Laparoscopic approach for treatment of multiple hepatocellular carcinomas

Background

The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical and oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic surgery for patients with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Among the 260 patients who underwent laparoscopic procedures, including laparoscopic liver resection and laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LRFA), between September 2003 and December 2009, 107 patients with HCC were included in this retrospective study. According to tumor multiplicity, patients were divided into multiple lesion (n?=?23) and single lesion (n?=?84) groups. We compared the operative outcomes after the laparoscopic procedures between the single and multiple tumor groups.

Results

There was no difference in the clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups, except the multiple group had more frequent previous history of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization. LRFA was more frequently used in the multiple group as compared with the single group. There was no postoperative mortality in either group. Application of laparoscopic surgery in the multiple group did not increase the operative time, rate of intraoperative transfusion, length of postoperative hospital stay, or postoperative complications, as compared with the single group. After median follow-up of 33.7?months, there was no statistically significant difference of the survival rates between the two groups, although there was a better disease-free survival rate in the single group.

Conclusions

This study shows that laparoscopic surgery, including LH and LRFA, can be safely applied to patients with multiple HCCs, and the survival outcomes are acceptable.     

Evaluation of costs and morbidity associated with laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for treating small renal tumours

OBJECTIVE

To compare the costs and morbidity of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for treating small localized renal tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed the outcomes of 88 patients treated at our institution for a renal tumour either by LPN (50) or LRFA (38) between March 2000 and May 2006. Patients with multiple tumours, combined LRFA and LPN, and those who had other simultaneous surgical procedures were excluded. Clinical variables and outcomes were analysed for each patient. Direct cost data were available for 40 patients treated with LPN and 14 with LRFA. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using an independent t‐test and chi‐square test, respectively.

RESULTS

The tumour size was comparable in each group; patients in the LRFA group had more comorbidities (P = 0.01) and a higher overall mortality rate (P = 0.01) but no patient died from cancer. Operative duration, estimated blood loss and length of stay were significantly shorter in the LRFA group but there was no difference in complication rate. LRFA was less costly than LPN ($6103 vs $6808, P = 0.3) but not statistically significantly. The cost savings from the shorter operative duration and length of stay were reduced by the cost of probe. With a median follow‐up of 20 months there was no difference in oncological outcome.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing LRFA tend to be older and have more comorbidities than those treated with LPN. The cost is minimally lower for LRFA, secondary to the added cost of the probe. LRFA might be a good alternative treatment in patients at higher risk of surgical complications, but LPN provides good results when done by an experienced surgeon.     

Combined resection with radiofrequency ablation for bilobar hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-center experience

Background

Bilobar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not rare and curative resection often cannot be achieved. However, the long-term results of nonsurgical treatments remain unsatisfactory. This study investigates the safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome of hepatic resection (HR) and resection combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating patients with bilobar HCC.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study of 364 patients with bilobar HCC was carried out. Among them, 89 received HR, 114 received resection combined with RFA, and 161 received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The clinicopathologic parameters, surgical results, long-term outcomes, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

Results

The median follow-up time was 28 mo (range, 3–84 mo). The 1-, 3-, 5-y overall survival rates were better after HR and resection combined with RFA than those of patients after TACE, that is, 78.9%, 49.4%, and 34.4%; 70.7%, 40.7%, and 22.3%; and 47.2%, 17.4%, and 8.6%, respectively (P < 0.001). Overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were comparable between the two surgical groups. Child–Pugh stage, liver cirrhosis, and tumor number were identified as significant prognostic factors for overall survival by using the multivariate Cox model.

Conclusions

HR combined with RFA provided a chance for cure to patients with bilobar HCC who were traditionally deemed unresectable and yielded better long-term outcomes than TACE in a subset of patients. With preserved liver function, patients can receive aggressive treatment and survival could be prolonged.     

Comparison of Survival of Patients with BCLC Stage A Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Resection or Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Propensity Score-Based Analysis

Background

It is unclear whether hepatic resection (HR) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is associated with better outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A. The present study compared survival for patients with BCLC stage A HCC treated by HR or TACE.

Methods

Our study examined 360 patients treated by HR and 221 treated by TACE. To reduce bias in patient selection, 152 pairs of propensity-score-matched patients were generated, and their long-term survival was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method. Independent predictors of survival were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Among propensity-score-matched pairs of patients with Child-Pugh A liver function who were treated by HR or TACE, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 75.5, 44.8, and 30.2 % after HR and 64.5, 24.1, and 13.7 % after TACE (P < 0.001). Serum AST level, serum AFP level, tumor size, and TACE independently predicted survival in Cox regression analysis.

Conclusions

Our propensity-score-matched study confirmed that HR was associated with higher survival rates than was TACE in patients with BCLC stage A HCC.     

