TREATMENT OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN SECRETING HEPATOBLASTOMA BY RESPONSE OF SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN LEVELS: A New Concept

Hepatoblastoma, thecommonest primary malignant livertumorin infants and children, is usually associated with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. The authors sought to determine if AFP levels can be used to modify treatment, thereby avoiding the wait for formal imaging studies and prolonged suboptimal treatment and limiting the use of effective but toxic chemotherapy. From April 1984 to December 1997, 8 children were diagnosed with AFP-secreting hepatoblastoma. Serum AFP levels were measured weekly. If AFP levels failed to improve, or increased on at least 2 successive examinations, the chemotherapy protocol was changed. When an excellent response was achieved, less toxic chemotherapy was substituted. Six patients (75%) were disease-free for at least 2 years, some with high-risk or metastatic disease. Two patients died. Six of the 7 nonmetastatic patients (86%) remain disease-free (only one had a resectable tumor). Chemotherapy changes resulted in reduced AFP levels in 7 patients. This study supports the use of AFP monitoring to modify treatment in hepatoblastoma responding to therapy with less toxic drugs and the use of nonstandard therapy when suboptimal responses are obtained.     

14例肝母细胞瘤患儿的临床疗效观察

目的：通过对儿童肝母细胞瘤患儿的临床治疗结果的回顾总结,对ICE化疗方案的有效性和安全性进行评估。方法：自2000年6月至2008年6月,14例初发患儿入选,男7例,女7例,中位年龄：1.33岁（范围0.25～8.25岁）。临床分期：Ⅰ期6例,Ⅱ期1例,Ⅲ期5例,Ⅳ期2例。诊断时血甲胎蛋白（AFP）水平显著升高13例,1例AFP正常。采用多科室协作模式进行治疗,其中一期手术8例,3例进行了二期手术。化疗方案采用ICE方案,14例患儿共接受了73个疗程化疗,其中术前化疗25个疗程。结果：14例患儿治疗后有效12例（85.7%）,其中完全缓解10例（71.4%）,部分缓解2例,2例无效。随访至2008年7月31日,疾病处于长期完全缓解者9例（64.3%）,中位随访时间为35个月（范围：16～96个月）。5年总生存率（OS）为：（70.71±12.37）%,5年无事件生存率（EFS）为：（64.29±12.81）%。1例患儿复发,2例失访。结论：ICE化疗方案联合手术治疗能有效并且安全地治疗儿童肝母细胞瘤,Ⅳ期患儿的治疗有待于进一步研究。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（8）：659-662］     

婴儿肝母细胞瘤的介入治疗及延迟手术治疗

目的　评价经动脉栓塞化疗 (TACE)结合延迟手术治疗婴儿巨大肝母细胞瘤的效果。方法　 2 0 0 0年 1月～ 2 0 0 4年 1月不能手术切除的肝母细胞瘤 8例患儿 (男 6例 ,女 2例 )接受 1～ 3次栓塞化疗。年龄 2～ 12个月。每次栓塞化疗前均行数字减影血管造影 (DSA)检查 ,栓塞化疗时首先超选择进入肿瘤的供血动脉 ,经该动脉先灌注化疗药物和超液化碘油的混悬乳液 ,再使用弹簧圈栓塞该肿瘤血管。结果　每次TACE均未遇到任何大技术问题和明显化疗毒性反应。 6例TACE结合手术患儿及经 3次TACE及静脉化疗患儿均无瘤存活至今。另 1例 1个月后死于肺炎。结论　TACE是治疗婴儿肝母细胞瘤有效、安全的方法     

经导管动脉化疗栓塞联合手术治疗儿童肝母细胞瘤

目的 探讨对不能切除的小儿肝母细胞瘤实行动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)治疗的临床可行性、疗效及作用.方法 8例常规不能切除的肝母细胞瘤经TACE治疗20次,再行Ⅱ期外科手术切除,比较分析治疗前后临床症状、体征和血AFP的变化、术中情况及随访远期疗效.结果 TACE术后4～6周复查,和术前相比.肿瘤体积缩小67.68%～95.91%,平均缩小87.91%(t=3.754,P=0.007),血AFP下降94.46%～99.97%,平均98.45%(t=2.931,P=0.022),无明显的化疗毒性反应,所有患儿手术完整切除肿瘤,术后病理显示肿瘤明显坏死.随访8～24个月,所有患儿均获无瘤生存.结论 TACE治疗肝母细胞瘤安全有效,无严重并发症,能使部分不能Ⅰ期手术的患儿重新获得手术机会,并对减少术中肿瘤细胞的扩散和术中出血、改善预后有较大作用,可作为无远处转移肝母细胞瘤的术前辅助治疗.     

