 2014 and December 2020 at Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital and Wuxi People’s Hospital.The patients were divided into TACE-resistant(n=30)and non-resistant(n=30)groups.LHFPL2 protein expression in tumor tissues was assessed using immunohistochemistry,and its association with clinicopathological features,TACE response,and OS was analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method,log-rank test,and Cox regression models were used to evaluate prognostic value.RESULTS The TACE-resistant group exhibited significantly higher LHFPL2 expression than the non-resistant group(P<0.05).Significant differences were observed between the two groups in hepatitis B virus carrier status,alphafetoprotein(AFP)levels,tumor differentiation,and LHFPL2 expression(P<0.05).The median OS in the LHFPL2 high-expression group was 2.28 years,which was significantly shorter than that in the low expression group(P<0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that high LHFPL2 expression,AFP≥400 ng/mL,and TACE resistance were independent risk factors for OS(P<0.05).A combined prognostic model using LHFPL2 and AFP revealed that patients with high LHFPL2 and AFP≥400 ng/mL had the poorest prognosis(median OS 1.44 years),whereas patients with low LHFPL2 and AFP<400 ng/mL had the best prognosis(median OS not reached),with significant differences(P<0.05).CONCLUSION High LHFPL2 expression was closely associated with TACE resistance and was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with HCC.Combining LHFPL2 with AFP enhanced prognostic stratification,providing a novel molecular marker and clinical basis for personalized therapy and TACE response prediction.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82200686.
摘要Transarterial chemoembolization is a common treatment modality that significantly improves prognosis in patients with intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.However,this procedure is associated with a spectrum of potential arterial and biliary complications,ranging from mild self-limiting ones to those severely affecting patient outcomes.This review systematically integrates recent studies to explore the epidemiological characteristics,risk factors,and management strategies of these two groups of complications.Arterial complications,primarily hepatic artery stenosis,pseudoaneurysm,and arterial rupture hemorrhage,exhibit a biphasic distribution pattern with the majority occurring within 72 hours postoperatively,while a notable portion occurs within 1-4 weeks.Biliary complications,including biliary fistulas,biliary strictures,and ischemic cholangitis,exhibit higher incidence rates and more insidious clinical manifestations than arterial complications.Risk factors include the severity of cirrhosis,tumor location,procedural technique,and chemotherapeutic drug toxicity.Management strategies emphasize careful preoperative planning(primarily with computed tomography angiography),standardized intraoperative procedures(like superselective embolization),and multi-pronged postoperative monitoring(imaging combined with laboratory indicators of liver function).Interventional embolization or surgical reconstruction is used for arterial complications,while endoscopic therapy or surgical drainage is selected based on the severity of injury for biliary complications.Future research should further explore individualized treatment regimens and novel embolic materials to reduce complication rates and enhance the safety of transarterial chemoembolization.
基金Supported by the Project of City-University Science and Technology Strategic Cooperation of Nanchong City,No.20SXQT0324 and No.20SXQT0246.
摘要BACKGROUND Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is important role for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,owing to the heterogeneity of HCC tumors,TACE efficacy varies among individual HCC patients.Accurate preoperative prediction of responses to TACE among HCC patients could guide the development of individualized treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.AIM To investigate the predictive value of multiple-sequence magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)radiomic features combined with clinical indices for the response to TACE among HCC patients and to develop an interpretable machine learning model.METHODS A total of 116 patients with HCC who underwent TACE were retrospectively enrolled.Patients in this study were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group at a ratio of 7:3.The response to TACE was evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Radiomic features were extracted from axial fatsuppressed T2-weighted imaging,arterial phase and portal venous phase axial dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI sequences.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to select the best radiomic features.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to select clinical predictive factors that affect the response to TACE among patients with HCC.Logistic regression was used to construct a radiomic model of each sequence,a multiple-sequence MRI radiomics model,and a radiomic-clinical(RC)model.The predictive performance of each model was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.The risk factors in the RC model were subsequently interpreted via SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis.RESULTS The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of the fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging,arterial-phase,portal-venous-phase,joint-radiomic model and RC model were 0.771,0.668,0.725,0.845 and 0.929,respectively,in the training group and 0.705,0.666,0.675,0.799 and 0.815,respectively,in the validation group.The clinical-radiomic model had the best predictive performance.The SHapley Additive exPlanations algorithm was used to illustrate the contribution of each feature in the RC model.CONCLUSION The interpretable RC model could successfully stratify HCC patients into TACE responders and TACE nonresponders and serve as a potential tool to identify more appropriate HCC patients for TACE,thus sparing patients from receiving ineffective and unnecessary treatments.