Building a Comprehensive Genomic Program for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background  

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, causing approximately 660,000 deaths worldwide annually. The preferred treatment of HCC is surgical resection or orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for patients meeting specific criteria. For patients outside these criteria, options are limited and include medical therapy, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization, or palliative measures, and these result in poor outcomes. Various centers at Baylor are elucidating the genomics of HCC to improve treatment options, with a focus on three etiologies: hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and non-viral.     

Impact of statin use on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver resection: a subgroup analysis of patients without chronic hepatitis viral infection

Background

Statins have been reported to reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The effect of perioperative statin use on the prognosis of HCC patients undergoing liver resection remains unclear.

Laparoscopic US-guided radiofrequency ablation of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis: feasibility and clinical outcome

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe, effective treatment in patients with unresectable primary liver malignancies. The laparoscopic approach to RFA (LRFA) has proved to be superior to the percutaneous approach in lesions that are difficult or impossible to be treated in such a way or in severe liver disease. Recent advances in laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) have greatly improved the accuracy in detecting intrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules, many of which were missed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our aim was to assess the feasibility, clinical outcome, and efficacy of laparoscopic RFA under LUS guidance. METHODS: Between February 2006 and May 2007, 24 consecutive patients (male/female, 20/4) with unresectable HCC in liver cirrhosis were treated with LRFA under LUS guidance. Most patients were in Child-Pugh class A (54.1%). Mean age of the patients was 61.79 +/- 7.74 years (range, 45-76; median, 60). RESULTS: LRFA procedure was completed in all patients and a thermoablation of 62 HCC nodules was achieved. LUS identified 13 new malignant lesions (20%) undetected by preoperative imaging. Mean length of surgery was 148 minutes (range, 60-315). Six procedures were associated in 5 patients: adhesiolysis (3), liver resection (1), partial splenectomy (1), and cholecystectomy (1). A pneumothorax needing immediate drainage during the procedure occurred in 1 case. One patient died 4 weeks after surgery because of liver failure. Mean hospital stay was 6.9 days and postoperative morbidity rate was 4 of 24 (16.6%). A complete tumor necrosis was observed in 56 of the 62 thermoablated nodules (90.3%) through spiral CT 1 month after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: LRFA is a safe, feasible treatment modality to achieve tumor destruction in selected patients with unresectable HCC that are not treatable with the percutaneous approach. Further, LUS demonstrated great accuracy during the procedure permitting to detect new HCC nodules missed at preoperative imaging.     

Incidental Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Risk Factors and Long-Term Outcome After Liver Transplantation

Background

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) currently represents the treatment of choice for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Preoperatively known HCC (pkHCC) is diagnosed via imaging methods before OLT or before HCC is found postoperatively in the liver explant, denoted as incidental HCC (iHCC). The aim of this study was a comprehensive analysis of the post-transplantation survival of patients with iHCC and the identification of risk factors of iHCC occurrence in cirrhotic liver.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 33 adult cirrhotic patients with incidentally found HCC, comparing them with 606 tumor-free adult cirrhotic patients with end-stage liver disease (group Ci) who underwent OLT in our center from January 1995 to August 2012. Within the same period, a total of 84 patients underwent transplantation for pkHCC. We compared post-transplantation survivals of iHCC, Ci, and pkHCC patients. In the group of cirrhotic patients (Ci + iHCC), we searched for risk factors of iHCC occurrence.

Results

There was no difference in sex, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and time spent on the waiting list in either group. In the multivariate analysis we identified age >57 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75–8.14; P < .001), hepatitis C virus or alcoholic liver disease (OR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.42–10.7; P < .001), and alpha-fetoprotein level >6.4 μg/L (OR, 6.65; 95% CI, 2.82–15.7; P = .002) to be independent predictors of iHCC occurrence. Both the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) and the 1-, 3- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) differed in iHCC patients compared with the Ci group (iHCC: OS 79%, 72%, and 68%, respectively; RFS 79%, 72%, and 63%, respectively; vs Ci: OS = RFS: 93%, 94%, and 87%, respectively; P < .001).

Conclusions

The survival of iHCC patients is worse than in tumor-free cirrhotic patients, but similar to pkHCC patients. The independent risk factors for iHCC occurrence in cirrhotic liver are age, hepatitis C virus, or alcoholic liver disease etiology of liver cirrhosis and alpha-fetoprotein level.     