Cure of hepatoblastoma with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Until now surgical resection was still considered as the only choice of successful treatment of hepatoblastoma. Therefore, successful use of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone to cure the unresectable hepatoblastoma in an infant was firstly reported. A 6-month-old boy presented with a huge abdominal mass and was found to have a hepatoblastoma of 17.5 cm x 11.5 cm x 10 cm on computed tomography (CT) scan. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated to 6250 ng/mL. On the first TACE the main feeding arteries were completely occluded by stainless steel embolization coils. After one month tumor shrinkage was 75%, but a newly formed feeding artery was found and embolized on second TACE. Since the third TACE no newly formed feeding artery was found and 6 courses of intravenous chemotherapy were consolidated. On the last DSA and CT the tumor was completely disappeared and AFP returned to normal. During the follow-up he remained disease-free for 33 months until the present report. TACE may provide an additional promising choice in the treatment of hepatoblastoma.     

INFANTILE HEPATIC HEMANGIOENDOTHELIOMA WITH ELEVATED SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN

Infantile hemangioendothelioma is the most common hepatic vascular tumor in infants less than 6 months of age, with a prevalence of 1%. Serum α-fetoprotein levels have been used as an important tumor marker for hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and germ cell tumors. It is rarely elevated in hepatic hemangioendothelioma. The authors report an infant with a hepatic hemangioendothelioma associated with elevation of serum α-fetoprotein who was treated with corticosteroids. In young infants, a solitary hepatic mass and elevated serum AFP level may not always be associated with hepatoblastoma. Infantile hemangioendothelioma must be differentiated by MRI or other radiological techniques before performing invasive procedures.     

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver mimicking hepatoblastoma

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver is a cystic benign liver mass occurring in children. Diagnostic confusion with hepatoblastoma may arise when alpha-feto-protein (AFP) level is elevated. We report an extremely rare case of mesenchymal hamartoma in an 11-month-old boy. Serum AFP was elevated and fine-needle aspiration biopsy suggested the lesion as hepatoblastoma, so he received preoperative chemotherapy. At the end of the preoperative chemotherapy, the tumor size and AFP level decreased. A right hepatectomy was performed. The pathologic examination of the specimen revealed mesenchymal hamartoma. Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver with increased serum AFP levels may mimic hepatoblastoma if a cytological examination samples only the hepatocellular component of mesenchymal hamartoma. According to our knowledge, this is the first case of the mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver, which showed reduction in serum levels of AFP and involution of the tumor size by preoperative chemotherapy.     

Use of intrahepatic chemotherapy to treat advanced pediatric hepatic malignancies

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy (IAC) on children with primary hepatic malignancies. METHOD: A nonrandomized inception cohort of 11 pediatric patients was referred for treatment of advanced primary hepatic malignancies at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. None of the patients was a candidate for resection before the initiation of IAC. Tumor response to treatment was observed by determining serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and by abdominal computed tomographic scan. The patients received hepatic artery infusions of cisplatin and/or doxorubicin. The last five also received gelfoam embolization. RESULTS: Eight of 11 patients had multiple IAC treatments. Eight patients had AFP-producing tumors, and five of the eight had dramatic reductions in serum levels after IAC treatment. Five of the 11 patients underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation after receiving IAC therapy, and the five explanted specimens showed varying degrees of tumor necrosis. One-year survival in patients in the authors' center is 67% for those with hepatoblastoma and 40% for those with hepatocellular carcinoma. Three-year survival is 60% and 30% for patients with hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy therapy can halt the progression and possibly down-stage advanced pediatric hepatic malignancies. This therapy can also be used as a successful adjunct in altering a patient's chance for successful liver transplantation.     

Successful use of transarterial radioembolization with yttrium‐90 (TARE‐Y90) in two children with hepatoblastoma

Primary malignant liver tumors are rare but all require surgical resection as part of therapy with curative intent. A minority of patients have resectable tumors at diagnosis. Chemotherapy has a therapeutic role in hepatoblastoma but only one‐third of patients have resectable disease at diagnosis. Two children with hepatoblastoma and suboptimal responses to initial chemotherapy received therapy with transarterial radioembolization utilizing yttrium‐90 (TARE‐Y90) and had significant response leading to resection and remission. The role of TARE‐Y90 needs to be studied further to define its use in primary pediatric liver neoplasms.     

