1.Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary malignancy of the liver.HCC is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-relatedmortality worldwide.[1]Part...1.Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary malignancy of the liver.HCC is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-relatedmortality worldwide.[1]Partial hepatectomy is recommended for patients with early stage HCC.[2]A large proportion of patients with HCC inChina are diagnosed in the intermediate to advanced HCC stages,rendering them ineligible for hepatectomy due to aspects such as liver dysfunction,insufficient residual liver volume,or surgical technique.展开更多
BACKGROUND Palliative care for unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC)focuses mainly on the symptoms of the disease,including abdominal pain,obstructive jaundice,and malnutrition.Biliary stent placement using endoscopic re...BACKGROUND Palliative care for unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC)focuses mainly on the symptoms of the disease,including abdominal pain,obstructive jaundice,and malnutrition.Biliary stent placement using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatography(ERCP)to relieve biliary obstruction has become an internationally recognized treatment.Although a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic pancreatic duct stenting in advanced PC,no consensus exists on the use of endoscopic treatment to relieve pain and improve nutritional status.METHODS Patients with unresectable PC were recruited.The participants were randomized into two groups:The double-stent group underwent ERCP with a fully-covered self-expandable metallic biliary stent(FCSEMS)and a pancreatic duct stent,while the single-stent group underwent ERCP with an FCSEMS only.Abdominal pain,nutritional status,and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups using the SPSS software.RESULTS Seventy-eight patients with unresectable PC were included in the analysis(40 and 38 in the double-and single-stent groups,respectively).The median pain scores of patients in the double-stent group were lower than those in the single-stent group at 1(0 vs 2.5,P=0.002),2(0 vs 3,P<0.001),3(0 vs 4,P<0.001),and 6 months(0 vs 4,P<0.001)after ERCP.Total serum protein levels in patients in the double-stent group were higher than those in the single-stent group(66.6±8.4 g/L vs 60.4±4.0 g/L,P=0.046)6 months postoperatively.The body mass index(BMI)of patients in both groups decreased at six months.However,the BMI in the single-stent group was higher than that in the double-stent group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Early pancreatic duct stenting reduces abdominal pain and improves nutritional status in patients with unre-sectable PC without reducing the technical success rate or increasing the incidence of adverse events.展开更多
BACKGROUND The treatment of gastric cancer remains highly challenging,particularly in cases of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease.Although chemotherapy and immunotherapy have shown some efficacy in su...BACKGROUND The treatment of gastric cancer remains highly challenging,particularly in cases of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease.Although chemotherapy and immunotherapy have shown some efficacy in such patients,significant limitations persist in extending survival and enhancing safety.To address these challenges,we designed an innovative first-line quadruple conversion therapy regimen that integrates a programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)inhibitor with chemotherapy,and we successfully implemented this therapy regimen in the treatment of a patient with unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 55-year-old male who was diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and presented with intermittent epigastric pain and multiple lymph node metastases in the abdominal cavity,with the metastasis being notably large in size.The tumor tissue was negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 by immunohistochemistry.Considering the patient's status,the multidisciplinary team decided to administer sintilimab in combination with albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-paclitaxel),S-1,and oxaliplatin as a quadruple drug conversion therapy.After 4 cycles of conversion therapy,the patient's epigastric pain was significantly alleviated,his stool color normalized,the volume of the primary tumor and lymph node metastases was markedly reduced,and the tumor marker levels decreased to within the normal range.The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with abdominal lymph node dissection,and postoperative pathological biopsy revealed a pathological complete response and R0 resection,after which the patient recovered to an excellent physical status.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,this is the first reported case of unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocar-cinoma successfully treated with quadruple therapy with a PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy as a first-line conversion regimen.This first-line conversion therapy with the quadruple regimen may be effective and safe for unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.展开更多
BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)for unresectable hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)have rarely been evaluated a...BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)for unresectable hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)have rarely been evaluated and it is unknown which factors are related to efficacy.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and independent predictive factors of TACE combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable HCC.METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled patients with unresectable HCC who received TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment between March 2019 and April 2022.Overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were determined.The objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)were evaluated in accordance with the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Additionally,the prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome were assessed.RESULTS One hundred and two patients were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 12.63 months.The median OS was 26.43 months(95%CI:17.00-35.87),and the median PFS was 10.07 months(95%CI:8.50-11.65).The ORR and DCR were 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.The patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Classification(BCLC)B stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)response(decrease),or early alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)response(decrease>20%)had superior OS and PFS than their counterparts.CONCLUSION This study showed that TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment was well tolerated with encouraging efficacy in patients with unresectable HCC.The patients with BCLC B-stage disease with early NLR response(decrease)and early AFP response(decrease>20%)may achieve better clinical outcomes with this triple therapy.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has been proven to be an ideal choice for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).HAIC-based treatment showed great potential for treating uHCC.Howev...BACKGROUND Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has been proven to be an ideal choice for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).HAIC-based treatment showed great potential for treating uHCC.However,large-scale studies on HAIC-based treatments and meta-analyses of first-line treatments for uHCC are lacking.AIM To investigate better first-line treatment options for uHCC and to assess the safety and efficacy of HAIC combined with angiogenesis inhibitors,programmed cell death of protein 1(PD-1)and its ligand(PD-L1)blockers(triple therapy)under real-world conditions.METHODS Several electronic databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials for this meta-analysis.Study-level pooled analyses of hazard ratios(HRs)and odds ratios(ORs)were performed.This was a retrospective single-center study involving 442 patients with uHCC who received triple therapy or angiogenesis inhibitors plus PD-1/PD-L1 blockades(AIPB)at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2018 to April 2023.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed to balance the bias between the groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and cox regression were used to analyse the survival data,and the log-rank test was used to compare the suvival time between the groups.RESULTS A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included.HAIC alone and in combination with sorafenib were found to be effective treatments(P values for ORs:HAIC,0.95;for HRs:HAIC+sorafenib,0.04).After PSM,176 HCC patients were included in the analysis.The triple therapy group(n=88)had a longer median overall survival than the AIPB group(n=88)(31.6 months vs 14.6 months,P<0.001)and a greater incidence of adverse events(94.3%vs 75.4%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that HAIC-based treatments are likely to be the best choice for uHCC.Our findings confirm that triple therapy is more effective for uHCC patients than AIPB.展开更多
