Radiofrequency ablation permits an effective treatment for colorectal liver metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become an important adjunct to modern liver surgery. However, scant knowledge on long-term outcome of RFA for colorectal liver metastasis is available, nowadays. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical study of patients with liver metastasis of colorectal cancer who were treated by RFA between April 1, 1998, and November 30, 2004. Forty-seven patients with 147 liver metastases were treated with RFA in a total of 70 interventions. A metastasis resection was not feasible in 80% of the interventions. All the patients were followed up at regular intervals with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and laboratory tests including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). RESULTS: No RFA-related mortality occurred. The median follow-up time after the diagnosis of liver metastasis was 33 months. The RFA-related morbidity was 7%. After the RFA, the expected median overall survival rate is, to date, 39 months. Overall survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 88%, 80% and 57%, respectively. Local recurrence rates reached 8.8% overall and 1.6% for metastasis smaller than 3cm in diameter. No local recurrence occurred for metastasis smaller than 3cm in diameter if treated with the newest RFA device. CONCLUSIONS: Excellent local tumour control was achieved with radiofrequency ablation of small liver metastasis. The expected overall survival rate of patients with RFA for unresectable or non-resected colorectal liver metastasis improved in comparison with the survival rate reported following the natural course (best supportive care) or chemotherapy. The low local recurrence rate of metastases of less than 3cm challenges the results obtained by the more invasive treatment of conventional liver surgery.     

Predictors of survival after radiofrequency thermal ablation of colorectal cancer metastases to the liver: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of survival at the time of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-five patients with colorectal liver metastases who were not candidates for resection underwent laparoscopic RFA. RESULTS: The median Kaplan-Meier survival for all patients was 28.9 months after RFA treatment. Patients with a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) less than 200 ng/mL had improved survival compared with those with a CEA more than 200 (34 v 16 months; P = .01). Patients with the dominant lesion less than 3 cm in diameter had a median survival of 38 v 34 months for lesions 3 to 5 cm, and 21 months for lesions greater than 5 cm (P = .03). Survival approached significance for patients with one to three tumors versus more than three tumors (29 v 22 months; P = .09). The presence of extrahepatic disease did not affect survival. Only the largest liver tumor size more than 5 cm was found to be a significant predictor of mortality by Cox proportional hazards model, with a 2.5-fold increased risk of death versus the largest liver tumor size less than 3 cm (P = .05). CONCLUSION: This study determines which patients do best after RFA. Historical survival with chemotherapy alone is 11 to 14 months, suggesting RFA has a positive impact on overall survival. Limited amounts of extrahepatic disease do not appear to affect survival adversely. RFA is a useful adjunct to chemotherapy in those patients with liver-predominant disease.     

Results of liver resection in combination with radiofrequency ablation for hepatic malignancies

Introduction

Liver tumors should be surgically treated whenever possible. In the case of bilobar disease or coexisting liver cirrhosis, surgical options are limited. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been successfully used for irresectable liver tumors. The combination of hepatic resection and RFA extends the feasibility of open surgical procedures in patients with liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Patients and methods

RFA was performed with two different monopolar devices using ultrasound guidance. Intraoperative use of RFA for the treatment of liver metastases or HCC was limited to otherwise irresectable tumors during open surgical procedures including hepatic resections. Irresectability was considered if bilobar disease was treated, the functional hepatic reserve was impaired or appraised marginal for allowing further resection.

Results

Ten patients with both liver metastases and HCC, and two patients with cholangiocellular carcinoma were treated. Complete initial tumor clearance was achieved in all patients. Two patients of the metastases group and five patients of the HCC group suffered from local recurrence after a median of 12 months (1–26) (local recurrence rate 32%). Five patients of the metastases group and six patients of the HCC group developed recurrent tumors in different areas of the ablation site after a median time of 4 months (2–18) (distant intrahepatic recurrence in 55%). Survival at 31 months was 36%.