Glomerular filtration rate in liver transplant for unresectable hepatoblastoma

Most children with hepatoblastoma manifest, at the time of LT, a decrease in renal function due to chemotherapy that could be further deteriorated by the use of calcineurin inhibitors. The purpose of this work was to examine the long‐term follow‐up of renal function in a cohort of children transplanted for unresectable hepatoblastoma. We present a retrospective observational study of 10 pediatric patients who received a LT for unresectable hepatoblastoma between 1996 and 2016. All patients included in this study were followed up on a regular basis and were assessed for GFR before transplantation and at least once a year during follow‐up. All patients received standardized chemotherapy treatment for hepatoblastoma and immunosuppression according to hospital protocols. There was a marked decrease in GFR at the time of the LT in five patients presenting renal complications during the pretransplant cycles of chemotherapy. Three patients, one of them with prior kidney involvement, presented complications after LT, namely acute kidney failure and decrease in GFR. Those patients who presented with the lowest GFR at the time of LT eventually recovered renal function at levels similar to the rest of the group on follow‐up. Chemotherapy‐induced nephrotoxicity is a concern in patients treated for hepatoblastoma. Some individuals will develop low GFR after chemotherapy; therefore, strict follow‐up is recommended, as low GFR may affect the doses of subsequent chemotherapy and immunosuppression. Stabilization of GFR levels and occasional improvement can be observed in the post‐transplant period.     

Pretransplant trends in α‐fetoprotein levels as a predictor of recurrence after living donor liver transplantation for unresectable hepatoblastoma: A single‐institution experience

LT is a practical therapeutic alternative for unresectable hepatoblastoma; however, deciding when to perform LT is difficult. The aim of this study was to optimize the timing of LT for hepatoblastoma using pretransplant trends in AFP levels. Trends in pretransplant AFP levels and their influence on post‐transplant outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. All patients who underwent living donor LT for hepatoblastoma in our institution since 2002 were included. Variables analyzed included history of prior tumor resection, pretransplant AFP responses to chemotherapy, metastatic disease at diagnosis, and post‐transplant chemotherapy. Eight patients (seven boys and one girl; median age, 35 months; range, 15 months‐12 years) were transplanted. The overall post‐transplant recurrence‐free survival rate was 62.5% (5/8) with a mean follow‐up of 77 months. Patients with post‐transplant recurrence showed a 0.573 log increase in AFP levels after the last chemotherapy session before LT. This was significantly higher than the 0.279 log decrease observed in patients without post‐transplant recurrence (P = .024). Because the AFP response cannot be accurately predicted before each cycle of chemotherapy, it may be appropriate to perform LT when AFP levels do not decrease after the last cycle and before they are found to be elevated again.     

经导管动脉化疗栓塞在肝母细胞瘤综合治疗中的应用评价及文献回顾

目的：探讨经导管动脉化疗栓塞术（TACE ）在肝母细胞瘤综合治疗中的作用及疗效。方法回顾性总结2005年-2013年收治的10例经TACE 治疗的肝母细胞瘤患儿的临床资料。随访治疗后患儿的全身情况、血AFP值及瘤体体积大小的变化及生存情况。结果患儿10例,男女比例4∶1,发病中位年龄9.5个月（1个月～10岁）,10例患儿首诊后均予以1～4次TACE 治疗,其中6例TACE＋手术＋化疗,1例TACE＋化疗,3例在TACE 治疗后放弃继续治疗。介入治疗后肿瘤体积较前均有明显缩减（26.2％～10.00％,平均70.0％）,血清AFP值下降明显（28.5％～99.7％,平均83.6％）。所有患儿在接受TACE 治疗后均出现不同程度的发热、呕吐、一过性肝功能损害（Ⅰ度3例,Ⅱ度2例,Ⅲ度1例）、轻度骨髓抑制、贫血等不适,未见明显心脏毒性及肾毒性损害。随访时间2～114个月,平均随访时间为36.1个月,1年存活率100％（7／7）,2年存活率86％（6／7）,3年存活率71％（5／7）。6例患儿在接受TACE治疗后成功行手术切除,术后均接受全身化疗,1例仅经过4次TACE治疗及化疗后肿瘤消失,未行手术治疗,均无瘤存活至今。3例放弃治疗患儿分别于2～8个月后死亡。结论 TACE治疗可作为肝母细胞瘤术前重要的辅助治疗方式,能够使肿瘤体积明显缩小,血供减少,促进肿瘤包膜增厚,为尽可能完整切除创造了条件,能够改善肝母细胞瘤患儿的生活质量,提高长期存活率。     