摘要BACKGROUND The absence of standard postoperative protocols for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)undergoing transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)may negatively affect health and quality of life(QoL).Bundle care is a multidisciplinary,evidence-based model that offers a structured approach.Yet,its effects on this population remain underexplored.The hypothesis in this study was that the implementation of the bundle care protocol can improve QoL and nutritional status after TACE.AIM To examine the effects of a multidisciplinary bundle care protocol on the QoL and nutritional status of post-TACE HCC patients.METHODS A tertiary hospital conducted a retrospective study on 80 HCC patients who underwent TACE from June 2023 to January 2025.They were included in the routine care group(control group;n=40),routine care and bundle care group(intervention group;n=40).The bundle care protocol included multidisciplinary coordination,dynamic assessments[Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),Numerical Rating Scale],stepwise analgesia,stratified nutrition support,and intelligent follow-up with WeChat.The nutritional status(PG-SGA),psychological scores(HADS),post-embolization symptoms,and laboratory parameters were outcome measures.Independent t-tests,χ2 tests and non-parametric tests were used to analyze data.RESULTS Post-intervention,the bundle care group showed significantly lower PG-SGA scores than the control group(1.86±0.89 vs 4.46±2.13,P<0.001),lower anxiety(HADS-Anxiety:0.36±0.49 vs 4.25±2.03,P<0.001)and depression scores(HADS-Depression:0.00 vs 5.00,P<0.001).Albumin levels(38.33±4.09 g/L vs 35.60±4.87 g/L,P=0.008)and body mass index(24.24±2.45 vs 21.67±2.63,P<0.001)were significantly higher in the bundle care group.Nausea resolution was 97.5%in the bundle care group vs 87.5%in controls(P<0.05).CONCLUSION In patients with HCC after TACE,bundle care can significantly improve nutritional status,psychological status,and symptom control to make a case for further clinical use.
摘要BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is associated with a poor prognosis.Intermediate-to advanced-stage HCC patients are commonly administered transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).Recently,TACE combined with immunotherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy;however,there is substantial interindividual heterogeneity in treatment responses.Therefore,developing efficient predictive biomarkers for therapeutic success is essential for attaining individualized therapy.AIM To assess the short-term efficacy of TACE in conjunction with immunotherapy against TACE monotherapy in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC,while also preliminarily investigating the clinical,serological,and radiomic characteristics associated with the efficacy of the combination treatment.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed 120 intermediate-advanced HCC patients admitted to our hospital between January 2023 and January 2025.Of these patients,60 received TACE+immunotherapy(combined group),while 60 received TACE monotherapy(TACE group).The objective response rate,disease control rate at 3 months post-treatment,and changes in serum levels of tumor markers(α-Lfucosidase,alpha-fetoprotein,carbohydrate antigen 19-9),angiogenic factors(hepatocyte growth factor,vascular endothelial growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor),and apoptosis-related molecules(cysteine aspartic protease-3,survivin)before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Based on the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors,the combination cohort was further stratified into responders(complete response/partial response)and non-responders(stable disease/progressive disease).The differences and correlations between baseline clinical characteristics and radiomic features(e.g.,entropy,gray-level variance,texture features)were acquired from pre-treatment computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans.RESULTS The objective response rate(36.7%vs 23.3%)and disease control rate(76.7%vs 60.0%)in the combination group were substantially higher than those in the TACE group(both P<0.05).The combination group had superior efficacy in reducing serum tumor marker levels,suppressing angiogenic factors,upregulating cysteine aspartic protease-3 expression,and downregulating survivin expression relative to the TACE group(all P<0.05).Moreover,the combination group’s radiomic features(including gray-level co-occurrence matrix contrast,arterialphase entropy,and gray-level variance)were significantly correlated with clinical features,including tumor volume,number,and location(all P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics between responders and non-responders.CONCLUSION TACE+immunotherapy indicated improved short-term efficacy and serological molecules modulation compared with TACE monotherapy in intermediate-advanced HCC patients.Radiomic features can quantitatively reflect tumor heterogeneity and correlate with basic tumor characteristics,indicating their potential as non-invasive biomarkers.However,the predictive value of these radiomic characteristics for the effectiveness of combination therapy necessitates more validation in prospective investigations.