Conclusion

RFA extends the scope of surgery in some candidates with intraoperatively found irresectability.     

Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer

The application of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer has not yet acquired an established status in clinical cancer therapy research. Removing as much tumor tissue as possible is desirable, but some cases do not allow optimal surgical ablation due to general condition of the patient and tumor status. We introduced endoscopic RFA for liver cancer in 2003, and have applied the procedure to 6 cases with H1 or H2 liver metastases of colorectal cancer to which surgical ablation could not be applied due to the poor general health of patients. Mean tumor diameter was 22.9 mm, and mean number of tumors per patient was 1.2. Tumor location was: S4, n = 2; S5, n = 1; S4, n = 1; S7, n = 2; and S8, n = 1. Mean frequency of session was 3.0. No complications occurred in any cases, and no reoperations were required. Although no recurrence of tumors in the vicinity of ablation was observed, 2 cases of each lung metastasis and intrahepatic recurrence were identified. Intrahepatic recurrence underwent hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy for simultaneous metastatic hepatic tumors (H2) prior to RFA, and relapses occurred in the metastatic focus where the efficacy of HAI was observed. At this point, 2 deaths were reported, 1 each from cancer and other diseases, and mean duration of survival after the procedure was 451.2 days. These results indicate that endoscopic RFA with good local control should be an available treatment for cases involving colorectal cancer with metastasis to the liver in which surgical ablation is difficult to apply.     

活检组织端粒酶活性检测评价肝癌合并肝硬化腹腔镜射频消融治疗的疗效

Objective： To explore the role of telomerase activity detected in biopsy samples for evaluating the efficacy of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation （RFA） therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and liver cirrhosis. Methods： From August 2001 to October 2004, 34 cirrhotic patients with HCC were treated by laparoscopic RFA under general anesthesia. A total of 34 tumors, with a mean maximum tumor diameter of 4.0 ＋ 1.0 cm, were all located on the liver surface or adjacent to the gallbladder. Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided core biopsy for liver lesions was performed before and immediately after RFA therapy. In these biopsy samples, telomerase activity was detected by the ELISA-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol （ELISA-TRAP） assay, and pathological examination was routinely performed. Results： Laparoscopic RFA was successfully performed in all the 34 patients. A complete tumor necrosis was achieved in all patients on the contrast-enhanced helical CT scanning one month after laparoscopic RFA. The positive rates of telomerase activity and histopathologic diagnosis in biopsy samples were 91.2% （31/34） and 100% （34/34） respectively before RFA, and 26.5% （9/34） and 0% respectively after RFA. During a median follow-up period of 35 months （range, 18-51 months）, the rates of local tumor recurrence at the ablation sites in post-RFA telomerase-positive and negative patients were 88.9% （8/9） and 4% （1/25） respectively （P 〈 0.01）, and the rates of distant recurrence within the livers were 0% （0/9） and 12% （3/25） respectively （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： For cirrhotic patients with HCC treated by laparoscopic RFA, detection of telomerase activity in biopsy samples may be useful for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of RFA and predicting postoperative local tumor recurrence.     

F-18] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography as a tool for early recognition of incomplete tumor destruction after radiofrequency ablation for liver metastases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of FDG positron emission tomography (PET) for early detection of incomplete tumor destruction after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver metastasis. METHODS: Twenty-eight unresectable liver metastases in 17 patients were treated by RFA. Patients underwent computed tomography (CT) and FDG-PET preoperatively, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Postoperative CT and FDG-PET at 1 week and 1 month were analyzed to identify hypervascular and hypermetabolic residual tumors at the RFA site. These results were correlated with follow-up CT and, in case of reintervention, with pathologic results. RESULTS: In 24/28 of RFA-treated metastases, CT and FDG-PET at 1 week and 1 month showed no tumor residues. During follow-up, none of these 13 patients developed local recurrence at RFA site. In four patients, FDG-PET at 1 week and 1 month showed peripheral hypermetabolic residue after RFA, whereas CT did not revealed residual tumor. In three patients, local persistence of viable tumor cells was biopsy-proven at reintervention. In the fourth, follow-up CT showed subsequent development of a local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET accurately monitors the local efficacy of RFA for treatment of liver metastases, as it early recognizes incomplete tumor ablation, not detectable on CT.     