Liver cancer stands as a significant global health concern,contributing substantially to cancer incidence and mortality,particularly in Asian countries[1].Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounts for approximately 90%of ...Liver cancer stands as a significant global health concern,contributing substantially to cancer incidence and mortality,particularly in Asian countries[1].Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounts for approximately 90%of all liver cancer cases and is characterized by a high-risk profile and a generally poor prognosis[2].To address advanced HCC,systemic therapy has been recommended,leading to the approval of a range of treatment regimens in clinical practice.Traditionally,first-line therapy involved the use of multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)such as sorafenib or lenvatinib,while cabozantinib,ramucirumab.展开更多
A significant number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are usually diagnosed in advanced stages,that leads to inability to achieve cure.Palliative options are focusing on downstaging a locally advanced dis...A significant number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are usually diagnosed in advanced stages,that leads to inability to achieve cure.Palliative options are focusing on downstaging a locally advanced disease.It is wellsupported in the literature that patients with HCC who undergo successful conversion therapy followed by curative-intent surgery may achieve a significant survival benefit compared to those who receive chemotherapy alone or those who are successfully downstaged with conversion therapy but not treated with surgery.Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy can be a potential downstaging strategy,since recent studies have demonstrated excellent outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastatic disease as well as primary liver malignancies.展开更多
In the study by Wu et al,patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as a conversion therapy in order to render their tumors suitable for resection.A nomo...In the study by Wu et al,patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as a conversion therapy in order to render their tumors suitable for resection.A nomogram was devised and shown to be effective in predicting the survival of these patients.Generalization of the results,however,is questionable since the study subjects consisted of patients who had resection after TACE while excluding patients with the same disease but not suitable for TACE.Immunotherapy can be considered to be an option for conversion therapy.However,markers for determining responses to a conversion therapy and for guiding the decision between TACE and sequential immunotherapy have been lacking.The question of whether effective conversion therapy can truly enhance overall survival remains unanswered.展开更多
In this editorial,we comment on the article(World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024;16:1236-1247),which is a retrospective study of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor(T...In this editorial,we comment on the article(World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024;16:1236-1247),which is a retrospective study of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI)and programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)inhibitor for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Herein,we focus specifically on the mechanisms of this triple therapy,administration sequence and selection of each medication,and implications for future clinical trials.Based on the interaction mechanisms between medications,the triple therapy of TACE+TKI+PD-1 is proposed to complement the deficiency of each monotherapy,and achieve synergistic antitumor effects.Although this triple therapy has been evaluated by several retrospective trials,it is still controversial whether the triple therapy achieves better clinical benefits,due to the flawed study design and heterogeneity in medications.In addition,the administration sequence,which may greatly affect the clinical benefit,needs to be fully considered at clinical decision-making for obtaining better prognosis.We hope that this editorial could contribute to the design and optimization of future trials.展开更多
BACKGROUND Transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE),as a local treatment,has been widely used in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.The introduction of drug carrier microspheres has brought new hope for t...BACKGROUND Transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE),as a local treatment,has been widely used in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.The introduction of drug carrier microspheres has brought new hope for the therapeutic effect of TACE.Microspheres can realize the slow release and directional delivery of drugs,reduce systemic toxicity and improve local curative effect.AIM To compare the effectiveness of traditional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization against microsphere-assisted transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma that is incurable.METHODS We searched the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and CNKI databases for clinical trials of drug-luting beads TACE(DEB-TACE)vs conventional TACE(cTACE)for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.We screened references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and then selected valid data for meta-analysis using RevMan 53 software.The complete response(CR)rate,partial response(PR)rate,postoperative stable disease(SD)rate,and 6-month and 12-month survival rates were compared.RESULTS A total of 12 articles were included,including 1177 patients,519 of whom received DEB-TACE and 658 of whom received cTACE.The CR rate in the DEB-TACE group was much greater than that in the cTACE group[relative risk(RR)=1.42,95%CI:1.18-1.72,P=0.0002].The 12-month survival rate significantly increased(RR=1.09;95%CI:1.01-1.17,P=0.03);the PR rate(RR=1.13;95%CI:0.97-1.30,P=0.12);the SD rate(RR=0.82;95%CI:0.64-1.05,P=0.12);and the 6-month survival rate(RR=1.05;95%CI:1.00-1.10,P=0.07).There was no significant difference(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with those of iodized oil TACE,the drug-loaded microspheres tended to have therapeutic advantages.展开更多
Recently,the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology published an article entitled“Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A cas...Recently,the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology published an article entitled“Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of the literature”,in which the authors shared their successful experience with complete surgical resection after multidisciplinary conversion therapy.The study by Chu et al demonstrates the great challenges that the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)poses to surgical oncology,reveals the complexity of conversion therapy for unresectable HCC,emphasizes the important role of a multidisciplinary management model in conversion therapy,and enriches our understanding of the dynamics of personalized treatment for different patients.At present,conversion therapy is a hot research topic in the treatment of unresectable HCC,which has brought new hope to many patients with moderately advanced HCC.However,there are still many urgent problems to be solved in conversion therapy.Here,we would like to further discuss the advances and challenges of conversion therapy for unresectable HCC with the authors and the general readers.展开更多