摘要BACKGROUND There have been no comparative studies on doxorubicin(DOX),oxaliplatin(OXA)and gemcitabine(GEM)drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolisation(DEBTACE)in treating patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of different loading drugs in the treatment of these patients.METHODS A total of 123 patients with unresectable NSCLC were enrolled,including the DOX-eluting DEB-TACE group(DOX group,n=47),OXA-eluting DEB-TACE group(OXA group,n=29)and GEM-eluting DEB-TACE(GEM group,n=47).Treatment response,overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS)and adverse events were evaluated.RESULTS The 1-and 3-month tumor response showed no significant change among the three groups.Both the 6-month objective response rate and disease control rate showed highest trends in the OXA group[objective response rate(ORR):33.3%/disease control rate(DCR):57.1%],followed by the GEM(ORR:17.1%/DCR:42.9%)and DOX groups(ORR:17.6%/DCR:41.2%),although not statistically significant(ORR:P=0.29/DCR:P=0.47).Both OS and PFS were highest in the OXA group[OS:29.6 months,interquartile range(IQR):4.6-18.5 months/PFS:9.9 months,IQR:2.5-13.4 months].The OXA group exhibited prolonged PFS and increased OS compared with the DOX group(P=0.10,χ2=2.720,P=0.03,χ2=4.806)and GEM groups(P=0.30,χ2=1.095,P=0.08,χ2=3.165).The incidence rates of adverse events were comparable between the DOX and OXA groups but were lower in the GEM group;however,no statistical significance was observed(P=0.63),and all adverse events were tolerable in the three groups.CONCLUSION DOX,OXA and GEM eluting DEB-TACE may be an effective and safe treatment approach for unresectable NSCLC,with patients in the OXA group potentially exhibiting a prolonged OS.Randomized controlled trials are required to further clarify the efficacy of different drug-eluting DEB-TACE in unresectable NSCLC.
基金supported by a grant from the Nursing Re-search Program of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Univer-sity School of Medicine(No.2022ZYHL045).
摘要To the Editor:We read with great interest the recent article by Shi et al.pub-lished in Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Diseases International[1].Shi’s study was based on radiological features and clinical factors to construct a model to predict the effectiveness of first transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in prolonging patient survival.The results showed that area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.964 for the training cohort and 0.949 for the validation cohort.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91959203,82272836 and 82373017)。
摘要Background:The high recurrent rate after surgery hinders the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as an adjuvant therapy in HCC patients with high risk of recurrence.Methods:Patients were enrolled from eight hepatobiliary centers in China.The primary endpoint was disease-free survival(DFS).The secondary endpoints were overall survival(OS)and safety.Additionally,propensity score matching(PSM)and other three propensity score analyses were performed to balance the potential baseline bias to validate the conclusion.The adverse events(AEs)were recorded throughout the study.The study was registered at Clinical Trials.gov(NCT03838796).Results:A total of 297 patients were enrolled,with 147 in the LEN+TACE group and 150 in the TACE group.Before PSM,the LEN+TACE group achieved significantly better DFS than the TACE group(19.0 vs.10.0 months,P=0.011).PSM analysis identified 111 matched pairs.After PSM,the LEN+TACE group also showed better DFS(19.0 vs.9.0 months,P=0.018).Other three propensity score analyses yielded similar DFS benefit tendency.Furthermore,favorable OS was also obtained in the LEN+TACE group before PSM.Lenvatinib related AEs of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 28.6%of the patients in the LEN+TACE group.Conclusions:Adjuvant lenvatinib plus TACE might be a promising adjuvant approach for HCC patients with high risk of recurrence,which could significantly prolong DFS and potentially OS with a manageable safety profile.