Role of B-mode ultrasound screening in detection of local tumor recurrence in the first year after radiofrequency ablation in the liver

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is known to be useful in imaging radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions intra- and postoperatively. The presented study intends to prove the value of ultrasound examination as a means of screening RFA-treated patients for local tumor recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a period of 47 months, 91 RFA treatments were performed in 61 patients in a single institution. Indications for RFA were hepatocellular carcinoma (74%), colorectal metastases (18%), recurrent cholangiocellular carcinoma (5%) and one neuroendocrine tumor metastasis as well as one metastasis of pancreatic cancer (1.5% each). RFA was only considered in non-resectable liver cancer. All applications were conducted under sonographic guidance following preoperative evaluation. Postoperative screening included sonographic examinations at intervals of 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and further annual follow-up examinations. Mean follow-up period was 11.8 months. RESULTS: Within the first 12 months after treatment, the lesions become more and more inhomogenous with mixed echogeneity. Occasionally, this evolves as a misleading finding, mimicking early tumor recurrence. To clarify suspicious cases (31%), magnetic resonance imaging (20%) or computed tomography (10%) was engaged. Ultrasound led to the detection of local tumor recurrence in 78% of recurrent HCC (13 patients), but only in 67% of metastatic diseases (3 patients). Overall local recurrence rate was 18%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound screening as a follow-up of primary hepatic malignancies is, due to its sensitivity, capable of detecting early local recurrence despite its low specifity. Appropriate application of particular criteria of local recurrence allows B-mode ultrasound to play a major role in screening RFA-treated patients.     

Hepatectomy and lung radiofrequency ablation for hepatic and subsequent pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Lung radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a relatively safe procedure and may have a useful role in the management of non-surgical candidates with colorectal pulmonary metastases. METHODS: This study consisted of 30 patients, who had previously undergone hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases and subsequently developed pulmonary metastases, which were then treated with lung RFA. Lung RFA was performed percutaneously under local anesthesia and conscious sedation. The primary aim of this article was to demonstrate the survival outcome in this particular patient population after lung RFA. The secondary aim was to assess the prognostic indicators for survival after lung RFA. RESULTS: The median survival after lung RFA was 32 months, with 3-year survival rate of 45%. The following four factors were found to significantly influence survival in univariate analysis: size of the largest pulmonary metastasis (P = 0.032), proximity of metastases to major pulmonary vessels (P = 0.003), pre-lung RFA CEA levels (P = 0.013) and post-lung RFA CEA levels (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Lung RFA may have a useful role in the management of non-surgical candidates with colorectal pulmonary metastases.     

Stereotactic body radiation therapy versus radiofrequency ablation for single small hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity-score matching analysis of their impact on liver function and clinical outcomes

BackgroundStereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has high efficacy for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is an accepted alternative to radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, SBRT for HCC may cause subacute liver injury leading to negative clinical outcomes. In this study, we compared changes of liver function and prognosis after SBRT or RFA in patients with single, small HCC by using a propensity-score matching analysis.MethodsWe reviewed medical records of 140 patients with single ≤3 cm HCC treated with SBRT or RFA at Kurashiki Central Hospital between January 2014 and February 2019. Changes of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score, local recurrence, and overall survival were compared between the propensity-score matched groups (31 patients treated with SBRT and 62 treated with RFA).ResultsThe ALBI score increased modestly but significantly after SBRT, while it was unchanged in the RFA group; the intergroup difference was statistically significant (P=0.004). No local recurrence was identified in the SBRT group, whereas the cumulative recurrence incidence was 9.7% in the RFA group (P=0.023). Overall survival was not significantly different between the two groups (hazard ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–2.89, P=0.401).ConclusionsSBRT had modestly negative impact on liver function but with appraisable local control of HCC. Our findings should contribute to the selection of this modality for treatment of single, small HCC.     

