Management of hepatocellular carcinoma during the COVID-19 pandemic - São Paulo Clínicas liver cancer group multidisciplinary consensus statement

More than 18 million people in 188 countries have been diagnosed as having coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and COVID-19 has been responsible for more than 600,000 deaths worldwide. Brazil is now the second most affected country globally. Faced with this scenario, various public health measures and changes in the daily routines of hospitals were implemented to stop the pandemic. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 as they present with two major diseases: cancer and concomitant chronic liver disease. The COVID-19 pandemic can significantly impact the management of HCC patients from diagnosis to treatment strategies. These patients need special attention and assistance at this time, especially since treatment for tumors cannot be delayed in most cases. The aim of this guideline was to standardize the management of HCC patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document was developed, on the basis of the best evidence available, by a multidisciplinary team from Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP), and Instituto Central of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), which are members of the São Paulo Clínicas Liver Cancer Group.

Is resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of liver transplantation worthwile? A single center experience / Ressecção de carcinoma hepatocelular na era do transplante de fígado: vale a pena? Experiência de um único centro

ABSTRACT Background - Liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is a potentially curative therapeutic procedure that can be performed readily after its indication, without the need of a long waiting time and lower costs when compared to liver transplantation, being a good alternative in patients with preserved/good liver function. Objective - Evaluate long-term results of liver resection from a high volume single center for selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a context of a long waiting list for liver transplant. Methods - One hundred and one patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, with a mean age of 63.1 years, and preserved liver function were submitted to liver resection. Clinical and pathological data were evaluated as prognostic factors. Mean follow-up was 39.3 months. Results - All patients had a single nodule and 57 (58.2%) patients were within the Milan criteria. The size of the nodule ranged from 1 to 24 cm in diameter. In 74 patients, liver resection was performed with the open approach and in 27 (26.7%) was done laparoscopically. Postoperative morbidity was 55.3% being 75.5% of the complications classified as Dindo-Clavien I and II and operative mortality was 6.9%. Five-year overall and disease free survival rates were 49.9% and 40.7%, respectively.After a log-rank univariate analysis, the levels of preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (P=0.043), CA19-9 (P=0.028), capsule invasion (P=0.03), positive margin (R1-R2) (P=0.004) and Dindo-Claviens' morbidity classification IV (P=0.001) were the only parameters that had a significant negative impact on overall survival. On the odds-ratio evaluation, the only significant factors for survival were high levels of alpha-fetoprotein (P=0.037), and absence of free margins (P=0.008). Conclusion - Resection, for selected cases, is a potentially curative treatment with acceptable morbidity and mortality and, in a context of a long waiting list for transplant, plays an important role for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

RESUMO Contexto - A ressecção do carcinoma hepatocelular é um procedimento terapêutico potencialmente curativo que pode ser realizado imediatamente após sua indicação, sem a necessidade de longo tempo de espera e com custos mais baixos quando comparado com o transplante hepático, sendo uma boa alternativa em pacientes com função hepática preservada. Objetivo - Avaliar os resultados a longo prazo da ressecção hepática em centro de alto volume cirúrgico para pacientes selecionados com carcinoma hepatocelular em um contexto de uma longa lista de espera para transplante de fígado. Métodos - Cento e um pacientes com carcinoma hepatocelular, com idade média de 63,1 anos, e função hepática preservada foram submetidos à ressecção hepática. Os dados clínicos e patológicos foram avaliados como fatores prognósticos. O seguimento médio foi de 39,3 meses. Resultados - Todos os pacientes apresentavam um único nódulo e 57 (58,2%) estavam dentro dos critérios de Milão. O tamanho do nódulo variou de 1 a 24 cm de diâmetro. Em 74 pacientes, a ressecção hepática foi realizada com a abordagem aberta e em 27 (26,7%) através de laparoscopia.A morbidade pós-operatória foi de 55,3%, sendo 75,5% das complicações classificadas como Dindo-Clavien I e II e a mortalidade operatória foi de 6,9%. As sobrevida global e livre de doença em 5 anos foram 49,9% e 40,7%, respectivamente. Depois de análise univariada log-rank, os níveis de alfa-fetoproteína no pré-operatório (P=0,043), CA19-9 (P=0,028), invasão de cápsula (P=0,03), margem positiva (R1-R2) (P=0,004) e classificação de morbidade de Dindo-Claviens tipo IV (P=0,001) foram os únicos parâmetros que tiveram um impacto negativo significativo na sobrevida global. Na avaliação de risco relativo (odds-ratio), os únicos fatores importantes para a sobrevivência foram altos níveis de alfa-fetoproteína (P=0,037), e ausência de margens livres (P=0,008). Conclusão - A ressecção hepática em casos seleccionados, é um tratamento potencialmente curativo com morbilidade e mortalidade aceitáveis e, num contexto de uma longa lista de espera para transplante, tem um papel importante para o tratamento do carcinoma hepatocelular.