Radiofrequency ablation for liver metastasis from gastric cancer

Aims

Several studies have reported the benefit of hepatic resection for metastatic tumor from gastric cancer. However, the value of treatment with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has not been clearly defined.

Methods

Between Jan 2002 and Dec 2007, 21 patients with primary gastric cancer were diagnosed with synchronous or metachronous liver metastases. All patients were treated with RFA, and the complication, survival, and recurrence rates were assessed.

Results

The postoperative complication rate was 5% (1/21), with no mortality. The median actuarial survival time was 14 months. The 1-yr, 2-yr, 3-yr, and 5-yr survival rates after RFA were 70%, 11%, 5%, and 3%, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 19 months, local recurrence at the RFA site was 19% (4/21). Solitary metastasis had significantly longer survival than multiple lesions after RFA (22 vs 10 months, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

RFA provides a minimally invasive and safe modality of treatment patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer. Patients with solitary liver lesion were considered appropriate candidates for RFA.     

Microwave ablation with or without resection for colorectal liver metastases

Background

Ablation with or without resection for colorectal liver metastases has been suggested as a potential method of improving survival if complete surgical resection is not possible. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of surgical microwave ablation (MWA) with or without resection for colorectal liver metastases.

Methods

A retrospective case series was reviewed. Data was extracted for all patients treated with open MWA with or without resection for colorectal liver metastases. Endpoints included postoperative 30-day morbidity and mortality, local treatment failure, disease free survival and overall survival.

Results

A total of 43 patients with technically irresectable disease were treated with MWA; 28 underwent combined MWA and resection, whilst 15 underwent MWA as the sole treatment modality. Overall post-operative morbidity was 35%, 30-day postoperative mortality 2%. At a median follow-up of 15 months, local treatment failure was observed in 4% of ablated lesions. 3-year OS was 36% for MWA group, compared to 45% for the combined ablate/resect group with 3-year DFS of 32% and 8% respectively.

Conclusion

Microwave ablation with or without resection is a safe and effective method of achieving local disease control. Ablation with or without resection is associated with good long-term outcomes, and may be a suitable treatment option for small non-resectable colorectal liver metastases.     

Radiofrequency ablation for postoperative recurrences of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Objective: Most recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (RICC) lost the opportunity of radical resection while most nonsurgical management failed to prolong patients' survival. The efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a local treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma have been confirmed by many clinical studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, long-term survival and complications of RFA for RICC. Methods: A total of 12 patients with 19 RICCs after radical ...     

结直肠癌肝转移射频消融治疗的研究进展

结直肠癌肝转移是最常见的转移性肝癌。近年,射频消融治疗在临床开展逐渐增多,本文拟就其在结直癌癌肝转移方面的治疗进展作一简要综述。     

Survival after lung metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: Importance of previous liver metastasis as a prognostic factor

Aims

To analyse patient survival after the resection of lung metastases from colorectal carcinoma and specifically to verify whether presence of liver metastasis prior to lung metastasectomy affects survival.

Methods

All patients who, between 1998 and 2008, underwent lung metastasectomy due to colorectal cancer were included in the study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed with the log-rank test and Cox regression multivariate analysis.

Results

During this period, 101 metastasectomies were performed on 84 patients. The median age of patients was 65.4 years, and 60% of patients were male. The 30-day mortality rate was 2%, and incidence of complications was 7%. The overall survival was 72 months, with 3-and 5-year survival rates of 70% and 54%, respectively. A total of 17 patients (20%) had previously undergone resection of liver metastasis. No significant differences were found in the distribution of what were supposed to be the main variables between patients with and without previous hepatic metastases. Multivariate analysis identified the following statistically significant factors affecting survival: previous liver metastasectomy (p = 0.03), tumour-infiltrated pulmonary lymph nodes (p = 0.04), disease-free interval ≥ 48 months (p = 0.03), and presence of more than one lung metastasis (p < 0.01). In patients with previous liver metastasis, the shorter the time between primary colorectal surgery and the hepatectomy, the lower the survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy (p = 0.048).

Conclusions

A previous history of liver metastasis shortens survival after lung metastasectomy. The time between hepatic resection and lung metastasectomy does not affect survival; however, patients with synchronous liver metastasis and colorectal neoplasia have poorer survival rates than those with metachronous disease.     