射频消融治疗原发性肝癌的生命质量对比评价

背景与目的以往对原发性肝癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)各种治疗疗效的评价主要从治愈率、生存率和生存时间方面进行,近年来生命质量(qualityoflife,QOL)研究倍受关注,能较全面地反映肝癌患者体能恢复状况和切身感受而被广泛应用于癌症、慢性病的疗效评价。目前对于经皮射频消融(radiofrequencyablation,RFA)、经动脉插管栓塞化疗(transcatheterhepaticarterialchemo-embolization,TACE)治疗意义的评价大多关注局部肿瘤灭活率及患者生存率,而对治疗后患者生命质量的研究尚不多见。本研究从患者整体角度对比评估原发性肝癌经皮射频消融治疗后患者的生命质量。方法采用国内肝癌特异性生命质量量表(QOL-LCV2.0),对80例HCC经RFA治疗后QOL进行评定;并与同期40例经动脉插管栓塞化疗(TACE组)以及TACE RFA(联合组)40例分别进行比较。3组患者在年龄、性别、临床分期等方面分布均衡,无明显差异。结果RFA组的QOL总分中位数(168.6)高于TACE组(146.8),差异有显著性(P=0.025);RFA组和联合组在症状/副作用领域的得分中位数45.5、46.0,分别优于单纯TACE组38.1(P<0.01);RFA组躯体功能领域得分呈略高于TACE组的趋势。患者的年龄、收入、治疗后Child-Pugh分级、治疗后新生/复发率、并发症等方面与患者生命质量相关。TACE组和联合组于治疗后Child-Pugh分级提高的比例分别高于RFA组;TACE组新生/复发的比例明显高于RFA组。RFA组的1年、2年和3年生存率(92.8%、89.3%和76.5%)与联合治疗组(94.1%、87.4%、60.0%)比较无统计学差异,但高于TACE组(74.3%、48.2%、48.2%)。结论RFA治疗肝癌,多数患者可获得较好的疗效,严重的副作用少。TACE与RFA联合治疗与单纯TACE相比,可减少患者肝功能损伤,有利于提高原发性肝癌患者的生命质量。     

肝细胞癌射频消融治疗后肿瘤残留的危险因素及预后分析

目的 探讨肝细胞癌(HCC)射频消融(RFA)治疗后肿瘤残留的危险因素及预后.方法 回顾性分析2001年5月至2007年3月114例经RFA治疗的HCC患者临床资料,分析可能与RFA后肿瘤残留有关的临床因素以及残留HCC的预后.结果 114例HCC患者经RFA治疗一次后,完全消融90例,肿瘤残留24例.90例肿瘤完全消融患者的中位生存期为40个月,24例肿瘤残留患者的中位生存期为29个月,二者差异无统计学意义(P=0.242).在24例肿瘤残留患者中,经再次治疗后达到无肿瘤残留者11例,其中位生存期为53个月;经再次治疗后仍有残留者13例,其中位生存期为28个月.RFA治疗一次后肿瘤完全消融患者与再次治疗后达到无肿瘤残留患者的中位生存期比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.658);与再次治疗后仍有肿瘤残留患者的中位生存期比较,差异有统计学意义(P=0.012).多因素分析表明,肿瘤＞3 cm(P=0.007)和靠近大血管(P=0.042)是HCC经RFA治疗后肿瘤残留的独立危险因素.结论 肿瘤＞3 cm和靠近大血管是HCC行RFA治疗后肿瘤残留的独立危险因素.对未能达到完全消融的HCC患者,应积极采取进一步治疗措施,争取达到完全根治肿瘤,以改善预后.     