摘要Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,with advanced stages posing significant treatment challenges.Al-though hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has emerged as a promising modality for treating advanced HCC,particularly in Asian clinical practice,its adoption in Western medicine remains limited due to a lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials.This editorial reviews and comments on the meta-analysis conducted by Zhou et al,which evaluates the efficacy and safety of HAIC and its combination strategies for advanced HCC.The authors performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of various clinical trials and cohort studies comparing HAIC and its combinations to other first-line treatments,such as sorafenib and transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).In this work,HAIC showed significantly better results regarding overall survival and progression-free survival compared to sorafenib or TACE alone and their combination.HAIC in combination with lenvatinib,ablation,programmed cell death 1 inhibitors,and radiotherapy further enhanced patient outcomes,indicating a synergistic effect.This editorial focuses on the critical role of multimodal treatment strategies in managing advanced HCC.It advocates for a paradigm shift towards integrated treatment approaches to enhance survival rates and improve the quality of life in patients with advanced HCC.
摘要BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation(RFA)has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for patients with unresectable HCC.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TACE combined with RFA compared to TACE alone in the management of primary HCC.METHODS A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted at our institution from January 2020 to January 2024,involving 106 patients diagnosed with intermediate to advanced-stage HCC.Patients were divided into two groups:Those receiving TACE alone(n=56)and those undergoing combined TACE and RFA therapy(n=50).Treatment efficacy was assessed based on tumor response rates,serum alphafetoprotein(AFP)levels,and survival outcomes.Statistical analyses,includingχ2tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,were performed to compare the outcomes between the two groups.RESULTS The TACE+RFA group demonstrated significantly higher rates of complete response(15 vs 4,P<0.01)and partial response(23 vs 15,P=0.046)compared to the TACE group.Conversely,the TACE group exhibited higher rates of stable disease(25 vs 7,P<0.01)and progressive disease(12 vs 5,P<0.01).Serum AFP levels decreased over time in the TACE+RFA group,while they increased in the TACE group.Survival analysis revealed superior survival outcomes in the TACE+RFA group,with higher survival rates and a prolonged median survival time compared to the TACE group.CONCLUSION The combination of RFA with TACE could offer enhanced treatment response and prolonged survival in patients with primary HCC compared to TACE alone.These findings might support the adoption of multimodal therapeutic approaches,emphasizing the importance of personalized treatment strategies in the management of HCC.
基金Supported by International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyHarry Crossley Foundation at the University of Cape Town.
摘要BACKGROUND Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA)and Southeast Asia account for 80%of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)cases globally.Public healthcare systems in low-and middleincome countries often face significant economic constraints,resulting in limited treatment options.The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)stage C and D undergoing transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)and to compare their outcomes to patients treated tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)or best supportive care(BSC)only.AIM To assess clinical outcomes and identify predictive factors that may facilitate the broader implementation of TACE in patients with advanced HCC within resource-constrained settings such as SSA.METHODS A single-center,retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with the outcome of TACE in patients with BCLC stage C and D using univariate and multivariate regression analysis.Frequency matching was used to ensure comparable distributions of confounding factors across patients treated with TACE,TKIs,or BSC.Survival analysis was performed to compare outcomes among the matched groups.RESULTS Patients with BCLC stage C and D presenting with elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase levels or elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels or portal vein infiltration were identified as high-risk and demonstrated poor response to TACE treatment.In contrast,patients with BCLC stage C disease who lacked these highrisk features showed significantly longer overall survival when treated with TACE compared to those who received BSC or TKIs.CONCLUSION Gamma-glutamyl transferase levels,aspartate aminotransferase levels,and portal vein infiltration are critical risk factors to consider when determining treatment strategies for HCC patients in SSA.Patients without these factors can derive significant benefits from TACE as an alternative to BSC or TKIs.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82200686Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital Incubation Project,No.2022YJY-14.
摘要BACKGROUND Acute cholecystitis due to unintended cystic artery embolism is an uncommon and mostly self-limiting complication after transarterial chemoembolization procedure for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Usually,conservative management is sufficient for complete recovery of patients who develop this complication.If conservative treatment is ineffective,urgent surgical inter-vention may be required to prevent the progression of complications.CASE SUMMARY This article reports a rare and serious case of acute cholecystitis complicated by gallbladder necrosis and biliary peritonitis,which was initially treated conservatively but eventually necessitated emergency laparotomy.The patient initially presented with equivocal symptoms of fever and upper abdominal pain and distention,which worsened at the two weeks mark along with emergence of signs of peritonitis.This was managed by emergency laparotomy and cholecystostomy,allowing rapid symptom relief.The patient ultimately discharged and succumbed to advanced liver cancer 11 months after diagnosis.CONCLUSION After cholecystostomy,the patient showed symptom relief and was discharged,surviving 11 months post-stage IIIB liver cancer diagnosis.