14例儿童肝母细胞瘤综合治疗的疗效观察

目的：肝母细胞瘤是儿童时期最为常见的原发性肝脏恶性肿瘤。新辅助化疗﹢手术﹢术后化疗已成为肝母细胞瘤治疗的基本原则。该文旨在总结肝母细胞瘤综合治疗的疗效,进而探讨合理治疗的策略。方法：回顾性分析14例儿童肝母细胞瘤患者的临床资料,并追踪随访其治疗后的生存状况。结果：12例肝母细胞瘤患儿接受全程治疗,中位随访时间为18个月（1.5~74月）。9例无瘤存活,1例死亡,1例肿瘤转移,1例未发现肿瘤残留但术后甲胎蛋白持续不降。结论：手术及规范化疗能有效提高儿童肝母细胞瘤患者的生存率。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（6）：456-459］     

Midterm results with hepatectomy after preoperative chemotherapy in hepatoblastoma

We evaluated the results of surgical treatment for hepatoblastoma in infants and children after intensive preoperative chemotherapy, with special reference to histology and extent of liver involvement. The clinical features of 10 children with hepatoblastoma were reviewed regarding response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, histological subtypes, extent of hepatectomy, operative complications, and prognosis. Response to chemotherapy was measured by volumetric assessment of tumour size by computed tomography scan. Cisplatin and Adriamycin (PLADO regime) up to three cycles markedly reduced the tumour volume on computed tomography (mean regression rate 65.9%); alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) levels also decreased from an initial mean of 16,116.4 ng/ml to 2,050.9 ng/ml. Five patients underwent right hepatectomy, two had right trisegmentectomy, two had left hepatectomy, and one had left trisegmentectomy. Histopathology of resected specimens revealed foetal histology in four patients, poorly differentiated (anaplastic) subtype in three, and mixed histology with mesenchymal components and osteoid formation in three. There was 100% resectability including six unresectable tumours (prechemotherapy). Moreover, hepatic resection tended to be less invasive in patients whose tumours had been much reduced after preoperative chemotherapy. Preoperative administration of cisplatin and Adriamycin reduces the tumour size significantly so that a safe radical hepatectomy can be performed. It also allows early administration of postoperative chemotherapy. Although overall good results were obtained with the current protocol, we also document our experience of unfavourable outcomes in patients with bilobar tumours (despite trisegmentectomy), patients with tumours showing poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and patients with anaplastic histology. Overall, at a 60-month follow-up we report an 80% survival rate by a combined approach.     

Combination chemotherapy and chemoembolization in the treatment of primary inoperable hepatoblastoma

A 33 months old girl and a 5 months old boy presented with unresectable hepatoblastoma (group III) and were treated with combination chemotherapy using Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatinum (regimen I) and Adriamycin, Etoposide, Cisplatinum (regimen II). In both patients tumor size and alpha-fetoprotein levels decreased remarkably. Tumor regression was considerably enhanced by selective chemoembolization (Ethibloc, Adriamycin) of the right hepatic artery in one patient. After preoperative chemotherapy hepatoblastomas could be removed surgically. Local recurrence in the older patient was treated again successfully by surgery and chemotherapy. The patients are surviving disease-free 17 and 28 months from diagnosis. The efficacy of the treatment warrants prospective clinical trials in patients with unresectable hepatoblastoma.     

小儿性腺外内胚窦瘤3例诊断与治疗分析

目的总结小儿原发性腺外内胚窦瘤的诊断与治疗经验。方法回顾性分析我院2003年10月-2011年9月收治的3例性腺外内胚窦瘤患儿的病历资料。结果术前均行PEB或JEB方案新辅助化疗,根治性手术切除,术后病理均为完全缓解,术后继续化疗。随访3个月～8年,2例无病存活,1例原位复发,经术前化疗、再次手术切除及术后化疗后,现随访25个月,无病存活。结论甲胎蛋白水平对小儿性腺外内胚窦瘤诊断及术后复发监测灵敏度较高,化疗与手术结合治疗效果良好。     

Relapse surveillance in AFP-positive hepatoblastoma: re-evaluating the role of imaging

Background

Children with hepatoblastoma routinely undergo repetitive surveillance imaging, with CT scans for several years after therapy, increasing the risk of radiation-induced cancer.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of surveillance CT scans compared to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels for the detection of hepatoblastoma relapse.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective study of all children diagnosed with AFP-positive hepatoblastoma from 2001 to 2011 at a single institution.