经肝动脉化疗栓塞联合射频消融治疗原发性肝细胞癌合并门静脉癌栓的预后影响因素分析

背景与目的：经肝动脉化疗栓塞（transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,TACE)是否为治疗原发性肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC）合并门静脉癌栓（portal vein tumor thrombus,PVTT）的绝对禁忌,目前尚无定论。该研究旨在探讨TACE联合射频消融（radiofrequency ablation,RFA）治疗HCC合并PVTT的预后影响因素。方法：回顾性分析2011年1月1日—2013年12月31日于郑州大学附属肿瘤医院行TACE联合RFA治疗的HCC合并PVTT的157例患者的临床资料及随访数据,单因素及多因素Cox回归分析人口学资料、实验室指标及临床资料与生存时间和肿瘤转移复发情况的关系。结果：多因素Cox回归结果显示,在调整和控制其他因素后,血清白蛋白（albumin,ALB）水平为TACE联合RFA治疗后HCC合并PVTT患者3年生存及降低肿瘤复发转移风险的保护性因素,术前甲胎蛋白（alpha-fetoprotein,AFP）、丙氨酸转氨酶（alanine aminotransferase,ALT）、天门冬氨酸转氨酶（aspartate transaminase,AST）水平、门静脉癌栓部位及肝功能Child Pugh分级为患者3年生存的独立危险因素;AFP、AST水平及门静脉癌栓部位为肿瘤复发转移的独立危险因素。结论：TACE联合RFA并非治疗HCC合并PVTT的绝对禁忌,在治疗前对患者进行相关因素评估有助于更好地选择治疗方法和时机,从而提高HCC治疗水平。     

Recurrence-free survival after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma. A registry report of the impact of risk factors on outcome

BACKGROUND: Despite the high complete necrosis rate of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), tumor recurrence, either local tumor recurrence or new tumor formation, remains a significant problem. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the pattern and risk factors for intrahepatic recurrence after percutaneous RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: We studied 40 patients with 48 HCCs (< or = 3.5 cm) who were treated with percutaneous RFA. The mean follow-up period was 24.1 +/- 15.7 months. We evaluated the cumulative disease-free survival of overall intrahepatic recurrence, local tumor progression (LTP) and intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR). Thirty host, tumoral and therapeutic risk factors were reviewed for significant tie-in correlation with recurrence: age; gender; whether RFA was the initial treatment for HCC or not; severity of liver disease; cause of liver cirrhosis; contact of tumor to major hepatic vessels and liver capsule; degree of approximation of tumor to the liver hilum; ablation time; degree of benign pre-ablational enhancement; sufficient safety margin; tumor multinodularity; tumor histological differentiation; tumor segmental location; maximum tumor diameter; degree of tumor pre-ablational enhancement at arterial phase CT, MRI or CT-angiography; and laboratory markers pre- and post-ablation (AFP, PIVKA II, TP, AST, ALT, ALP and TB). RESULTS: The incidence of overall recurrence, LTP and IDR was 65, 23 and 52.5%, respectively. The cumulative disease-free survival rates were 54.6, 74.8 and 78.3% at 1 year, 27.3, 71.9 and 46.3% at 2 years and 20, 71.9 and 29.4 at 3 years, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the significant risk factors for LTP were: tumor size > or = 2.3 cm, insufficient safety margin, multinodular tumor, tumors located at segments 8 and 5, and patient's age > 65 years (P < 0.05). No significant risk factor relationship for IDR could be detected. CONCLUSION: Our results would have clinical implications for advance warning and appropriate management of patients scheduled for RFA. Patients at risk of LTP should be closely monitored in the first year. Furthermore, regular long-term surveillance is essential for early detection and eradication of IDR.     