基金Project of City-University Science and Technology Strategic Cooperation of Nanchong City,No.20SXQT0324。
摘要With continuous advancements in interventional radiology,considerable progress has been made in transarterial therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in recent years,and an increasing number of research papers on transarterial therapies for HCC have been published.In this editorial,we comment on the article by Ma et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology:“Efficacy and predictive factors of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for unresectable HCC”.We focus specifically on the current research status and future directions of transarterial therapies.In the future,more studies are needed to determine the optimal transarterial local treatment for HCC.With the emergence of checkpoint immunotherapy modalities,it is expected that the results of trials of transarterial local therapy combined with systemic therapy will bring new hope to HCC patients.
基金Medical Research Project of Xi’an Science and Technology Bureau“Molecular Mechanism of miR-1305 Competitive Endogenous circRNA in the Development of Liver Cancer”(Project No.22YXYJ0134)General Project of Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology“Mechanism Study on the Inhibition of Liver Cancer Invasion and Metastasis by Downregulating METTL3 and Reducing the m6A Modification Level of MMP3 with Honokiol”(Project No.2023-YBSF-631)。
摘要Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)gene expression for postoperative survival in patients with advanced liver cancer undergoing hepatic artery interventional chemoembolization treatment.Method:Bioinformatics methods,including gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis,were used to identify genes related to survival prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)patients.A retrospective analysis of 115 advanced liver cancer patients treated between January 2016 and October 2017 was conducted.Patients were categorized into SPP1 high-expression(n=89)and low-expression groups(n=26).Additionally,115 healthy individuals served as the control group.The relationship between SPP1 expression and clinical pathological features was analyzed.A 60-month follow-up and logistic regression analysis identified risk factors affecting survival.Results:SPP1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in liver cancer patients compared to healthy controls(P<0.05).SPP1 expression levels were significantly associated with tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging(P<0.05).High SPP1 expression,along with tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging,were independent risk factors for survival(P<0.05).The 60-month survival rate was 17.39%,with a median survival of 40 months in the low-expression group versus 18 months in the high-expression group(P<0.05).Conclusion:SPP1 expression is significantly upregulated in advanced liver cancer patients and has predictive value for postoperative survival following hepatic artery chemoembolization treatment.SPP1,combined with clinical indicators such as tumor size,Child-Pugh grading,lymph node metastasis,and BCLC staging,may serve as a prognostic biomarker for interventional treatment outcomes.
基金Supported by Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital,Navamindradhiraj University Research Fund,No.1-67.
摘要BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a major health concern in Thailand,with most patients diagnosed at the intermediate stage.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment;however,postembolization syndrome(PES)remains a common complication.Although both dexamethasone(DEXA)and N-acetylcysteine(NAC)have shown efficacy in reducing PES,no study has directly compared their effects.AIM To compare the incidence of PES between DEXA and NAC in intermediate-stage HCC patients undergoing conventional TACE(cTACE).METHODS A randomized,double-blind,controlled trial was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Thailand from November 2024 to April 2025.Eligible HCC patients(aged 18-70 years)were randomized(1:1)to receive either NAC(150 mg/kg/hour loading dose,followed by 50 mg/kg over 4 hours,then 6.25 mg/kg/hour for 48 hours post-cTACE)or DEXA(8 mg IV 1 hour before cTACE).cTACE was performed by blinded interventional radiologists.The primary outcome was PES occurrence within 48 hours,assessed using South West Oncology Group toxicity coding and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.The secondary outcomes were post-cTACE liver decompensation and the dynamic changes in the albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score.RESULTS A total of 56 intermediate-stage HCC patients were included(DEXA,n=28;NAC,n=28).Most had preserved liver function,with 92.9%classified as Child-Pugh A.The maximum tumor size was 6.2 cm,and 85.7%had multiple lesions.Additionally,39 patients(69.6%)met the beyond up-to-7 criteria.Overall,27 patients(48.2%)developed PES.After adjusting for confounding factors,the NAC group had a significantly lower incidence of PES than the DEXA group(32.1%vs 64.3%;adjusted odds ratio=0.17,95%confidence interval:0.03-0.87,P=0.033).Only two patients(3.6%)developed post-cTACE liver decompensation.Furthermore,51.8%patients experienced worsening ALBI scores within 48 hours post-procedure;however,the rate of ALBI score worsening did not significantly differ between the groups.CONCLUSION Compared with DEXA,NAC significantly reduces the incidence of PES,regardless of its impact on liver function recovery.Therefore,NAC is a preferable option for reducing PES in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-B stage HCC patients with preserved liver function.