腹腔镜下射频消融治疗小肝癌的临床疗效分析

目的:探讨腹腔镜下射频消融(LRFA)治疗原发性小肝癌的临床效果。方法:回顾性分析2011年8月—2013年10月南昌大学第二附属医院行LRFA治疗的30例小肝癌患者(LRFA组)以及同期行经皮射频消融(PRFA,PRFA组)和手术切除(手术切除组)各30例的小肝癌患者临床资料。比较3组患者的相关临床指标。结果:3组患者术前一般资料具有可比性,所有患者均顺利完成手术。术后,3组AFP水平均较术前明显降低(均P0.05),但3组间AFP水平无统计学差异(P0.05);3组肝功能指标均较术前明显升高(均P0.05),但手术切除组较另两组升高程度大、恢复慢(均P0.05)。在手术时间、术中出血量、围手术期并发症、住院时间方面,LRFA组与PRFA组均优于手术切除组(均P0.05),而LRFA组手术时间长于PRFA组(80.7 min vs.45.2 min,P0.05),并发症发生率低于PRFA组(6.7%vs.26.7%,P0.05);术后1个月,LRFA组和手术切除组肿瘤完全清除率均为100%,而PRFA组为86.7%,两组间差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。LRFA组、PRFA组、手术切除组3年复发率分别为33.3%、60.0%、26.7%;3年无瘤生存率分别为66.7%、40.0%、73.3%;3年总生存率分别为86.7%、76.7%、90.0%,其中,PRFA组的3年无瘤生存率明显低于另两个组,复发率明显高于另两组(均P0.05),而LRFA组和手术切除组之间无瘤生存率及复发率差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);3组患者3年总生存率差异无统计学意义(P=0.302)。结论:对于原发性小肝癌,LRFA较PRFA消融率高,且远期疗效与开腹手术相当,同时具有微创、术后恢复快的优点,可作为小肝癌的首选治疗手段之一。     

The Impact of Posthepatectomy Liver Failure on the Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatectomy often developed an intrahepatic recurrence, even though it was a curative one. The relationship between surgery-induced liver damage and the recurrence of HCC has not been described. This study evaluated whether posthepatectomy liver failure, as defined by the International Study Group of Liver Surgery, affected the recurrence of HCC.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 488 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy between 2004 and 2012 at Kyoto University Hospital. Early posthepatectomy liver failure (EPLF) was defined as liver failure occurring between postoperative days 5 and 10. The patients were divided into an EPLF group and a non-EPLF group. Disease-free survival (DFS) was compared between these groups. The influences of host-related, surgery-related, and tumor-related factors on patient outcomes were evaluated using multivariate analyses.

Results

The EPLF group and the non-EPLF group contained 153 and 335 patients, respectively. The probability of DFS was significantly increased in the non-EPLF group (median: 574 days) compared to the EPLF group (median: 348 days) (hazard ratio, HR [95 % confidence interval, CI] 1.61 [1.29–2.00]). The multivariate analysis revealed that EPLF was an independent factor for DFS (HR [95 % CI] 1.43 [1.13–1.81]), besides the factors previously described, including fibrosis (1.32 [1.05–1.67]), stage (1.85 [1.34–2.51]), tumor differentiation (1.46 [1.11–1.89]), and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (1.39 [1.10–1.74]).

Conclusions

EPLF was associated with postoperative HCC recurrence. The prevention of EPLF might improve the prognosis of patients with HCC.     

Laparoscopic resection vs. open liver resection for peripheral hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease: a case-matched study

Background  

Studies that compare laparoscopic to open liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients are rare and may have suffered from low patient numbers. This work was designed to determine the impact of laparoscopic resection on postoperative and long-term outcomes in a large series of cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with open resection.     

The effect of prior upper abdominal surgery on outcomes after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: An analysis of the database of the organ procurement transplant network

Objectives

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the preferred treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in select patients. Many patients listed for OLT have a history of prior upper abdominal surgery (UAS). Repeat abdominal surgery increases operative complexity and may cause a greater incidence of complication. This study sought to compare outcomes after liver transplantation for patients with and without prior UAS.

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after living donor liver transplantation: what is the current optimal approach to prevent recurrence?

Background  

Liver transplantation plays an important role in the multimodal treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there has been little information about the prognosis for HCC recurrence after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).     

Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation and hepatic artery infusion pump placement in the evolving treatment of colorectal hepatic metastases

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) and laparoscopic hepatic artery infusion pump (LHAIP) placement are new treatment options for patients with colorectal liver metastases. This study investigates the selection criteria, safety, efficacy, and preliminary outcomes of patients treated with LRFA and LHAIP placement. METHODS: Fourty five patients with colorectal metastases confined to the liver, 37 of whom had failed systemic chemotherapy, were treated with LRFA and/or LHAIP between September 1996 and December 2001. Treatment selection was individualized, based on each patient's general health, liver function, and tumor size, number, location, and distribution. RESULTS: Twenty patients (44%) had LRFA alone, 10 (22%) had LHAIP placement alone, and 15 (33%) patients had combined LRFA and LHAIP therapy. The LRFA group had a significantly shorter mean operative time and blood loss (p <0.05), but hospital stays were similar when compared to patients receiving LRFA + LHAIP or LHAIP alone. Tumor characteristics were worse in both LHAIP groups, with a higher incidence of tumors >or=4 cm, major vascular involvement, diffuse tumor pattern, bilobar distribution, and involvement of more than three segments. During a mean follow-up period of 11.5 +/- 7.8 months (range, 1-38), the actuarial survival was 70%, 67%, and 50% for LRFA, LRFA + LHAIP, and LHAIP, respectively. LHAIP only patients had the shortest estimated mean survival time of the three groups by Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: LRFA and/or LHAIP placement are safe and feasible treatment options for the treatment of colorectal hepatic metastases. The choice of treatment for patients should be based primarily on tumor characteristics. Long-term studies, which will elucidate the role of these evolving treatments, are now under way.     