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a highly malignant tumor with significant clinical impact.Chemotherapy alone often yields suboptimal outcomes in both the short and long term,characterized by high rates of local recurrence ...BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a highly malignant tumor with significant clinical impact.Chemotherapy alone often yields suboptimal outcomes in both the short and long term,characterized by high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis,leading to a poor long-term prognosis.AIM To evaluate the clinical efficacy of small particle drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)combined with targeted therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.METHODS We analyzed clinical data from 74 patients with unresectable liver cancer admitted between January 2019 and December 2020.Based on the different treatment regimens administered,patients were divided into the control(36 patients receiving sorafenib alone)and joint(38 patients receiving small particle DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib)groups.We compared liver function indicators[alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),albumin(ALB)]and serum tumor markers[alpha fetoprotein(AFP)]before and after treatment in both groups.Short-term efficacy measures[complete response(CR),partial response,progression disease,stable disease,objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR)]were assessed post-treatment.Long-term follow-up evaluated median overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and adverse reaction rates between the two groups.RESULTS One month post-treatment,the joint group demonstrated significantly higher rates of CR,ORR,and DCR compared to the control group(P<0.05).Three days after treatment,the joint group showed elevated levels of ALT,AST,and TBIL but reduced levels of ALB and AFP compared to the control group(P<0.05).The median OS was 18 months for the control group and 25 months for the joint group,while the median PFS was 15 months for the control group and 22 months for the joint group,with significant differences observed(log-rank:χ2=7.824,6.861,respectively;P=0.005,0.009,respectively).The incidence of adverse reactions was not significantly different between the groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of small particle DEB-TACE and sorafenib significantly improves both short-and long-term outcomes in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer while preserving liver function.展开更多
This editorial comments on the study by Ma et al,which delves into the efficacy and predictive factors associated with the combination of transarterial chemoembolization,lenvatinib,and programmed cell death protein-1 ...This editorial comments on the study by Ma et al,which delves into the efficacy and predictive factors associated with the combination of transarterial chemoembolization,lenvatinib,and programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for the management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Analysing data from a retrospective study involving 102 patients,the treatment showcased a median overall survival(OS)of 26.43 months and a median progression-free survival(PFS)of 10.07 months.Notably,the objective response rate and disease control rate reached 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.Specific factors such as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)Classification B-stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio re-sponse,and early alpha-fetoprotein response(>20%decrease)correlated with superior OS and PFS.The triple therapy exhibited promising efficacy,particularly in BCLC B-stage disease,with prognostic markers aiding in patient stratification.Acknowledging the retrospective nature of the study design,future research should address this limitation and incorporate longer follow-up periods for a comprehensive evaluation of long-term outcomes.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. The Barcelona clinic liver cancer classification is the current standard classification syste...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. The Barcelona clinic liver cancer classification is the current standard classification system for the clinical management of patients with HCC and suggests that patients with intermediate-stage HCC benefit from transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE). Interventional treatments such as TACE, balloon-occluded TACE, drug-eluting bead embolization, radioembolization, and combined therapies including TACE and radiofrequency ablation, continue to evolve, resulting in improved patient prognosis. However, patients with advanced-stage HCC typically receive only chemotherapy with sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, or palliative and conservative therapy. Most patients receive palliative or conservative therapy only, and approximately 50% of patients with HCC are candidatesfor systemic therapy. However, these patients require therapy that is more effective than sorafenib or conservative treatment. Several researchers try to perform more effective therapies, such as combined therapies(TACE with radiotherapy and sorafenib with TACE), modified TACE for HCC with arterioportal or arteriohepatic vein shunts, TACE based on hepatic hemodynamics, and isolated hepatic perfusion. This review summarizes the published data and data on important ongoing studies concerning interventional treatments for unresectable HCC and discusses the technical improvements in these interventions, particularly for advanced-stage HCC.展开更多
AIM To review the conversion therapy for initially unre-sectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery. METHODS A Pub Med search was undertaken from 1987 to 2017...AIM To review the conversion therapy for initially unre-sectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery. METHODS A Pub Med search was undertaken from 1987 to 2017 to identify articles using the keywords including "unresectable" "hepatocellular carcinoma", "hepate-ctomy", "conversion therapy", "resection", "salvage surgery" and "downstaging". Additional studies were investigated through a manual search of the references from the articles. The exclusion criteria were duplicates, case reports, case series, videos, contents unrelated to the topic, comments, and editorial essays. The main and widely used conversion therapies and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery were discussed in detail. Two members of our group independently performed the literature search and data extraction. RESULTS Liver volume measurements [future liver remnant(FLR)/total liver volume or residual liver volume/bodyweight ratio] and function tests(scoring systems and liver stiffness) were often performed in order to justify whether patients were suitable candidates for surgery. Successful conversion therapy was usually defined as downstaging the tumor, increasing FLR and providing subsequent salvage surgery, without increasing com-plications, morbidity or mortality. The requirementsfor performing salvage surgery after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization were the achievement of a partial remission in radiology, the disappearance of the portal vein thrombosis, and the lack of extrahepatic metastasis. Patients with a standardized FLR(sF LR) > 20% were good candidates for surgery after portal vein embolization, while other predictive parameters like growth rate, kinetic growth rate were treated as an effective supplementary. There was probably not enough evidence to provide a standard operation time after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy or yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization. The indications of any combinations of conversion therapies and the subsequent salvage surgery time still need to be carefully and comprehen-sively evaluated. CONCLUSION Conversion therapy is recommended for the treatment of initially unresectable HCC, and the suitable subse-quent salvage surgery time should be reappraised and is closely related to its previous therapeutic effect.展开更多