单次经皮射频消融治疗小肝癌的预后及复发危险因素分析

背景与目的:射频消融( radiofrequency ablation, RFA)治疗作为肝癌局部治疗的新技术,近年得到了广泛的应用.本研究分析肝癌 RFA治疗的疗效和复发相关因素,并探索 RFA治疗的适应证.方法:采用回顾性队列研究方法,分析 2001年 1月至 2003年 12月期间, 94例在中山医院肝癌研究所行 RFA治疗的原发性小肝癌患者的 102个病灶,随访期至 2004年 3月.采用 SPSS 11.5统计软件对数据进行处理.结果: 94例患者的中位随访期为 16个月, RFA治疗后的 1年累积生存率为 85.5%, 2年累积生存率为 75.6%; 1年累积无瘤生存率为 31.3%, 2年累积无瘤生存率为 10.4%.共有 62例患者( 66.0%)复发.单因素分析显示复发与下列 3个因素有关:肿瘤近血管 (P< 0.01)、位于肝包膜下 (P< 0.05)、直径 >3 cm (P< 0.05);而与性别、 Child分级、 AFP值、是否联合瘤内无水乙醇注射治疗无关. Cox多因素分析显示:肿瘤近血管 (P=0.000, 95%可信区间为 2.102～ 7.899)、位于肝包膜下 (P=0.001, 95%可信区间为 1.672～ 6.289)是 RFA治疗后复发的独立危险因素.较严重并发症的发生率为 2.1% (2/94,胆道出血 1例,膈下积液 1例 ).未发生与手术相关的死亡.结论: RFA是一种安全的肝癌治疗方法.直径≤ 3 cm、不近肝内血管、非包膜下肿块是肝肿瘤 RFA治疗的适应证.     

肝癌射频消融术后联合替吉奥节拍化疗的疗效评价

目的 探讨肝癌患者射频消融术后口服低剂量替吉奥的节拍化疗临床疗效。方法 选择接受射频消融术的肝癌患者,按照术后是否口服替吉奥进行节拍化疗分为RFA+替吉奥组和RFA对照组,回顾性分析两组患者术后18个月内的临床疗效,评价其原发肿瘤控制率和无疾病进展时间。结果 随访观察显示,术后9个月RFA+替吉奥组的肿瘤控制率为93.3%,RFA对照组肿瘤控制率为73.4%,差异有统计学意义(P=0.038);随访18个月内,RFA+替吉奥组无疾病进展时间中位数为16.25个月,RFA对照组无疾病进展时间中位数降低为12.25个月(P＜0.001);1年无疾病进展率在RFA对照组为53.3%,显著低于RFA+替吉奥组83.3%(P=0.012)。两组均无治疗相关性死亡,主要并发症发生率为13.3%。结论 射频消融术后进行替吉奥节拍化疗治疗肝癌可以减缓肿瘤进展,延长肝癌患者的无疾病进展时间。     

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.     

Iterative treatment with surgery and radiofrequency ablation of uveal melanoma liver metastasis: Retrospective analysis of a series of very long-term survivors

BackgroundAfter treatment of primary ocular uveal melanoma (UM), up to 50% of patients will develop metastases, mostly in the liver. Systemic treatments do not provide any overall survival benefit for these patients and surgery remains the most effective therapy for selected patients. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) alone or in combination with surgery is frequently used to spare hepatic parenchyma. When patients relapse after treatment of their first metastases, and when the liver recurrence is limited, new local liver treatment is questionable.MethodsA total of 14 patients with liver metastases from uveal melanoma (LMUM) were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had a complete first liver resection and a second treatment with RFA. Overall survival, recurrence-free interval after the first and the second treatment was evaluated.ResultsTreatment of hepatic recurrence was percutaneous RFA for ten patients and per-operative RFA for four patients associated with new metastasectomy. The median time to onset of LMUMs after ocular UM treatment was 50 months, and the median time to recurrence of hepatic metastasis after the first liver treatment was 20 months. The overall survival was 70% at five years and 35% at ten years. The recurrence-free interval was 50% and 56% at two years after the first and the second treatment, respectively.ConclusionProlonged survival can be achieved by exclusive and iterative local treatment combining surgery and RFA in a small proportion of patients with a first recurrence of isolated LMUM.     