Results after simultaneous surgery and RFA liver ablation for patients with colorectal carcinoma and synchronous liver metastases

BackgroundApproximately 20% of patients with colorectal cancer present with synchronous liver metastases (sCRLM). These patients can be treated with a “one-step procedure” or staged resection, with or without radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Colorectal surgery in combination with intraoperative RFA leads to concerns regarding postoperative complications and survival. The purpose was to evaluate the one-step procedure with or without RFA in patients with sCRLM.Materials and methodsBetween January 2000 and September 2018, patients with sCRLM were selected in two tertiary referral centers and retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative morbidity and survival were analyzed.ResultsFrom a total of 410 patients presenting with sCRLM, 329 patients underwent a staged resection and 81 a one-step procedure. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was respectively 66% and 69% for one-step procedure and staged resection (P = 0.24). A total of 18 patients underwent RFA during the one step procedure. No significant differences were shown in postoperative complications whether intraoperative RFA was used in patients with sCRLM. In the one-step procedure, the 3-year OS was respectively 43% and 72% wheter patients did or did not receive RFA (P = 0.19).ConclusionOS for patients with sCRLM was similar for both one-step procedure and staged resection. Intraoperative RFA for sCRLM is technically safe.     

Chemotherapy plus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with inoperable colorectal liver metastases

AIM:To access the efficacy of chemotherapy plus radiofrequency ablation(RFA)as one line of treatment in inoperable colorectal liver metastases.METHODS:Eligible patients were included in three PhaseⅡstudies.In the first study percutaneous RFA was used first followed by 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin and irinotecan combination(FOLFIRI)(adjunctive chemotherapy trial).In the other two,chemotherapy(FOLFIRI or 5-fluorouracil,leucovorin and oxaliplatin combination)up to 12 cycles was used first with percutaneous RFA offered to responding patients (primary chemotherapy trials).RESULTS:Thirteen patients were included in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 17 in the other two.At inclusion they had 1-4 liver metastases(up to 6.5 cm in size).Two patients died during chemotherapy.All patients in the adjunctive chemotherapy trial and 44%in the primary chemotherapy studies had their metastases ablated.Median PFS and overall survival in the adjunctive study were 13 and 24 mo respectively while in the primary chemotherapy studies they were 10 and 21 mo respectively.Eighty one percent of the patients had tumour relapse in at least one previously ablated lesion.CONCLUSION:Chemotherapy plus RFA in patients with low volume inoperable colorectal liver metastases seems safe and relatively effective.The high local recurrence rate is of concern.     

Radiofrequency versus microwave ablation for intraoperative treatment of colorectal liver metastases

IntroductionIntraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and the newer technique of microwave ablation (MWA) can both be of additional value in parenchyma preserving surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). MWA is less influenced by the heat-sink effect of surrounding vessels and can generate more heat in less time but RFA is still widely used. True comparing studies are scarce.MethodsThis single centre retrospective cohort study analyzed patients who underwent ultrasound guided intraoperative ablation as a part of the surgical treatment of CRLM between 2013 and 2018. In September 2015, MWA was substituted for RFA. Outcomes included unsuccessful ablation rates at 1-year postoperative, 30-days major complication rates, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Logistic regression models were used for univariable and multivariable analyses to identify predictors of unsuccessful ablation.ResultsForty-one patients underwent RFA of 98 lesions (median 2) and 79 patients underwent MWA of 193 lesions (median 2). The median diameter of the ablated lesions was 9 mm for both RFA and MWA. Unsuccessful ablation was observed in 7 metastases (7.1%) after RFA and 14 metastases (7.3%) after MWA (p = 1.000). Complications requiring re-intervention were observed after 8 procedures, 2 complications in the RFA group (4.9%) versus 6 complications in the MWA group (7.6%, p = 0.714), of which 6 were liver-related. Ninety-day mortality did not occur. Ablation technique was not associated with unsuccessful ablations. CRLM size was associated with unsuccessful ablation in the per lesion analysis (p < 0.001).ConclusionIntraoperative RFA and MWA were equally effective for treatment of small CRLM.     

The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency and electrolytic ablation created adjacent to large hepatic veins in a porcine model.

INTRODUCTION: Immediately adjacent to large hepatic veins, tumour ablation by radiofrequency or electrolysis may be impaired by heat or current sink effects. Ablation may also cause vessel injury and thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency and electrolytic ablative techniques adjacent to large hepatic veins. METHODS: Electrolytic and radiofrequency zones of ablation were created adjacent to hepatic veins in large white pigs. After 72 h the zones of ablation created were examined histologically for (a) the extent of tissue necrosis up to the vessel and (b) the presence of intimal damage and mural thrombus in the veins. RESULTS: An unexpected complication of electrolysis near large veins was cardiac tamponade. This current related phenomenon could easily be avoided. In seven of nine electrolysis zones of ablation necrosis was completely adjacent to the vessel wall, but in only four of seven radiofrequency zones of ablation. All zones of ablation were associated with intimal necrosis, and most with mural thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ablation of hepatic tumours by radiofrequency and electrolysis is unreliable adjacent to hepatic veins. Both techniques are associated with mural thrombus formation, and so risk thrombo-embolic complication. These ablative modalities are not recommended for zones of ablation adjacent to hepatic veins.     