A 72-year-old woman with a sigmoid colon cancer and a synchronous colorectal liver metastasis(CRLM),which involved the right hepatic vein(RHV)and the inferior vena cava(IVC),was referred to our hospital.The metastatic...A 72-year-old woman with a sigmoid colon cancer and a synchronous colorectal liver metastasis(CRLM),which involved the right hepatic vein(RHV)and the inferior vena cava(IVC),was referred to our hospital.The metastatic lesion was diagnosed as initially unresectable because of its invasion into the confluence of the RHV and IVC.After she had undergone laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for the original tumor,she consequently had 3 courses of modified 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin,and oxaliplatin(m FOLFOX6)plus cetuximab.Computed tomography revealed a partial response,and the confluence of the RHV and IVC got free from cancer invasion.After 3 additional courses of m FOLFOX6 plus cetuximab,preoperative percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization(PTPE)was performed to secure the future remnant liver volume.Finally,a right hemihepatectomy was performed.The postoperative course was uneventful.The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 13.She had neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis 18 mo after the last surgical intervention.This multidisciplinary strategy,consisting of conversion chemotherapy using FOLFOX plus cetuximab and PTPE,could contribute in facilitating curative hepatic resection for initially unresectable CRLM.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with 125 iodine seed implantation for unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (21 mal...AIM: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with 125 iodine seed implantation for unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (21 males and 11 females) at the age of 68 years (range 48-90 years) with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer admitted to our hospital from January 2006 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. The tumor, 4-12 cm in diameter, located in pancreatic head of 23 patients and in pancreatic body and tail of 9 patients, was found to be unresectable during operation. Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was made through intraoperative biopsy. Patients were treated with FRA combined with 125 iodine seed implantation. In brief, a RFA needle was placed, which was confirmed by intraoperative ultrasound to decrease the potential injury of surrounding vital structures, a 125 iodine seed was implanted near the blood vessels and around the tumor border followed by bypass palliative procedure (cholangio-jejunostomy and/or gastrojejunostomy) in 29 patients.RESULTS: The serum CA 19-9 level was decreased from 512 ± 86 U/mL before operation to 176 ± 64 U/mL, 108 ± 42 U/mL and 114 ± 48 U/mL, respectively, 1, 3 and 6 mo after operation (P < 0.05). The pain score on day 7 after operation, 1 and 3 mo after combined therapy was decreased from 5.86 ± 1.92 before operation to 2.65 ± 1.04, 1.65 ± 0.88 and 2.03 ± 1.16, respectively, after operation (P < 0.05). The rate of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD) in 32 patients was 21.8% (7/32), 56.3% (18/32), 15.6% (5/32) and 6.3% (2/32), respectively, 6 mo after operation, with a median overall survival time of 17. 5 mo. The median survival time of patients at stage Ⅲ was longer than that of those at stage Ⅳ (19 mo vs 10 mo, P = 0.0026). The median survival time of patients who received and did not receive chemotherapy after operation was 20 mo and 16 mo, respectively (P = 0.0176). Of the 32 patients, 3 (10.6%) experienced postoperative complications including transient biliary leaks in 2 patients and acute pancreatitis in 1 patient. All the patients recovered well after conservative support treatment. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative RFA combined with 125 iodine seed implantation is a feasible and safe procedure for unresectable pancreatic cancer with acceptable minor complications, and can prolong the survival time of patients, especially those at stage Ⅲ.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the chemotherapeutic outcomes and confirm the recent improvement of prognosis for unresectable biliary tract cancer.METHODS:A total of 186 consecutive patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer,wh...AIM:To evaluate the chemotherapeutic outcomes and confirm the recent improvement of prognosis for unresectable biliary tract cancer.METHODS:A total of 186 consecutive patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer,who had been treated with chemotherapy between 2000 and 2009 at five institutions in Japan,were retrospectively analyzed.These patients were divided into three groups based on the year beginning chemotherapy:Group A(2000-2003),Group B(2004-2006),and Group C(2007-2009).The data were fixed at the end of December 2011.Overall survival and time-to-progression were analyzed and compared chronologically.RESULTS:No patient characteristics were significantly different among the three groups.The gallbladder was involved in about half of the patients in each group,and metastatic biliary tract cancer was present in three quarters of the enrollees.In Group A,5-fluorouracilbased chemotherapies were primarily selected as firstline chemotherapy,and only 24% were treated with second-line chemotherapy.In Group B,gemcitabine or S-1 monotherapy was mainly introduced as firstline chemotherapy,and 51% of the patients who were refractory to first-line chemotherapy were treated with second-line chemotherapy mainly with monotherapy.In Group C,the combination therapy with gemcitabine and S-1 was mainly chosen as first-line chemotherapy,and 53% of the patients refractory to first-line chemotherapy were treated with second-line chemotherapy mainly with combination therapy.The median timeto-progressions were 4.4 mo,3.5 mo and 5.9 mo in Groups A,B and C,respectively(4.4 mo vs 3.5 mo vs 5.9 mo,P < 0.01).The median overall survivals were 7.1,7.3,and 11.7 mo in Groups A,B and C(7.1 mo vs 7.3 mo vs 11.7 mo,P = 0.03).Induction rates of all three drugs(gemcitabine,platinum analogs,and fluoropyrimidine) in Groups A,B and C were 4%,2% and 27%(4% vs 2% vs 27%,P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The prognosis of unresectable biliary tract cancer has improved recently.Using three effective drugs(gemcitabine,platinum analogs,and fluoropyrimidine) may improve the prognosis of this cancer.展开更多
AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） with or without a history of therapy for HCC following transcatheter arterial embolization （TAE）. METHODS： One hundr...AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） with or without a history of therapy for HCC following transcatheter arterial embolization （TAE）. METHODS： One hundred and twenty-one patients with HCC treated with TAE from 1992 to 2004 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Eighty-four patients had a history of treatment for HCC, while 37 did not. At the time of entry, patients with extra-hepatic metastasis, portal vein tumor thrombosis, or Child-Pugh class C were excluded. TAE was repeated when recurrence of HCC was diagnosed by elevated tumor markers, or ultrasonography or dynamic computed tomography findings. RESULTS： Tumor size was larger and the number of tumors was fewer in patients without past treatment （P〈0.01）. However, there were no differences in tumor node metastasis （TNM） stage or survival rate between the 2 groups. A bilobular tumor and high level of α-fetoprotein （AFP） （〉100 ng/mL） were factors related to a poor prognosis in patients with a history of HCC. CONCLUSION： The prognosis following TAE is similar between HCC patients with and without past treatment. Early diagnosis of HCC or recurrent HCC and obtaining good local control against HCC before entry to a repeated TAE course can improve prognosis.展开更多
Objective：To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib combined with cryoablation in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.Methods：Patients with unresectable advanced HCC received cryoabla...Objective：To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib combined with cryoablation in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.Methods：Patients with unresectable advanced HCC received cryoablation and sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily in 4-week cycles on the same day of the cryoablation.Tumor response,median overall survival and the median time to radiological progression were calculated and the toxicity was evaluated.Results：Seventy-eight patients with unresectable HCC were involved in this study.The median age was 52 years （range,22-81 years）.The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group （ECOG） performance status scores were 0 （39.7%）,1 （55.1%）,and 2 （5.1%）.Nine （11.5%） patients were at Barcelona clinic liver cancer （BCLC） stage A,twenty-four （30.8%） patients were at stage B and 45 （57.7%） patients were at stage C.Five （6.4%） achieved partial responses,and 34 （43.6%） achieved stable disease.The median time to progression （TTP） for all enrolled patients was 6.6 months and the median overall survival （OS） was 12.2 months.Conclusion：Cryoablation combined with sorafenib demonstrates good efficacy and acceptable tolerability in treating unresectable advanced HCC patients.展开更多
文摘1.Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary malignancy of the liver.HCC is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-relatedmortality worldwide.[1]Partial hepatectomy is recommended for patients with early stage HCC.[2]A large proportion of patients with HCC inChina are diagnosed in the intermediate to advanced HCC stages,rendering them ineligible for hepatectomy due to aspects such as liver dysfunction,insufficient residual liver volume,or surgical technique.
