“Chinese Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer （version-2022）” （China Liver Cancer Staging, Abbreviation “CNLC 2022”） was updated recently and the “Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer Strategy for Prognosis Prediction and Treatment Recommendation: The 2022 update” （Abbreviation “BCLC 2022”） was also updated in December 2021. The similarities and differences of the two guidelines were interpreted. For the BCLC stage B and C, which are equivalent to CNLC stage Ⅱa and Ⅱb and CNLC stage Ⅲa, respectively, the recommendation of surgical treatment and radiation therapy are disparate in the CNLC 2022 and BCLC 2022. For the systematic treatment of advanced liver cancer, Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab, Renvatinib and Sorafenib were both recommended as the first-line medication in the two guidelines. However, the CNLC 2022 is more flexible than BCLC 2022, which provides more treatment options for Chinese liver cancer patients. It is worth paying attention to two important new concepts proposed in the BCLC 2022: stage migration during treatment and untreatable progression. The BCLC stage B was divided into three subgroups according to tumor burden and liver function and different clinical pathways were recommended in the BCLC 2022.
Objective To investigate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) assisted by transradial approach and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) three-dimensional vascular reconstruction in the treatment of primary liver cancer. Methods The clinical data of 124 patients with primary liver cancer who underwent precision TACE via radial artery in our hospital from May 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively collected. Results Among the 124 patients, 118 patients were successfully punctured through the left radial artery and completed the TACE operation. The operation time was (109.57±31.32) min, and the median of postoperative hospitalization was 3 d. One patient changed to the right radial artery to complete TACE due to chronic renal failure and left brachial artery and vein puncture and catheterization before operation. The operation time was 119 minutes, and the patient was discharged after 5 days of hospitalization. After successful puncture of the left radial artery in one patient, the forearm artery was twisted into a loop and the guide wire catheter failed to pass, and the right femoral artery was used to complete TACE. The operation time was 123 minutes, and the patient was discharged after 4 days of improvement. The radial artery puncture was unsuccessful in four patients, and the right femoral artery approach was used to complete the operation; the operation time was (111.66±32.77) min, and the median of postoperative hospitalization was 3 d. One of the patients successfully completed up to 5 consecutive TACE via the radial artery. All patients underwent precision TACE with superselective cannulation assisted by CBCT three-dimensional vascular reconstruction. No vascular injury andocclusion, urinary retention, subcutaneous hemorrhage, and other complications occurred in all patients. Conclusions Trans-radial arterial precision TACE is safe and effective, which can be repeated many times and has few complications and high patient comfort. It can be used as one of the routine approaches of TACE.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and prognosis of emergency hepatectomy and second stage hepatectomy after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in spontaneous rupture and bleeding of resectable primary liver cancer.MethodsA total of 42 patients with spontaneous rupture and bleeding of resectable primary liver cancer in this hospital from January 2010 to January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Among them 24 cases had accepted the emergency hepatectomy in 24 h–48 h after admission (emergency hepatectomy group, n=24), 18 cases had accepted the second stage hepatectomy in 1 week–2 weeks after the TACE (second stage hepatectomy group, n=18), the intraoperative blood loss and intraoperative blood transfusion volume, perioperative mortality, postoperative incidence of hepatic insufficiency, recurrence rate and abdominal metastasis rate within 1 year after the operation, 1- and 3-year survival rates were compared between the emergency hepatectomy group and the second stage hepatectomy group.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between these two groups (P>0.050). The intraoperative blood loss and transfusion volume of the emergency hepatectomy group were significantly more than those of the second stage hepatectomy group (P=0.028, P=0.017). There were no significant differences in the perioperative mortality (P=0.489), incidence of hepatic insufficiency (P=1.000), 1- and 3-year survival rates (P=0.650, P=0.463) and 1-year recurrence rate (P=0.601) between these two groups. No intraperitoneal implantation metastasis was found in these two groups.ConclusionBoth emergency hepatectomy and second stage hepatectomy after TACE are safe and effective in treatment of spontaneous rupture and bleeding of resectable primary liver cancer, appropriate treatment should be selected according to the specific conditions of patients.