Liver Transplantation and Liver Resection for Cirrhotic Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison of Long-Term Survivals

Background

Both liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) represent curative treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. In this study, we have compared outcomes between historical and more recent patient cohorts scheduled either for LT or LR, respectively.

Methods

Clinicopathological data of all patients with HCC and cirrhosis who underwent LT or LR between 1989 and 2011 were evaluated. Overall survival of patients with HCC within the Milan criteria (MC) was analyzed focusing on changes between different time periods.

Results

In total, 364 and 141 patients underwent LT and LR for HCC in cirrhosis, respectively. Among patients with HCC within MC, 214 and 59 underwent LT and LR, respectively. Postoperative morbidity (37 vs. 11%, P?<?.0001), but not mortality (3 vs. 1%, P?=?.165), was higher after LR than after LT for HCC within MC. In the period 1989–2004, overall survival (OS) was significantly higher in patients who underwent LT compared to LR for HCC within MC (5-year OS: 77 vs. 36%, P?<?.0001). Interestingly, in the more recent period 2005–2011, OS was comparable between LT and LR for HCC within MC (5-year OS: 73 vs. 61%, P?=?.07).

Conclusion

We have noted an improvement of outcomes among patients selected for partial hepatectomy in recent years that were comparable to stable results after LT in cirrhotic patients with HCC. Whether those improvements are due to advances in liver surgery, optimized perioperative managament for patients with liver cirrhosis, and the development of modern multimodal treatment strategies for the recurrent lesions appears plausible.

     

Risk Factors Influencing Postoperative Outcomes of Major Hepatic Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Patients with Underlying Liver Diseases

Background  

Major hepatic resection of more than three segments in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high-risk operation, especially in patients with co-existing underlying liver diseases. The present study evaluated risk factors for postoperative morbidity and mortality after major hepatic resection in HCC patients with underlying liver diseases.     

Laparoscopic Approach for Down-Staging in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Who Are Candidates for Liver Transplantation

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of laparoscopic thermoablation (LTA) and laparoscopic resection (LR) as neoadjuvant therapy before orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

From June 2005 to November 2010, 50 consecutive patients affected by HCC with liver cirrhosis were treated with LTA under ultrasound guidance or LR. Of them, 10 patients (mean age, 58.3 ± 5.59 years; male:female, 8:2) underwent OLT. They were mostly Child-Pugh class A (80%).

Results

A LTA of 12 nodules was achieved in 7 patients and an LR of 3 HCC nodules in the other 3 subjects. The mean length of surgery was 163 minutes (range; 60–370). The mean hospital stay was 6.1 days. Transient mild postoperative liver failure was reported in 1 case. Complete tumor necrosis was observed in 10 thermoablated nodules (83.3%) via spiral computerized tomographic scan at 1 month after treatment; the resected patients showed absence of recurrence. All patients underwent OLT after a mean interval of 7 months. The histology of the native liver showed complete necrosis in 9/12 thermoablated nodules (75%); a recurrence at surgical site occurred in 1 patient in the resection group.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic ultrasound can be used in potential OLTs candidates to accurately stage HCC in advanced cirrhosis with minimal morbidity. LTA and LR proved to be safe and effective techniques for HCC patients, representing a valid “bridge” to OLT.     

Optimization of Liver Transplantation as a Treatment of Intrahepatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Partial Liver Resection: Experience of a Single European Series

Background  

The aim of this study was to ascertain the outcome of liver transplantation (LT) due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who had undergone previous liver resection (LR) for HCC.     

Surgical Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus

Background  

The role of liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accompanying with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) remains controversial. This article aimed to evaluate the significance of different location and extent of PVTT on surgical outcomes after liver resection for HCC.     

Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Cirrhotic and Noncirrhotic Human Livers Share Angiogenic Characteristics

Background  

The antiangiogenic drug sorafenib has been shown to be an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. It might also be effective in noncirrhotic HCC provided that the angiogenic properties of both tumor types are comparable. The aim of this study is to compare endothelial cell dynamics, microvessel density (MVD), and vessel maturation as indirect markers of angiogenesis in human HCC in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic livers.