基金Supported by Health Commission of Heilongjiang Province,No.0230404080031.
摘要BACKGROUND Primary liver cancer,predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),is a major cause of cancer-related mortality.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is a key palliative option for unresectable HCC.However,prognostic outcomes after TACE vary significantly.This study evaluated the prognostic value of the fibrinogen and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(F-NLR)score,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and prealbumin(PA)in patients undergoing TACE.AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of F-NLR score,AFP,and PA in patients undergoing TACE.METHODS Variables such as F-NLR score,AFP,PA,and other clinical indicators were assessed.Follow-ups determined prognosis as good or poor.Statistical asse-ssments,including receiver operating characteristic analyses,were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance and develop an integrated predictive model.RESULTS A retrospective analysis of 162 patients with primary liver cancer undergoing TACE was conducted.Low F-NLR scores and AFP levels and high PA were significantly associated with a good prognosis.The combined model,which integrated F-NLR,AFP,and PA,demonstrated a favorable prognostic predictive capability,with an area under the curve of 0.933.CONCLUSION Preoperative F-NLR,AFP,and PA are valuable prognostic predictors in patients with HCC undergoing TACE.
基金Supported by National Key Sci-Tech Special Project of China,No.2018ZX10302207Beijing Nova Program,No.20250484965+4 种基金Beijing Natural Science Foundation,No.7222191 and No.7244426Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Peking University,No.PKU2024XGK005Peking University Medicine Seed Fund for Interdisciplinary Research,No.BMU2021MX007 and No.BMU2022MX001Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Peking University People’s Hospital Scientific Research Development Funds,No.RDX2020-06 and No.RDJ2022-14the Qi-Min Project.
摘要BACKGROUND Although the triple therapy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors is becoming an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).However,there is still a lack of effective tools for predicting therapeutic effects at present.AIM To develop a predictive tool for the prognosis of uHCC patients treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib.METHODS Based on multicenter data,this study constructed and validated an AADN score as variables to predict overall survival in patients treated with this combination therapy.This study included 188 uHCC cases(training cohort:n=101,validation cohort:n=87)from three different hospitals.Who were treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib.RESULTS In multivariate analysis,alpha-fetoprotein≥100 ng/mL[hazard ratio(HR)=2.579,P=0.010],alkaline phosphatase>120 U/L,(HR=2.234,P=0.021),direct bilirubin>7.3μmol/L(HR=2.931,P=0.007)and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio>2.5(HR=3.127,P=0.006)were identified as independent prognostic factors and were used to establish the AADN score.Kaplan-Meier survival curves and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the accuracy of the AADN score,with area under receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.827(training cohort,95%confidence interval:0.743-0.911)and 0.832(validation cohort,95%confidence interval:0.742-0.923).According to the score,the patients were divided into low-risk,intermediate-risk and highrisk groups.Overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly different between groups.CONCLUSION The AADN score can distinguish the prognostic risk of uHCC patients treated with TACE,sintilimab and lenvatinib,provides a basis for individualized treatment decision-making,and have clinical application prospect.
