ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of brachytherapy with 125I seed strand in treating implanted main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) in experimental rabbits.Methods VX2 tumor cell line was implanted in the main portal vein (MPV) of 32 New Zealand white rabbits to establish MPVTT models.The rabbits were randomly divided into the treatment group (group T,n=16) and the control group (group C,n=16).125I seed strand was implanted in the MPVTT of the rabbits of group T,while blank seed strand was implanted in the MPVTT of the rabbits of group C.After the implantation,the changes in general condition,body weight and laboratory testing results were recorded.Two weeks after the treatment,every 8 rabbits from each group were sacrificed,and the specimens were collected and sent for pathological examination.The remaining rabbits were fed till they died,and then autopsy was conducted.Multi-slice spiral CT manifestations,histopathological findings,Ki-67 labeling index and apoptosis index were used to assess the curative effect,and the results were compared between the two groups.Results At each observation time point after brachytherapy,the weight loss of the experimental rabbits was more obvious in group C than in group T.No statistically significant differences in liver functions and white blood cell count existed between the two groups (P＞0.05).The mean MPVTT volume of group T and group C were (565.40±220.90) mm3 and (2 269.90±437.00) mm3 respectively (P＜0.001);the Ki-67 labeling indexes were (4.14±1.84)％ and (33.82± 6.07)％ respectively (P=0.001);the median survival days were (39.50±2.37) d and (27.38±1.22) d respectively (P=0.001).Conclusion For the treatment of implanted MPVTT in experimental rabbits,brachytherapy with 125I seed strand is safe and effective.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of endovascular brachytherapy (EVBT)with those of sequential three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT) in treating main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT).Methods The clinical data of a total of 176 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)patients complicated by MPVTT,who were treated with portal vein stenting and TACE during the period from May 2012 to June 2014,were retrospectively analyzed.Of the 176 patients,additional EVBT by using 125I seeds strand was carried out in 123 patients (group A) at the same time,and in the remaining 53 patients (group B) sequential 3-D CRT was conducted.The overall survival,progression free survival,stent patency period and the incidence of treatment-related complications were compared between the two groups.Results No serious treatment-related complications occurred after therapy.During a mean of (11.7±8.3) months followup period,the mean survival was (11.7±1.2) months in group A and (9.5±1.8) months in group B (P=0.002).The mean progression free survival in group A and in group B was (5.3±0.7) months and (4.4±0.4)months respectively (P=0.010).The mean stent patency period in group A and in group B was (10.3±1.1)months and (8.7±0.7) months respectively (P=0.003).Conclusion Compared to sequential 3-D CRT,EVBT combined with portal vein stenting and TACE can significantly improve the overall survival of patients with HCC complicated by MPVTT.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluated the clinical significance of embolization of arterio-portal venous shunt (APVS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein stenting. Methods Twenty-six HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, who were treated with TACE and portal vein stenting, were enrolled in this study. Portal vein stenting was performed via percutaneous transhepatic approach, which was followed by the embolization of the feeding arteries of APVS by using suitable embolic agents. The portal vein pressure levels were separately measured before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization. The results were statistically analyzed. Results Both the portal vein stenting and APVS embolization were successfully accomplished in all the 26 patients. Hepatic angiography and portal venography performed before portal vein stenting revealed bidirectional portal flow in 16 cases and hepatofugal portal flow in 10 cases. Among the 16 patients with bidirectional portal flow, remarkable improvement of portal vein to liver blood flow after portal vein stenting was seen in 14, and obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization in 2. Obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization was also demonstrated in 10 cases with hepatofugal portal flow. The portal vein pressure determined before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization was (50.1±6.3) cmH2O,(43.5± 7.5) cmH2O and (36.9 ±8.2) cmH2O respectively. After portal vein stenting the portal vein pressure was significantly decreased when compared with the preoperative pressure, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); after APVS embolization the portal vein pressure was further decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion For HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, portal vein stenting can effectively restore the portal blood flow and reduce the portal vein pressure; and embolization of APVS can further reduce the pressure of portal vein, thus the bidirectional portal flow or hepatofugal portal flow will return to normal hepatopetal flow.