Long-term outcome of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

Purpose: To investigate the long-term outcome and prognostic factors of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: From 2004 to 2014, 15 patients with 23 hepatic recurrent HCCs after LT underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA. There were 14 males and 1 female aged 54.3?±?9.5?years old (37–78?years old). The average tumour size was 3.3?±?1.2?cm (1.7–6.0?cm). Seven patients had a single HCC and eight had 2–4 HCCs. Regular follow-up after RFA was performed to assess local response rates and long-term survival rates. Survival results were generated using Kaplan–Meier estimates, and a multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression model.

Results: The technical success rate was 95.7% (22/23 tumours). The minor complication rate was 7.7% (2/26 sessions), and there were no major complications. The follow-up period was 27.4?±?18.9?months (12–116?months). The local progression rate and intrahepatic new lesion rate were 13.0% (3/23 tumours) and 53.3% (8/15 patients), respectively. Extrahepatic metastasis was found in four patients (26.7%). The 1-, 3- and 5-year estimated overall survival rates were 71.8%, 35.9% and 26.9%, respectively. Additionally, the multivariate analysis revealed that serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) before RFA, tumour number and extrahepatic metastasis were significantly related to overall survival after RFA.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA of recurrent HCC after LT had a high technical success rate and local control. However, RFA cannot decrease the frequency of new tumours or extrahepatic metastasis. The AFP level and tumour number before RFA should be considered to predict the outcome.     

Sarcopenia as a Predictive Factor for Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Radiofrequency Ablation

Background: Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle mass deficiency and a potential prognostic factor for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Objective: To determine whether sarcopenia correlates with the recurrence rate of HCC after curative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in early and very early HCC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 669 HCC patients who underwent their first curative RFA at Siriraj hospital from 2011 to 2020. Fifty-six patients who were diagnosed with HCC by triple-phase CT scan and had complete response on follow-up CT were included. All patients underwent skeletal muscle index (SMI) assessment at level L3 vertebra and sarcopenia was defined by the cut-off values of 52.4 cm2/m2 for men and 38.5 cm2/m2 for women. We compared patients with and without sarcopenia. Time to recurrence was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed. Results: Sarcopenia was present in 37 of 56 patients (66.1%). There was no significant difference between groups except body mass index (BMI) (P<0.001) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P=0.035). There was a promising result indicating the difference of time to recurrence between each group (P=0.046) and potential association of sarcopenia with HCC recurrence (HR=2.06; P=0.052). The Child-Pugh score and tumor number were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence (HR=2.04; P=0.005 and HR=2.68; P=0.017, respectively). Conclusion: Sarcopenia is a potential prognostic factor for recurrence of HCC in Thai patients who underwent RFA. A larger study is required to properly confirm this association.     

肝细胞癌组织中MMP-2的表达与侵袭转移的关系

目的:探讨人肝细胞性肝癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)中基质金属蛋白酶2(matrixmetalloproteinase2,MMP2)的表达与其侵袭转移的关系。方法:用半定量逆转录PCR(RTPCR)方法检测癌、癌旁组织及正常组织中MMP2mRNA的表达;用免疫组织化学方法检测癌、癌旁组织及正常组织中MMP2蛋白质的表达。结果:MMP2在肝癌中的表达高于癌旁组织和正常组织,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05;癌旁组织和正常组织中MMP2的表达差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。癌组织中MMP2的表达与术后复发时间呈负相关,P=0.013,R2=0.842;与病理学分级呈正相关,P=0.000,R2=0.797。癌组织中MMP2的表达与肝外转移呈正相关,P=0.003,R2=0.834。癌旁组织中MMP2的表达与术后复发时间呈负相关,P=0.021,R2=0.877。结论:MMP2与肿瘤的分化程度、侵袭、转移能力和复发倾向相关。在临床中可望作为肿瘤分化、复发和转移的评估指标之一。