摘要BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common form of liver cancer that has limited treatment options and a poor prognosis.Transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the first-line treatment for intermediate-stage HCC but can induce tumour hypoxia,thereby promoting angiogenesis.Recent studies suggested that combining TACE with anti-angiogenic therapies and immunotherapy might im-prove efficacy.Lenvatinib,a tyrosine kinase inhibitor,has demonstrated superior outcomes compared to sorafenib,while immune checkpoint inhibitors such as sintilimab show potential when combined with TACE.However,the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with lenvatinib and sintilimab(TACE+SL)compared to TACE with lenvatinib alone(TACE+L)in patients with intermediate-ad-vanced HCC has not yet been investigated.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TACE+SL therapy in comparison to TACE+L therapy in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with intermediate-advanced HCC who received TACE plus lenvatinib with or without sintilimab between September 2019 and September 2022.Baseline characteristics were compared,and propensity score matching was applied.Overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and objective response rate(ORR)were evaluated between the two groups,and adverse events were analyzed.RESULTS The study included 57 patients,with 30 in the TACE+SL group and 27 in the TACE+L group.The TACE+SL group demonstrated significantly improved median PFS and OS compared to the TACE+L group(PFS:14.1 months vs 9.6 months,P=0.016;OS:22.4 months vs 14.1 months,P=0.039),along with a higher ORR(70.0%vs 55.6%).After propensity score matching,30 patients were included,with the TACE+SL group again showing longer median PFS and a trend toward improved OS(PFS:14.6 months vs 9.2 months,P=0.012;OS:23.9 months vs 16.3 months,P=0.063),and a higher ORR(73.3%vs 53.3%).No severe adverse events were reported.CONCLUSION TACE+SL demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of OS and PFS,compared to TACE+L.These findings suggest that the addition of sintilimab might enhance the therapeutic response in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC.
摘要BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective treatment options.This is particularly true for advanced HCC,for which conventional therapies often lead to a poor prognosis.AIM To assess the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)with donafenib and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)for unresectable HCC.METHODS We retrospectively assessed the data of patients with HCC who underwent TACE combined with donafenib and an ICI(tislelizumab or cedilimumab).Patients received oral donafenib daily for 2 weeks before TACE,followed by tislelizumab or cedilimumab 200 mg intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day therapeutic cycle.The primary endpoints were objective response rate,disease control rate,and duration of response according to the modified RECIST criteria.The secondary endpoint was presence of treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs).RESULTS The median follow-up was 7.8 months(95%CI:5.0-11.8 months).The objective response rate was 60.0%(18/30),while the disease control rate was 93.3%.The median duration of response in confirmed responders was 6.6 months(95%CI:1.3-12.9 months).The median progression-free survival was 11.8 months(95%CI:8.3-15.4 months).More than half of the patients survived until the end of the study.Grade>3 TRAEs occurred in 40%of the patients with no grade 5 TRAEs reported.The most common grade 3/4 TRAE was palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia,a dermatologic condition characterized by painful redness and swelling of the palms and soles,with an incidence of 56.7%.No ICI-related adverse effects were observed.CONCLUSION TACE combined with donafenib and ICI is a promising and safe therapeutic regimen for unresectable HCC.
基金supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Innovative and Entrepreneurial Doctor Program(303073543ER21)to Haifeng Zhouthe National Natural Science Foundation of China(81701802)to Weizhong Zhou and the Jiangsu Province Capability Improvement Project through ScienceTechnology and Education(JSDW202243)to Haibin Shi.The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.
摘要Background The CRAFITY score can predict survival and radiological response to systemic front-line treatment in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Aims In this study,we aimed to externally validate the CRAFITY score and compare it with other simple prognostic models in patients with unresectable HCC who underwent transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with systemic therapies.Methods Patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs),with or without immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs),were retrospectively analyzed to determine whether the CRAFITY score can predict overall survival(OS)through multivariate analysis and Kaplan‒Meier curves.Prediction of 3-and 6-month objective response rates(ORRs)was validated by the area under the curve(AUC).Results Among 147 patients with unresectable HCC,113 received TACE+TKI and 34 received TACE+TKI+ICI.The CRAFITY score was identified as an independent predictor for OS(P<0.001)and showed a good ability to categorize all included patients into low-,moderate-,and high-risk groups(P<0.001).For predicting the 3-and 6-month ORRs,the CRAFITY score exhibited poor performance,with AUCs of 0.555 and 0.515,respectively.Conclusion The CRAFITY score is effective in predicting OS but demonstrates limited accuracy in predicting 3-and 6-month ORRs for patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE combined with systemic therapies.