基金Supported by The Health Commission of Zhejiang Provence,China,No.WKJ-ZJ-2136.
文摘BACKGROUND Palliative care for unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC)focuses mainly on the symptoms of the disease,including abdominal pain,obstructive jaundice,and malnutrition.Biliary stent placement using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatography(ERCP)to relieve biliary obstruction has become an internationally recognized treatment.Although a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic pancreatic duct stenting in advanced PC,no consensus exists on the use of endoscopic treatment to relieve pain and improve nutritional status.METHODS Patients with unresectable PC were recruited.The participants were randomized into two groups:The double-stent group underwent ERCP with a fully-covered self-expandable metallic biliary stent(FCSEMS)and a pancreatic duct stent,while the single-stent group underwent ERCP with an FCSEMS only.Abdominal pain,nutritional status,and incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups using the SPSS software.RESULTS Seventy-eight patients with unresectable PC were included in the analysis(40 and 38 in the double-and single-stent groups,respectively).The median pain scores of patients in the double-stent group were lower than those in the single-stent group at 1(0 vs 2.5,P=0.002),2(0 vs 3,P<0.001),3(0 vs 4,P<0.001),and 6 months(0 vs 4,P<0.001)after ERCP.Total serum protein levels in patients in the double-stent group were higher than those in the single-stent group(66.6±8.4 g/L vs 60.4±4.0 g/L,P=0.046)6 months postoperatively.The body mass index(BMI)of patients in both groups decreased at six months.However,the BMI in the single-stent group was higher than that in the double-stent group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Early pancreatic duct stenting reduces abdominal pain and improves nutritional status in patients with unre-sectable PC without reducing the technical success rate or increasing the incidence of adverse events.
基金Supported by the Health Industry Research Program of Gansu Province,No.GSWSKY2021-043the Youth Science and Technology Foundation of Gansu Province,No.22JR11RA002the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province,No.22JR5RA008.
文摘BACKGROUND The treatment of gastric cancer remains highly challenging,particularly in cases of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease.Although chemotherapy and immunotherapy have shown some efficacy in such patients,significant limitations persist in extending survival and enhancing safety.To address these challenges,we designed an innovative first-line quadruple conversion therapy regimen that integrates a programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)inhibitor with chemotherapy,and we successfully implemented this therapy regimen in the treatment of a patient with unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 55-year-old male who was diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma and presented with intermittent epigastric pain and multiple lymph node metastases in the abdominal cavity,with the metastasis being notably large in size.The tumor tissue was negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 by immunohistochemistry.Considering the patient's status,the multidisciplinary team decided to administer sintilimab in combination with albumin-bound paclitaxel(nab-paclitaxel),S-1,and oxaliplatin as a quadruple drug conversion therapy.After 4 cycles of conversion therapy,the patient's epigastric pain was significantly alleviated,his stool color normalized,the volume of the primary tumor and lymph node metastases was markedly reduced,and the tumor marker levels decreased to within the normal range.The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic total gastrectomy with abdominal lymph node dissection,and postoperative pathological biopsy revealed a pathological complete response and R0 resection,after which the patient recovered to an excellent physical status.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,this is the first reported case of unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocar-cinoma successfully treated with quadruple therapy with a PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy as a first-line conversion regimen.This first-line conversion therapy with the quadruple regimen may be effective and safe for unresectable locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.
文摘BACKGROUND The efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with lenvatinib plus programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)for unresectable hepato-cellular carcinoma(HCC)have rarely been evaluated and it is unknown which factors are related to efficacy.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and independent predictive factors of TACE combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable HCC.METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled patients with unresectable HCC who received TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment between March 2019 and April 2022.Overall survival(OS)and progression-free survival(PFS)were determined.The objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)were evaluated in accordance with the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Additionally,the prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome were assessed.RESULTS One hundred and two patients were enrolled with a median follow-up duration of 12.63 months.The median OS was 26.43 months(95%CI:17.00-35.87),and the median PFS was 10.07 months(95%CI:8.50-11.65).The ORR and DCR were 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.The patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Classification(BCLC)B stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)response(decrease),or early alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)response(decrease>20%)had superior OS and PFS than their counterparts.CONCLUSION This study showed that TACE/lenvatinib/PD-1 treatment was well tolerated with encouraging efficacy in patients with unresectable HCC.The patients with BCLC B-stage disease with early NLR response(decrease)and early AFP response(decrease>20%)may achieve better clinical outcomes with this triple therapy.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.2020A1515011539.
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)has been proven to be an ideal choice for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC).HAIC-based treatment showed great potential for treating uHCC.However,large-scale studies on HAIC-based treatments and meta-analyses of first-line treatments for uHCC are lacking.AIM To investigate better first-line treatment options for uHCC and to assess the safety and efficacy of HAIC combined with angiogenesis inhibitors,programmed cell death of protein 1(PD-1)and its ligand(PD-L1)blockers(triple therapy)under real-world conditions.METHODS Several electronic databases were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials for this meta-analysis.Study-level pooled analyses of hazard ratios(HRs)and odds ratios(ORs)were performed.This was a retrospective single-center study involving 442 patients with uHCC who received triple therapy or angiogenesis inhibitors plus PD-1/PD-L1 blockades(AIPB)at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2018 to April 2023.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed to balance the bias between the groups.The Kaplan-Meier method and cox regression were used to analyse the survival data,and the log-rank test was used to compare the suvival time between the groups.RESULTS A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included.HAIC alone and in combination with sorafenib were found to be effective treatments(P values for ORs:HAIC,0.95;for HRs:HAIC+sorafenib,0.04).After PSM,176 HCC patients were included in the analysis.The triple therapy group(n=88)had a longer median overall survival than the AIPB group(n=88)(31.6 months vs 14.6 months,P<0.001)and a greater incidence of adverse events(94.3%vs 75.4%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION This meta-analysis suggests that HAIC-based treatments are likely to be the best choice for uHCC.Our findings confirm that triple therapy is more effective for uHCC patients than AIPB.