结直肠癌肝转移的新辅助治疗进展

目前,新辅助治疗已逐步应用到结直肠癌肝转移的治疗模式中.临床研究表明,新辅助化疗、新辅助放疗和新辅助放化疗可提高结直肠癌肝转移的手术切除率和根治性,对中下段直肠癌可术前降期、提高手术切除率、保肛率和降低复发率.新辅助治疗在结直肠癌肝转移综合治疗中具有较大的临床应用价值.     

Efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy in resected colorectal liver metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundNearly half of patients with colorectal cancer develop liver metastases. Radical resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) offers the best chance of cure, significantly improving 5-year survival. Recurrence of metastatic disease is common, occurring in 60 % or more of patients. Clinical equipoise exists regarding the role of perioperative chemotherapy in patients with resected CRLM. This investigation sought to clarify the efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy in patients that have undergone curative-intent resection of CRLM.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was completed of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing perioperative chemotherapy to surgery alone in patients with resected CRLM. MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched, as well as abstracts from recent oncology conferences. A meta-analysis was performed pooling the hazard ratios for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), using a random-effects model.ResultsA total of five, phase 3, open-label, RCTs were included resulting in a pooled analysis of 1119 of the total 1146 enrolled patients. 559 patients were randomized to perioperative chemotherapy and 560 to surgery alone. Pooled estimates demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in DFS (HR 0.71, 95 % CI: 0.61–0.82; p < 0.001) but not OS (HR 0.87, 95 % CI: 0.73–1.04; p = 0.136).ConclusionPerioperative chemotherapy in the setting of resected CRLM resulted in an improvement in DFS, however this did not translate into an OS benefit. Poor compliance to post-hepatectomy oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens was identified. Further investigation into the optimal regimen and sequencing of perioperative chemotherapy is justified.     

Cryosurgery and radiofrequency ablation for unresectable colorectal liver metastases

AimsTo report immediate local treatment efficacy and long-term results of cryosurgical ablation (CSA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with colorectal liver metastases not eligible for resection.MethodsFifty-eight patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases were included. Under ultrasound guidance, CSA or RFA were performed with or without concomitant resection. CT scanning and FDG-PET were used to determine local efficacy of the ablative procedure.ResultsMedian follow-up was 26 and 25 months for CSA and RFA, respectively. One and 2-year survival rates were 76 and 61% for CSA and 93 and 75% for RFA, respectively. In a lesion based analysis, the local recurrence rate was 9% after CSA and 6% after RFA. Complication rates were 30 and 11% after CSA and RFA, respectively, (p=0.052). In a subgroup analysis on 43 patients with 104 ablated lesions, CT scan immediate after treatment was not able to predict local treatment failure, whereas FDG-PET scan within 3 weeks after local ablative treatment predicted six of the seven local recurrences.ConclusionsIn patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases, CSA and RFA can be used either alone or as an effective adjunct to resection in achieving complete tumour clearance of the liver. More widespread use of these techniques seems promising but requires further investigation in randomized trials comparing local ablative treatment with chemotherapy.     

Strategies for the treatment of synchronous liver metastasis.

AIM: Observe the outcomes after complete simultaneous or delayed resection of synchronous liver metastasis (SLM) from colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: From 1994 to 2005, 119 patients were diagnosed with CRC and SLM; 57 patients had simultaneous resection (group I) and 62 patients had staged resection (group II). Perioperative chemotherapy was considered completed if all expected cycle were administrated. RESULTS: Overall survival rates of group I-group II at 1, 3 and 5 years were respectively 91%-93% (p=0,3), 59%-57% (p=0,09) and 32%-25% (p=0,06). The median survival time of group I-group II were respectively 46 months-40 months (p=0,07). There was no statistical difference on survival regarding location of metastasis (p=0,09) or primary tumor location (p=0,2). Patients with simultaneous or staged resection receiving optimal treatment (R0 liver surgery and complete chemotherapy) were respectively 89% and 67% (p=0,04). Twenty three patients developed isolated liver recurrence with higher frequency in staged patients (26% vs 9% p=0,03) without impairment of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Because of postoperative morbidity and prolonged tiring treatment, many patients having staged resection were under treated. However we did not observe statistical difference on survival but we supported that simultaneous resection has to be prefer to achieve an optimal treatment. Lung and bone metastasis are the new challenge for oncologists.     