Results

Twenty-six children with hepatoblastoma were identified, with a mean age at diagnosis of 2 years 4 months (range 3 months to 11 years). Mean AFP level at diagnosis was 132,732 ng/ml (range 172.8–572,613 ng/ml). Five of the 26 children had hepatoblastoma relapse. A total of 105 imaging exams were performed following completion of therapy; 88 (84%) CT, 8 (8%) MRI, 5 (5%) US and 4 (4%) FDG PET/CT exams. A total of 288 alpha-fetoprotein levels were drawn, with a mean of 11 per child. The AFP level was elevated in all recurrences and no relapses were detected by imaging before AFP elevation. Two false-positive AFP levels and 15 false-positive imaging exams were detected. AFP elevation was found to be significantly more specific than PET/CT and CT imaging at detecting relapse.

Conclusion

We recommend using serial serum AFP levels as the preferred method of surveillance in children with AFP-positive hepatoblastoma, reserving imaging for the early postoperative period, for children at high risk of relapse, and for determination of the anatomical site of clinically suspected recurrence. Given the small size of this preliminary study, validation in a larger patient population is warranted.     

不可切除型肝母细胞瘤的术前介入治疗临床研究

目的探讨术前介入性动脉栓塞化疗（TACE）在不可切除型肝母细胞瘤治疗中的可行性。方法分析对8例经检查诊断为不可切除型肝母细胞瘤行TACE的治疗结果。结果8例患儿TACE后均有不同程度呕吐、发热、一过性肝功能损害，1例有骨髓抑制，无心、肾功能损害。有6例复查B超检查，肿瘤体积较前均有明显缩小，缩小比例为22．5％～57．5％；5例手术完整切除，均已无瘤存活1～4年，3例复诊检查发现有肺转移或多发转移，家属放弃进一步治疗后死亡。结论TACE具有化疗药物剂量小、全身副作用少、化疗效果好的优点，可作为一种术前治疗方法应用于不可切除型肝母细胞瘤。     

Liver transplantation and chemotherapy for hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular cancer in childhood and adolescence

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with total hepatectomy and liver transplantation as treatment for primary hepatoblastoma (HBL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in children. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the perioperative course of 31 children with unresectable primary HBL (n = 12) and HCC (n = 19) who underwent transplantation between May 1989 and December 1998. Systemic (n = 18) and intraarterial (n = 7) neoadjuvant chemotherapy were administered; follow-up ranged from 1 to 185 months. RESULTS: For HBL, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year posttransplantation survival rates were 92%, 92%, and 83%, respectively. Intravenous invasion, positive hilar lymph nodes, and contiguous spread did not have a significant adverse effect on outcome; distant metastasis was responsible for 2 deaths. Intraarterial chemotherapy was effective in all patients treated. For HCC, the overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 79%, 68%, and 63%, respectively. Vascular invasion, distant metastases, lymph node involvement, tumor size, and gender were significant risk factors for recurrence. Intraarterial chemotherapy was effective in 1 of 3 patients. Six patients died of recurrent HCC, and 3 deaths were unrelated to recurrent tumor. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation for unresectable HBL and HCC can be curative. Risk factors for recurrence were significant only for HCC, with more advanced stages amenable to cure in the HBL group.     

Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease in children

PURPOSE: To describe the clinicobiological features, treatment, treatment outcome, and sequelae of children with lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 754 patients with Hodgkin disease diagnoses at New York Medical College and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1962 to 2000 to identify those with lymphocyte-predominant histology. Hematopathologists at the treating institutions reviewed stored tissue specimens and reconfirmed the histopathology of each case. RESULTS: Fifty-one children (44 boys, 7 girls) were identified. The median age was 10.5 years (range 3.2-18.5); five children were younger than age 60 months. The median duration of lymphadenopathy before diagnosis was 4 months (range 0.5-30). Thirty-six children had stage 1 disease, eight had stage 2 disease, four had stage 3 disease, and three had stage 4 disease. Fifteen children underwent staging laparotomy, and four of these were upstaged. Treatment comprised combined modality therapy (n = 27), radiation therapy alone (n = 17), and chemotherapy alone (n = 7). Four children had a Hodgkin disease recurrence. Forty-eight (94%) patients were alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 8 years (range 0.4-32.6). Eleven patients had long-term, therapy-related adverse effects (cardiac, infertility, pulmonary, and second malignant neoplasms). Three patients died. Two died of complications of second malignant neoplasms and one died of infectious complications after Hodgkin disease recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Children with lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease respond favorably to a variety of treatment modalities and are ideal candidates for less toxic therapy.