Clinical outcome after pulmonary metastasectomy from primary hepatocellular carcinoma： Analysis of prognostic factors

AIM： To review the surgical outcomes in terms of the surgical indications and relevant prognostic factors.
METHODS： Sixteen patients underwent therapeutic lung surgery between March 1999 and May 2006. The observation period was terminated on May 31, 2007. The surgical outcomes and the clinicopathological factors were compared. RESULTS： There was no mortality or major morbidity encountered in this study. The mean follow-up period after metastasectomy was 26.7 ＋ 28.2 （range： 1-99 mo）, and the median survival time was 20 mo. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 56% and 26%, respectively. At the end of the follow-up, 1 patient died from hepatic failure without recurrence, 6 died from hepatic failure with a recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, and 4 died from recurrent HCC with cachexia. Among several clinical factors, Kaplan Meier analysis revealed as a treatment for the that liver transplantation primary lesion, grade of cell differentiation, and negative evidence HBV infection were independent predictive factors. On Cox＇s proportional hazard model, there were no significant factors affecting survival after pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with HCC.
CONCLUSION： A metastasectomy should be performed before other treatments in selected patients, Although not significant, patients with liver transplantation of a primary HCC survived longer, Liver transplantation might be the most beneficial modality that can offer patients better survival, A multi- institutional and collaborative study would be needed for identifying clinical prognostic factors predicting survival in patients with HCC and lung metastasis.     

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous boiling carboplatin injection (PBCI) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of boiling carboplatin (PBCI) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODOLOGY: PBCI was used to treat 34 HCC patients with 57 tumor nodules less than 3cm in diameter. Thirty-two of them (94.1%) were recurrent cases, including postoperative recurrence in 28, recurrence after percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy in 2 and recurrence after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in 2. The remaining 2 had an initially treated HCC. Two sessions of PBCI were administered within 1 week for each tumor nodule. Its influences on liver function and blood cell count were monitored. Local recurrence rate, incidence of distant recurrence and survival rate were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and their influencing factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients had a mean follow-up time of 12.7 +/- 5.4 months (from 3 to 22 months). Amount of boiling carboplatin solution (5mg/mL) injected per session ranged from 3mL to 35mL (10.9 +/- 6.9mL), and the total amount used in the two-session course ranged from 6mL to 65mL (21.8 +/- 13.4mL). Of 57 tumor nodules treated with two-session PBCI, technical success was achieved in 53 (93.0%). The cumulative local recurrence rate at 3, 6, 12, 18 months was 3.5%, 7.3%, 16.2% and 16.2%, respectively, with a mean local recurrence-free time of 19.4 +/- 0.8 months. Eighteen out of 34 patients (52.9%) developed distant recurrence, with a mean interval time to distant recurrence of 11.6 +/- 1.4 months. Incidence of distant recurrence at 6, 12, 18 months was 34.1%, 53.2% and 64.5%, respectively. The 1-year and 1.5-year survival rates were 78.3% and 64.2%, respectively, with a mean survival time of 17.8 +/- 1.1 months. Of 28 postoperative recurrent patients, PBCI markedly prolonged the mean postoperative tumor-free survival time from 21.1 +/- 3.4 months to 36.2 +/- 4.7 months (p<0.01). Univariate analysis demonstrated that patients with Child-Pugh grade A liver function had a significantly longer survival time and greater survival rate than those with grade B and C (p<0.05). There were no remarkable changes in liver function and complete blood cell count after PBCI and no major complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PBCI represented as an effective and safe percutaneous injection therapy for small HCC. It needed only two sessions for the vast majority of HCC less than 3cm in diameter and thus had the advantage of being much less invasive.     

Results of surgical treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma; comparison of outcome among patients with multicentric carcinogenesis, intrahepatic metastasis, and extrahepatic recurrence

No consensus has been reached on the indications for and effectiveness of surgery for secondary intrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic metastasis after macroscopically complete removal of primary HCC. Secondary intrahepatic HCCs, usually regarded as recurrence are classified into those arising as a result of multicentric carcinogenesis or intrahepatic metastases derived from the primary HCC. The present study was designed to evaluate the utility of surgical treatment in relation to the pathogenesis of the secondary HCC: classified as multicentric carcinogenesis (MC), intrahepatic metastasis (IM), and extrahepatic metastasis. Thirty patients underwent extirpation of secondary HCC: 22 patients had secondary HCCs in the remnant liver (MC group;n = 8; IM group,n = 14), 6 patients had extrahepatic metastases, and 2 patients had both intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases. Survival rates after the re-resection in the 22 patients with the secondary intrahepatic HCCs were 94.7% at 1 year, and 50.2% at 3 years postoperatively, and the 8 patients with extrahepatic metastasis had survival rates of 62.5% at 1 year, 37.5% at 3 years, and at 5 years. The survival rates after re-resection in the MC group were 100% at 1 year and 80.0% at 3 years, whereas those in the IM group were 91.7% at 1 year, and 38.1% at 3 years. Surgery can be indicated not only in patients with localized intrahepatic secondary HCCs but also in those with extrahepatic metastasis. In particular, patients with secondary HCCs arising as a result of multicentric carcinogenesis are expected to have a good prognosis.     