198例结直肠癌肝转移患者外科治疗的疗效分析

背景与目的:肝脏是结直肠癌常见的转移部位,35%的患者在确诊时已发生肝转移,肝转移患者的预后较差。尽管手术切除、化疗、射频消融术、介入治疗等手段应用于临床,但治疗效果不同。本研究探讨结直肠癌肝转移外科治疗的临床疗效。方法:对我院5年间经病理检查证实的198例结直肠癌肝转移患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据治疗方法的不同进行分组:根治性切除组46例(23.2%)、姑息性切除组43例(21.7%)、手术探查组或最佳支持治疗组29例(14.6%)、肝动脉置泵化疗组41例(20.7%),全身化疗组39例(19.7%);对其生存期进行比较和统计学分析。结果:根治性切除组中位生存期37.1个月,5年生存率为31.2%;姑息性切除组的中位生存期14.3个月,5年生存率为0;肝动脉置泵化疗组的中位生存期21.3个月,5年生存期为7.5%;全身性化疗和探查组或最佳支持治疗组的中位生存期分别为18.7个月、6.3个月,均无5年生存者。根治性切除组与其他组比较,中位生存期有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:根治性切除是提高结直肠癌肝转移患者生存率的重要手段;姑息性切除治疗效果并不优于辅助性治疗,对于不能根治性切除的病例可采用肝动脉置泵化疗。     

Radiofrequency ablation as first-line treatment for small solitary hepatocellular carcinoma: Long-term results

Aims

To evaluate long-term results of patients with small solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and well-preserved liver function who received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as first-line treatment.

Materials and methods

Between November 1999 and June 2007, 247 patients with solitary HCC ≤5 cm and liver status scored as Child-Pugh class A were enrolled. RFA was performed in 224 patients as first-line treatment; 23 patients excluded from RFA because of unfavorable tumor location or their unwillingness, and all of these patients converted to surgical resection.

Results

In the 224 patients treated with RFA, the overall 5-, 7-, 10-year survival rates were 59.8%, 55.2%, 33.9%, respectively, and the median of overall survival was 76.1 months. Complete ablation was achieved in 216 patients (96.4%). Major complications occurred in two patients (0.9%), with no treatment-related death or needle track seeding. Indocyanine green retention rate in 15 min (ICGR15) (P = 0.014) and prothrombin activity (P = 0.004) were associated with overall survival. A subgroup of patients with ICGR15 ≤ 10% and prothrombin activity >75% had 5-, 7-, 10-year survival rates of 67.1%, 64.2%, 57.1%, respectively, with a median survival of 87.7 months. The 10-year recurrence-free, tumor-free survival rates were 17.5%, 28.2%, respectively. Serum albumin was the only factor that significantly impacted recurrence-free and tumor-free survival (P = 0.008, 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

RFA is considered to be the treatment of first choice for patients with solitary HCC ≤5 cm and well-preserved liver function. Surgery can be used as second-line therapy for few patients if RFA is unfeasible.     

结直肠癌肝转移瘤局部介入治疗应用进展

结直肠癌是世界上死亡率排名前5位的恶性肿瘤,其主要死因是肝转移。结直肠癌发生肝转移多是晚期,其治疗效果较差,生存期较短,严重影响结直肠癌的预后。目前,根治性手术切除是结直肠癌肝转移(Colorectal liver metastasis,CRLM)的一线治疗方法,然而,绝大多数病人在被确诊时已失去手术治疗的机会。国家综合癌症网络(National Comprehensive Cancer Network,NCCN)建议将局部治疗(Locoregional therapy,LRT)用于无法行根治性手术切除且对化疗不敏感或无效的CRLM患者,它主要包括经导管动脉内治疗和消融治疗。本文就局部介入治疗CRLM的应用进展做一综述。     

Adjuvant radioimmunotherapy after radiofrequency ablation of colorectal liver metastases in an experimental model

Purpose

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has shown to improve survival in patients not eligible for surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases. However, recurrences after RFA are a major problem. Adjuvant radioimmunotherapy (RIT) after surgical resection of liver metastases has shown to improve survival. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that adjuvant RIT might be an effective way to prevent recurrent liver metastases after RFA in an experimental model.

Methods

Tumours in the liver were induced by intrahepatic injection of 300 000 CC531 cells in male Wag/Rij rats (n = 60). Ten days later, the intrahepatic tumours were treated with RFA. Adjuvant RIT (¹⁷⁷Lu-labelled monoclonal antibody MG1 at 300 MBq/kg) was administered intravenously either at the day of RFA (day 10) or 7 days later. Control rats received no treatment. Primary endpoint was survival.

Results

Administration of ¹⁷⁷Lu-MG1 resulted in a transient decrease in body weight, compared to no adjuvant treatment. However, no other signs of clinical discomfort were registered. Log rank test showed that the survival curves of the groups treated with RIT, either at day 10 or day 17, did not differ significantly from the survival curve of the rats that did not receive adjuvant treatment (P = 0.902).

Conclusion

This study shows that adjuvant RIT does not increase survival after RFA of colorectal liver metastases in rats.     

大肠癌肝转移预测指标

研究发现在大肠癌肝转移患者中,血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、p53基因、基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)、骨桥蛋白(OPN)等生物学指标呈现高表达状态,对其检测可以预测大肠癌发生肝转移的可能性,从而对大肠癌患者提早干预,改善预后.