Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols , Bevacizumab , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Humans , Bevacizumab/therapeutic use , Bevacizumab/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic useABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To identify predictive factors associated with successful transition to conversion therapy following combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In total, 188 patients with HCC, who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination therapy as the first-line chemotherapy, were studied. Patients who achieved complete response (CR) with systemic chemotherapy alone were excluded. Clinical factors possibly linked to successful transition to conversion therapy and the achievement of cancer-free status were identified. RESULTS: Fifteen (8.0%) patients underwent conversion therapy. In the conversion group, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A or B (73.3% versus [vs.] 45.1%; p = .03) and tended to have lower Child-Pugh scores and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Multivariate analysis revealed that BCLC stage was a predictive factor for the implementation of conversion therapy (A or B; odds ratio 3.7 [95% CI: 1.1-13]; p = .04). Furthermore, 10 (66.7%) patients achieved cancer-free status and exhibited a smaller number of intrahepatic lesions at the start of treatment (3.5 vs. 7; p < .01), and a shorter interval between systemic chemotherapy induction and conversion therapy (131 vs. 404 days; p < .01). In addition, the rate of achieving cancer-free status by undergoing surgical resection or ablation therapy was significantly higher (p = .03). CONCLUSION: BCLC stage was the sole predictive factor for successful transition to conversion therapy when using combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab to treat HCC. Furthermore, a small number of intrahepatic lesions and early transition to conversion therapy were associated with the achievement of cancer-free status.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols , Bevacizumab , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Humans , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Bevacizumab/therapeutic use , Bevacizumab/administration & dosage , Male , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Female , Middle Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Aged , Retrospective Studies , Adult , Multivariate Analysis , Neoplasm Staging , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We report a 67-year-old woman who had stiff shoulders and anemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a pedunclated nodular submucosal tumor with erosions and surface ulcers in the second portion of the duodenum. These endoscopic findings were thought to be characteristic of gangliocytic paraganglioma. CT scan revealed suspected lymph node metastasis, thus the tumor was resected with pancreaticoduodenectomy and was found to be a gangliocytic paraganglioma associated with lymph nodal metastasis. Due to the rarity of the disease there is no consensus regarding treatment. Although this tumor is considered benign, the possibility exists for regional lymph nodal spread. The treatment should be well planned with continuous careful evaluation.