基金This work was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund,Macao SAR(No.0053-2021-AGJ)the Internal Research Grant of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine,University of Macao(No.SKL-QRCM-IRG2023-011)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(No.2023NSFSC1783).
文摘Liver cancer stands as a significant global health concern,contributing substantially to cancer incidence and mortality,particularly in Asian countries[1].Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)accounts for approximately 90%of all liver cancer cases and is characterized by a high-risk profile and a generally poor prognosis[2].To address advanced HCC,systemic therapy has been recommended,leading to the approval of a range of treatment regimens in clinical practice.Traditionally,first-line therapy involved the use of multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)such as sorafenib or lenvatinib,while cabozantinib,ramucirumab.
文摘A significant number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are usually diagnosed in advanced stages,that leads to inability to achieve cure.Palliative options are focusing on downstaging a locally advanced disease.It is wellsupported in the literature that patients with HCC who undergo successful conversion therapy followed by curative-intent surgery may achieve a significant survival benefit compared to those who receive chemotherapy alone or those who are successfully downstaged with conversion therapy but not treated with surgery.Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy can be a potential downstaging strategy,since recent studies have demonstrated excellent outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastatic disease as well as primary liver malignancies.
文摘In the study by Wu et al,patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as a conversion therapy in order to render their tumors suitable for resection.A nomogram was devised and shown to be effective in predicting the survival of these patients.Generalization of the results,however,is questionable since the study subjects consisted of patients who had resection after TACE while excluding patients with the same disease but not suitable for TACE.Immunotherapy can be considered to be an option for conversion therapy.However,markers for determining responses to a conversion therapy and for guiding the decision between TACE and sequential immunotherapy have been lacking.The question of whether effective conversion therapy can truly enhance overall survival remains unanswered.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82104525The Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China,No.21KJB360009.
文摘In this editorial,we comment on the article(World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024;16:1236-1247),which is a retrospective study of transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI)and programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)inhibitor for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Herein,we focus specifically on the mechanisms of this triple therapy,administration sequence and selection of each medication,and implications for future clinical trials.Based on the interaction mechanisms between medications,the triple therapy of TACE+TKI+PD-1 is proposed to complement the deficiency of each monotherapy,and achieve synergistic antitumor effects.Although this triple therapy has been evaluated by several retrospective trials,it is still controversial whether the triple therapy achieves better clinical benefits,due to the flawed study design and heterogeneity in medications.In addition,the administration sequence,which may greatly affect the clinical benefit,needs to be fully considered at clinical decision-making for obtaining better prognosis.We hope that this editorial could contribute to the design and optimization of future trials.
基金Supported by Scientific Research project of Hunan Provincial Health Commission,No.B202303077689Hunan Natural Science Foundation Project,No.2023JJ40397.
文摘BACKGROUND Transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE),as a local treatment,has been widely used in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.The introduction of drug carrier microspheres has brought new hope for the therapeutic effect of TACE.Microspheres can realize the slow release and directional delivery of drugs,reduce systemic toxicity and improve local curative effect.AIM To compare the effectiveness of traditional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization against microsphere-assisted transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma that is incurable.METHODS We searched the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,and CNKI databases for clinical trials of drug-luting beads TACE(DEB-TACE)vs conventional TACE(cTACE)for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.We screened references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and then selected valid data for meta-analysis using RevMan 53 software.The complete response(CR)rate,partial response(PR)rate,postoperative stable disease(SD)rate,and 6-month and 12-month survival rates were compared.RESULTS A total of 12 articles were included,including 1177 patients,519 of whom received DEB-TACE and 658 of whom received cTACE.The CR rate in the DEB-TACE group was much greater than that in the cTACE group[relative risk(RR)=1.42,95%CI:1.18-1.72,P=0.0002].The 12-month survival rate significantly increased(RR=1.09;95%CI:1.01-1.17,P=0.03);the PR rate(RR=1.13;95%CI:0.97-1.30,P=0.12);the SD rate(RR=0.82;95%CI:0.64-1.05,P=0.12);and the 6-month survival rate(RR=1.05;95%CI:1.00-1.10,P=0.07).There was no significant difference(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with those of iodized oil TACE,the drug-loaded microspheres tended to have therapeutic advantages.
文摘Recently,the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology published an article entitled“Pathologically successful conversion hepatectomy for advanced giant hepatocellular carcinoma after multidisciplinary therapy:A case report and review of the literature”,in which the authors shared their successful experience with complete surgical resection after multidisciplinary conversion therapy.The study by Chu et al demonstrates the great challenges that the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)poses to surgical oncology,reveals the complexity of conversion therapy for unresectable HCC,emphasizes the important role of a multidisciplinary management model in conversion therapy,and enriches our understanding of the dynamics of personalized treatment for different patients.At present,conversion therapy is a hot research topic in the treatment of unresectable HCC,which has brought new hope to many patients with moderately advanced HCC.However,there are still many urgent problems to be solved in conversion therapy.Here,we would like to further discuss the advances and challenges of conversion therapy for unresectable HCC with the authors and the general readers.