Objective
To explore application value of multi-disciplinary team (MDT) model in patient underwent associating liver partition and portal vein occlusion for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS).
Methods
A huge mass of liver right lobe about 90.9 mm×75.5 mm×77.5 mm was found by the preoperative abdominal CT examination, which was considered as the primary liver cancer. The ALPPS was decided to perform through the discussion by the Departments of Radiology, Anesthesiology, Infectious disease, Oncology, and Hepatobiliary surgery. The first step operation included the exploratory laparotomy, associating ligation of the right branch of portal vein and disconnection of left and right hemi liver, radiofrequency ablation, and cholecystectomy. The second step operation was performed at 45 d after the first step operation, which included the release of the abdominal adhesion and the resection of the right lobe of liver.
Results
During the period of the two steps surgeries, though the patient had the liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, and poor proliferation of the left lobe of liver, and so on, the ALPPS was finished smoothly and the R0 resection was achieved through the collboration of MDT. After the surgery, the related complications were treated by the MDT, the patient got great recovery and no recurrence or metastasis occurred during the following-up.
Conclusion
It is feasible to use ALPPS in treatment of primary giant liver cancer under MDT model, it will be more conducive to clinical brainstorming for the best treatment and better income of patient.
Objective To understand the role and mechanism of tumor associated macrophages (TAM) on the occurrence and development of primary liver cancer, and its application in the treatment. MethodThe related literatures about the researches of relation between TAM and primary liver cancer at home and abroad in recent years were collected, sorted out, and made a review. Results Under different stimulating factors, TAM could be polarized to anti-tumor type 1 TAMs or tumor-promoting type 2 TAMs, and type 2 TAMs was the main part in the tumor microenvironment. Through some mechanisms such as vascularity-promoting, invasion-promoting, and immunosuppression to promote the occurrence and development of tumors, and potential treatment plans for primary liver cancer could be found by targeting TAM from different perspectives. Conclusion TAM has a wide range of effects on primary liver cancer, and their mechanisms are complex, understanding the relation between them and make an effective control of TAM could provide new therapeutic ideas and plans for clinical treatment of primary liver cancer.
ObjectiveTo evaluate systematically the effectiveness and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with lenvatinib (LEN) in the treatment of intermediate and advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). MethodsThe relevant literature was comprehensively searched in the CNKI, VIP, Ovid, Schopus, PubMed, and other databases from the establishment of the databases to March 14, 2023. The literature was obtained according to the search strategy and the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the data were extracted and the literature quality was evaluated. The Revman 5.4 software and Stata 15.1 software were used to conduct the meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of TACE+LEN regimen on the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), as well as secondary outcome indicators such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), and hypertension, diarrhea, hand-foot disease, fatigue, proteinuria, and fever for the patients with PLC. ResultsA total of 15 relevant literature was included, including 1 219 patients with PLC, 591 of whom treated with TACE+LEN and 628 treated with TACE alone. The meta-analysis results showed that the TACE+LEN regimen could increase ORR and DCR and prolong OS (P<0.01), as well as effectively decrease AFP level (P<0.01). However, TACE+LEN regimen increased the risks of hypertension, diarrhea, hand-foot disease, fatigue, and proteinuria as compared with TACE alone treatment (P<0.05). However, there were no statistical impacts on AST and ALT, or the risk of fever (P>0.05). ConclusionFrom the results of this meta-analysis, TACE+LEN regimen has a certain efficacy in treatment of intermediate and advanced PLC, but prevention of its related complications is paid attention to.
Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging has been widely used in hepatobiliary surgery, which can guide accurate hepatectomy and improve the prognosis of patients. Lipiodol–indocyanine green emulsion as a pure physical way to prepare lipiodol-drug mixed solvent can be used for primary interventional embolization and subsequent fluorescence-guided hepatectomy. In this paper, the application of iodized oil-indocyanine green emulsion in hepatectomy was summarized by reviewing relevant research progress at home and abroad, and further discussion and prospect were made.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value and experience of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) of “LEER” model with “less pain” “early move” “early eat” and “reassuring” as its ultimate goal in perioperative period of laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy of patients with primary liver cancer.MethodsThe basic clinical data of 98 patients treated in our department from May 2017 to March 2020 who were diagnosed as primary liver cancer and underwent laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of postoperative complications, postoperative recovery and patients’ satisfaction were compared between 40 patients managed with traditional model (traditional group) and 58 patients managed with measures of ERAS of “LEER” model (“LEER”-ERAS group).ResultsCompared with the traditional group, the “LEER”-ERAS group had lower postoperative pain scores (t=2.925, P=0.004), earlier postoperative anal exhaustion, bowel movement and normal diet (t=3.071, t=3.770, t=3.232, all P<0.005) , shorter time to postoperative off-bed activity (t=5.025, P<0.001) and earlier postoperative removal time of drainage tube (t=3.232, P=0.001). Postoperative hospital stay was shorter (t=4.831, P<0.001), the cost of hospitalization was lower (t=3.062, P=0.003), and the patient’s satisfaction with medical treatment was higher (χ2=9.267, P=0.002). There were no statistical difference in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, rate of conversion to laparotomy, blocking time of porta hepatis, postoperative complications and postoperative adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsCompared with the traditional model, the measures of ERAS of “LEER” model that applied to laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy of patients with primary liver cancer, is safe and effective, and can relieve postoperative pain, accelerate postoperative rehabilitation, improve satisfaction of patients, shorten hospital stay, and reduce medical costs. It has further promotion and research value.
ObjectiveTo explore the relation between preoperative serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) and overall survival (OS) of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (Abbreviated as “patients with HCC”), and to establish a nomogram for predicting OS. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the clinicopathologic data of patients with HCC who underwent radical resection in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Xianyang Central Hospital, from January 15, 2012 to December 15, 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal critical value of GPR was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve, then the patients were divided into a low GPR group (GPR was optimal critical value or less ) and high GPR group (GPR was more optimal critical value). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve and analyze the OS of patients. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the factors influencing prognosis in the patients with HCC. According to the risk factors of OS for patients with HCC, a nomogram was established. The consistency index and calibration curve in predicting the 3-year and 5-year accumulative OS rates of patients with HCC were evaluated. ResultsA total of 213 patients were gathered. The optimal critical value of GPR was 0.906. There were 114 patients in the low GPR group and 99 patients in the high GPR group. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 1-, 3- and 5-year accumulative OS rates were 99.1%, 81.8%, 60.6% in the low GPR group, respectively, which were 74.2%, 49.1%, 35.7% in the low GPR group, respectively. The OS curve of the low GPR group was better than that of the high GPR group (χ2=25.893, P<0.001). The multivariate analysis results showed that the microvascular invasion, incomplete capsule, intraoperative bleeding ＞1 000 mL, postoperative complications, GPR >0.906, low tumor differentiation, and late TNM stage did not contribute to accumulative OS in the patients with HCC (P<0.05). The consistency index (95%CI) of the nomogram in predicting accumulative OS rates at 3- and 5-year for patients with HCC were 0.761 (0.739, 0.783) and 0.735 (0.702, 0.838), respectively. The calibration curves of 3- and 5-year accumulative OS rates of the nomogram were in good agreement with the actual results. ConclusionsPreoperative GPR is associated with OS, and patients with higher GPR have worse prognosis. The nomogram based on GPR has a good accuracy and differentiation.
In 2022, there were 367.7 thousands new cases and 316.5 thousands deaths of primary liver cancer in China. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the radical treatments for liver cancer. It has the characteristics of definite curative effect, minimal invasion and low cost. In patients with early liver cancer, the curative effect is similar to surgical resection. The concept and practice of precision surgery provide new ideas for improving the efficacy of RFA. Based on the RFA treatment experience of more than ten thousand cases, the author’s team has carried out research on the precise ablation treatment of primary liver cancer. Now, the author will combine the existing literature and our team’s experience to discuss the application and prospect of the precise surgery concept in RFA treatment.
