ABSTRACT
Transarterial chemoembolization （TACE） is currently the primary treatment method for advanced liver cancer. This article elaborates on the current status of application of TACE in hepatocellular carcinoma from the aspects of existing techniques， patient selection， and efficacy assessment and summarizes the research advances and prospects of TACE combined with local treatment and systemic therapy， so as to provide new ideas for clinical practice and experimental studies.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with stage Ⅱb/Ⅲa hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） based on China Liver Cancer Staging （CNLC）. MethodsA total of 198 patients who received first-line TACE combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy or received TACE alone from January 2015 to December 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were enrolled in this study， and after propensity score matching， there were 50 patients in combination group and 50 patients in TACE group. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate median overall survival （mOS） and median progression-free survival （mPFS）. Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was used to evaluate objective response rate （ORR） and disease control rate （DCR）， and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0 was used to evaluate adverse events. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups； the t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival time and calculate 95% confidence interval （CI）， and the Log-rank test was used for comparison of mOS and mPFS between two groups. ResultsThe combination group had an mOS of 30.1 months （95%CI： 21.9 — 38.3）， and the TACE group had an mOS of 14.5 months （95%CI： 11.0 — 18.0）， with a significant difference between the two groups （χ2=17.8， P<0.001）； the combination group had an mPFS of 10.3 months （95%CI： 8.8 — 11.8）， and the TACE group had an mPFS of 7.1 months （95%CI： 5.8 — 8.4）， with a significant difference between the two groups （χ2=10.4， P<0.001）. There were significant differences between the combination group and the TACE group in ORR （84% vs 58%， P<0.05） and DCR （94% vs 80%， P<0.05）. There was no significant difference between the combination group and the TACE group in the incidence rate of adverse events （24% vs 16%， P=0.317）， and no adverse event-related deaths were observed in either group. ConclusionCompared with TACE alone， TACE combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy has a better efficacy in the treatment of patients with CNLC stage Ⅱb/Ⅲa HCC， without increasing the incidence rate of severe adverse events.
ABSTRACT
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to establish a portosystemic shunt between the hepatic vein and the portal vein via the jugular approach, so as to reduce portal venous pressure and control acute esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB). The prognosis of EGVB has been improved significantly over the past few decades, and endoscopic variceal ligation combined with drug therapy is now recommended as the first-line treatment regimen for this disease. The latest research advances in the management of EGVB over the past decade have focused on the relatively new concept of "early" or "pre-emptive" TIPS, that is to say, early TIPS (within 72 hours after admission, ideally within 24 hours) is recommended for patients with EGVB who are at a relatively high risk of failure in standard treatment. This article briefly introduces the effect of early TIPS on controlling bleeding, mortality rate, and hepatic encephalopathy, the high-risk population for early TIPS, timing of intervention, cost effectiveness, the applications of early TIPS in a real-world setting, and recommendations for early TIPS in international guidelines and consensus statements.
ABSTRACT
Intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC) is a primary tumor originating from the epithelial cells of bile duct. In recent years, incidence of ICC in the world is on the rise, and it has become the second common malignant tumors of the liver, with its incidence being next only to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The onset of ICC is insidious, its clinical manifestations are lack of specificity, most of the patients are already in the advanced stage when the diagnosis is confirmed, thus, affecting the treatment and prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is essential. The radical treatment plan is mainly surgical excision, and other treatment options include systemic chemotherapy, local ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), selective intraarterial radiotherapy with yttrium-90 microspheres (SIRT-90Y), 125I seed implantation, etc. This article aims to make a comprehensive introduction about the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of ICC. (J Intervent Radiol, 2018, 27:285-289)
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the prognostic ability of Hong Kong Liver Cancer (HKLC) staging system with that of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system for Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods The clinical data of 180 Chinese patients with primary HCC,who were treated with TACE during the period from August 2008 to December 2015,were retrospectively analyzed.HCC staging of each patient was scored by two staging methods separately.Kaplan-Meier analysis was adopted to separately calculate the median survival time of each stage that was judged by the two staging methods.The likelihood ratio (LR) x2 values,the Akaike information criterion (AIC) value and Harrell's C value of the two staging methods were calculated.Results Statistically significant differences in the survival time of each period existed between the two staging systems.AIC value,LRx2 value and Harrell's C value of HKLC staging system were 1360,66.6,and 0.813 respectively,while those of BCLC staging system were 1365,61.8,and 0.772 respectively.Conclusion Compared with BCLC staging,HKLC staging is more suitable for predicting the survival time of Chinese patients with primary liver cancer treated with TACE.