文摘BACKGROUND Liver cancer is a highly malignant tumor with significant clinical impact.Chemotherapy alone often yields suboptimal outcomes in both the short and long term,characterized by high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis,leading to a poor long-term prognosis.AIM To evaluate the clinical efficacy of small particle drug-eluting beads-transarterial chemoembolization(DEB-TACE)combined with targeted therapy for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer.METHODS We analyzed clinical data from 74 patients with unresectable liver cancer admitted between January 2019 and December 2020.Based on the different treatment regimens administered,patients were divided into the control(36 patients receiving sorafenib alone)and joint(38 patients receiving small particle DEB-TACE combined with sorafenib)groups.We compared liver function indicators[alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),albumin(ALB)]and serum tumor markers[alpha fetoprotein(AFP)]before and after treatment in both groups.Short-term efficacy measures[complete response(CR),partial response,progression disease,stable disease,objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR)]were assessed post-treatment.Long-term follow-up evaluated median overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS),and adverse reaction rates between the two groups.RESULTS One month post-treatment,the joint group demonstrated significantly higher rates of CR,ORR,and DCR compared to the control group(P<0.05).Three days after treatment,the joint group showed elevated levels of ALT,AST,and TBIL but reduced levels of ALB and AFP compared to the control group(P<0.05).The median OS was 18 months for the control group and 25 months for the joint group,while the median PFS was 15 months for the control group and 22 months for the joint group,with significant differences observed(log-rank:χ2=7.824,6.861,respectively;P=0.005,0.009,respectively).The incidence of adverse reactions was not significantly different between the groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The combination of small particle DEB-TACE and sorafenib significantly improves both short-and long-term outcomes in the treatment of unresectable liver cancer while preserving liver function.
文摘This editorial comments on the study by Ma et al,which delves into the efficacy and predictive factors associated with the combination of transarterial chemoembolization,lenvatinib,and programmed cell death protein-1 inhibition for the management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Analysing data from a retrospective study involving 102 patients,the treatment showcased a median overall survival(OS)of 26.43 months and a median progression-free survival(PFS)of 10.07 months.Notably,the objective response rate and disease control rate reached 61.76%and 81.37%,respectively.Specific factors such as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)Classification B-stage,early neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio re-sponse,and early alpha-fetoprotein response(>20%decrease)correlated with superior OS and PFS.The triple therapy exhibited promising efficacy,particularly in BCLC B-stage disease,with prognostic markers aiding in patient stratification.Acknowledging the retrospective nature of the study design,future research should address this limitation and incorporate longer follow-up periods for a comprehensive evaluation of long-term outcomes.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. The Barcelona clinic liver cancer classification is the current standard classification system for the clinical management of patients with HCC and suggests that patients with intermediate-stage HCC benefit from transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE). Interventional treatments such as TACE, balloon-occluded TACE, drug-eluting bead embolization, radioembolization, and combined therapies including TACE and radiofrequency ablation, continue to evolve, resulting in improved patient prognosis. However, patients with advanced-stage HCC typically receive only chemotherapy with sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, or palliative and conservative therapy. Most patients receive palliative or conservative therapy only, and approximately 50% of patients with HCC are candidatesfor systemic therapy. However, these patients require therapy that is more effective than sorafenib or conservative treatment. Several researchers try to perform more effective therapies, such as combined therapies(TACE with radiotherapy and sorafenib with TACE), modified TACE for HCC with arterioportal or arteriohepatic vein shunts, TACE based on hepatic hemodynamics, and isolated hepatic perfusion. This review summarizes the published data and data on important ongoing studies concerning interventional treatments for unresectable HCC and discusses the technical improvements in these interventions, particularly for advanced-stage HCC.
文摘AIM To review the conversion therapy for initially unre-sectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery. METHODS A Pub Med search was undertaken from 1987 to 2017 to identify articles using the keywords including "unresectable" "hepatocellular carcinoma", "hepate-ctomy", "conversion therapy", "resection", "salvage surgery" and "downstaging". Additional studies were investigated through a manual search of the references from the articles. The exclusion criteria were duplicates, case reports, case series, videos, contents unrelated to the topic, comments, and editorial essays. The main and widely used conversion therapies and the suitable timing for subsequent salvage surgery were discussed in detail. Two members of our group independently performed the literature search and data extraction. RESULTS Liver volume measurements [future liver remnant(FLR)/total liver volume or residual liver volume/bodyweight ratio] and function tests(scoring systems and liver stiffness) were often performed in order to justify whether patients were suitable candidates for surgery. Successful conversion therapy was usually defined as downstaging the tumor, increasing FLR and providing subsequent salvage surgery, without increasing com-plications, morbidity or mortality. The requirementsfor performing salvage surgery after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization were the achievement of a partial remission in radiology, the disappearance of the portal vein thrombosis, and the lack of extrahepatic metastasis. Patients with a standardized FLR(sF LR) > 20% were good candidates for surgery after portal vein embolization, while other predictive parameters like growth rate, kinetic growth rate were treated as an effective supplementary. There was probably not enough evidence to provide a standard operation time after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy or yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization. The indications of any combinations of conversion therapies and the subsequent salvage surgery time still need to be carefully and comprehen-sively evaluated. CONCLUSION Conversion therapy is recommended for the treatment of initially unresectable HCC, and the suitable subse-quent salvage surgery time should be reappraised and is closely related to its previous therapeutic effect.
文摘A 72-year-old woman with a sigmoid colon cancer and a synchronous colorectal liver metastasis(CRLM),which involved the right hepatic vein(RHV)and the inferior vena cava(IVC),was referred to our hospital.The metastatic lesion was diagnosed as initially unresectable because of its invasion into the confluence of the RHV and IVC.After she had undergone laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for the original tumor,she consequently had 3 courses of modified 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin,and oxaliplatin(m FOLFOX6)plus cetuximab.Computed tomography revealed a partial response,and the confluence of the RHV and IVC got free from cancer invasion.After 3 additional courses of m FOLFOX6 plus cetuximab,preoperative percutaneous transhepatic portal vein embolization(PTPE)was performed to secure the future remnant liver volume.Finally,a right hemihepatectomy was performed.The postoperative course was uneventful.The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 13.She had neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis 18 mo after the last surgical intervention.This multidisciplinary strategy,consisting of conversion chemotherapy using FOLFOX plus cetuximab and PTPE,could contribute in facilitating curative hepatic resection for initially unresectable CRLM.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with 125 iodine seed implantation for unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Thirty-two patients (21 males and 11 females) at the age of 68 years (range 48-90 years) with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer admitted to our hospital from January 2006 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. The tumor, 4-12 cm in diameter, located in pancreatic head of 23 patients and in pancreatic body and tail of 9 patients, was found to be unresectable during operation. Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was made through intraoperative biopsy. Patients were treated with FRA combined with 125 iodine seed implantation. In brief, a RFA needle was placed, which was confirmed by intraoperative ultrasound to decrease the potential injury of surrounding vital structures, a 125 iodine seed was implanted near the blood vessels and around the tumor border followed by bypass palliative procedure (cholangio-jejunostomy and/or gastrojejunostomy) in 29 patients.RESULTS: The serum CA 19-9 level was decreased from 512 ± 86 U/mL before operation to 176 ± 64 U/mL, 108 ± 42 U/mL and 114 ± 48 U/mL, respectively, 1, 3 and 6 mo after operation (P < 0.05). The pain score on day 7 after operation, 1 and 3 mo after combined therapy was decreased from 5.86 ± 1.92 before operation to 2.65 ± 1.04, 1.65 ± 0.88 and 2.03 ± 1.16, respectively, after operation (P < 0.05). The rate of complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD) in 32 patients was 21.8% (7/32), 56.3% (18/32), 15.6% (5/32) and 6.3% (2/32), respectively, 6 mo after operation, with a median overall survival time of 17. 5 mo. The median survival time of patients at stage Ⅲ was longer than that of those at stage Ⅳ (19 mo vs 10 mo, P = 0.0026). The median survival time of patients who received and did not receive chemotherapy after operation was 20 mo and 16 mo, respectively (P = 0.0176). Of the 32 patients, 3 (10.6%) experienced postoperative complications including transient biliary leaks in 2 patients and acute pancreatitis in 1 patient. All the patients recovered well after conservative support treatment. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative RFA combined with 125 iodine seed implantation is a feasible and safe procedure for unresectable pancreatic cancer with acceptable minor complications, and can prolong the survival time of patients, especially those at stage Ⅲ.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the chemotherapeutic outcomes and confirm the recent improvement of prognosis for unresectable biliary tract cancer.METHODS:A total of 186 consecutive patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer,who had been treated with chemotherapy between 2000 and 2009 at five institutions in Japan,were retrospectively analyzed.These patients were divided into three groups based on the year beginning chemotherapy:Group A(2000-2003),Group B(2004-2006),and Group C(2007-2009).The data were fixed at the end of December 2011.Overall survival and time-to-progression were analyzed and compared chronologically.RESULTS:No patient characteristics were significantly different among the three groups.The gallbladder was involved in about half of the patients in each group,and metastatic biliary tract cancer was present in three quarters of the enrollees.In Group A,5-fluorouracilbased chemotherapies were primarily selected as firstline chemotherapy,and only 24% were treated with second-line chemotherapy.In Group B,gemcitabine or S-1 monotherapy was mainly introduced as firstline chemotherapy,and 51% of the patients who were refractory to first-line chemotherapy were treated with second-line chemotherapy mainly with monotherapy.In Group C,the combination therapy with gemcitabine and S-1 was mainly chosen as first-line chemotherapy,and 53% of the patients refractory to first-line chemotherapy were treated with second-line chemotherapy mainly with combination therapy.The median timeto-progressions were 4.4 mo,3.5 mo and 5.9 mo in Groups A,B and C,respectively(4.4 mo vs 3.5 mo vs 5.9 mo,P < 0.01).The median overall survivals were 7.1,7.3,and 11.7 mo in Groups A,B and C(7.1 mo vs 7.3 mo vs 11.7 mo,P = 0.03).Induction rates of all three drugs(gemcitabine,platinum analogs,and fluoropyrimidine) in Groups A,B and C were 4%,2% and 27%(4% vs 2% vs 27%,P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The prognosis of unresectable biliary tract cancer has improved recently.Using three effective drugs(gemcitabine,platinum analogs,and fluoropyrimidine) may improve the prognosis of this cancer.
文摘AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） with or without a history of therapy for HCC following transcatheter arterial embolization （TAE）. METHODS： One hundred and twenty-one patients with HCC treated with TAE from 1992 to 2004 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Eighty-four patients had a history of treatment for HCC, while 37 did not. At the time of entry, patients with extra-hepatic metastasis, portal vein tumor thrombosis, or Child-Pugh class C were excluded. TAE was repeated when recurrence of HCC was diagnosed by elevated tumor markers, or ultrasonography or dynamic computed tomography findings. RESULTS： Tumor size was larger and the number of tumors was fewer in patients without past treatment （P〈0.01）. However, there were no differences in tumor node metastasis （TNM） stage or survival rate between the 2 groups. A bilobular tumor and high level of α-fetoprotein （AFP） （〉100 ng/mL） were factors related to a poor prognosis in patients with a history of HCC. CONCLUSION： The prognosis following TAE is similar between HCC patients with and without past treatment. Early diagnosis of HCC or recurrent HCC and obtaining good local control against HCC before entry to a repeated TAE course can improve prognosis.
文摘Objective：To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib combined with cryoablation in treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.Methods：Patients with unresectable advanced HCC received cryoablation and sorafenib at a dose of 400 mg twice daily in 4-week cycles on the same day of the cryoablation.Tumor response,median overall survival and the median time to radiological progression were calculated and the toxicity was evaluated.Results：Seventy-eight patients with unresectable HCC were involved in this study.The median age was 52 years （range,22-81 years）.The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group （ECOG） performance status scores were 0 （39.7%）,1 （55.1%）,and 2 （5.1%）.Nine （11.5%） patients were at Barcelona clinic liver cancer （BCLC） stage A,twenty-four （30.8%） patients were at stage B and 45 （57.7%） patients were at stage C.Five （6.4%） achieved partial responses,and 34 （43.6%） achieved stable disease.The median time to progression （TTP） for all enrolled patients was 6.6 months and the median overall survival （OS） was 12.2 months.Conclusion：Cryoablation combined with sorafenib demonstrates good efficacy and acceptable tolerability in treating unresectable advanced HCC patients.