115例混合型肝癌临床病理特征及预后分析

目的 研究混合型肝癌的临床病理特征及预后.方法 收集复旦大学肝癌研究所1995年至2007年经病理检查确诊的115例混合型肝癌患者临床病理及随访资料,分析混合型肝癌的临床病理特征.以Kaplan-Meier法计算患者1、3、5年生存率及无瘤生存率并行Log-rank法分析,探讨与混合型肝癌预后相关的影响因素.结果 115例患者中Allen A型和B型各1例,其余113例均为C型.患者以男性为主,多伴肝硬化,可出现甲胎蛋白水平升高、CA19-9水平升高、门静脉系统血管侵犯、包膜不完整、淋巴结转移等表现.115例患者的1、3、5年总体生存率分别为68.1%、38.1%、33.6%,中位生存时间为13.0个月.行根治性切除术者1、3、5年总体生存率分别为78.4%、44.4%、44.4%,中位生存时间为16.0个月;无瘤生存率分别为57.8%、12.6%、0.0%,中位复发时间为10.0个月.10例非手术治疗者1、3、5年总体生存率分别为1/10、0/10、0/10,中位生存时间为5.3个月.TNM分期是患者术后生存的独立影响因素,淋巴结转移是患者根治性切除术后无瘤生存的独立影响因素.结论 混合型肝癌临床病理特征接近肝细胞癌,但预后较肝细胞癌差.TNM分期是患者术后生存的独立影响因素.

Abstract：

Objective To assess clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC). Methods Clinicopathological and follow-up data of 115 cHCC-CC patients confirmed pathologically in Liver Cancer Institute of Fudan University from 1995 to 2007 were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate 1-,3- and 5-year survival rates and tumor-free survival rates. Survival curves were analyzed using the log-rank test. The factors that impacted the prognosis of cHCC-CC were estimated. Results In 115 cases, one was Allen's type A, one was Allen's type B, and the other 113 were Allen's type C. Being with male in predominance, most of the cHCC-CC patients had liver cirrhosis background. They presented with elevated AFP or CA19-9, vascular invasion, resembling hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)as well as lymph nodes metastasis. One-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of 115 patients were 68. 1%, 38. 1% and 33.6%, respectively, with median survival time of 13.0 months. Whereas the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates in radical resected patients were 78.4 % ,44.4 % and 44.4 % ,respectively, with median survival time of 16.0 months. Tumor free survival time at 1-, 3- and 5-year was 57.8 %, 12.6 % and 0.0 %,respectively,with median recurrent time of 10.0 months. One-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of 10 nonsurgical patients were 10/10,10/10 and 0/10,respectively, with median survival time of 5.3 months.TNM stage was independent factor for prognosis of the patients after resection. Whereas the lymph nodes involvement was independent factor for the tumor free survival time of radical resected patients.Conclusions Although clinicopathological characteristics of cHCC-CC are more similar to those of HCC, the prognosis of cHCC-CC is more unfavorable than that of HCC. TNM stage is an independent determinant of long time outcome for patients after resection.     

Managements of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: A systematic review

AIM: To investigate the efficacy(survival) and safety of treatments for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in liver transplantation(LT) patients.METHODS: Literature search was performed on available online databases without a time limit until January 2015. Clinical studies describing survival after HCC recurrence in LT patients were retrieved for a fulltext evaluation. A total of 61 studies were selected: 13 case reports, 41 retrospective case series, and 7 retrospective comparative studies.RESULTS: Based on all included studies, the mean HCC recurrence rate was 16% of all LTs for HCC. A total of 1021 LT patients experienced HCC recurrence. The median time from LT to HCC recurrence was 13 mo(range 2-132 mo). The majority of patients(67%) presented with HCC extra-hepatic recurrences, involving lung, bone, adrenal gland, peritoneal lymph nodes, and rarely the brain. Overall survival after HCC recurrence was 12.97 mo. Surgical resection of localized HCC recurrence and Sorafenib for controlling systemic spread of HCC recurrence were associated with the higher survival rates(42 and 18 mo, res-pectively). However, Sorafenib, especially when combined with m TOR, was frequently associated with severe side effects that required dose reduction or discontinuation CONCLUSION: Management of recurrent HCC in LT patients is challenging and associated with poor prognosis independently of the type of treatment.     

Survival after repeat hepatic resection for recurrent colorectal metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This is a retrospective study examining survival of patients undergoing repeat hepatic resection for recurrent colorectal metastases. METHODOLOGY: The records of 41 patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer were reviewed. Curative resections (negative resection margin and no extrahepatic disease) were attempted in all patients. Recurrence developed in 26 (63%) patients, with disease being confined to the liver in 16 (39%) patients. Ten of them (24%) underwent hepatic resection and make up the study population. RESULTS: Ten patients (4 women, 6 men; mean age: 62 years, range: 50-82 years) developed recurrence confined to the liver at the median interval of 16 months (range: 5-34 months) after the first hepatectomy. In 6 patients the recurrent cancer(s) involved both the area near the resection line and remote sites from the site of the first hepatic resection. In 3 patients recurrent cancer(s) was located at sites remote from the first liver resection. In 1 patient the recurrent cancer was located in the same area as the original hepatic resection. Three formal hepatectomies and seven non-anatomical (wedge) resections were performed. The mean blood loss was 900 cc (range: 100-2700 cc); the mean hospital stay was 19 days (range: 8-34 days). There was no perioperative mortality. Morbidity was 20%. Four patients died of recurrent disease, with a mean disease-free survival of 13 months (range: 5-21 months). Two patients had a second recurrence resected at 10 and 24 months, respectively, after the second hepatic resection. One of these 2 patients had a fourth hepatic resection for hepatic recurrence and is still alive with no evidence of disease. Six patients are alive, 4 of them without evidence of disease, with a median follow-up time of 30 months (range: 22-64 months). Actuarial 4-year specific survival was 44%. Actuarial disease-free survival at 4 years was 18%. CONCLUSIONS: In appropriately selected patients, repeat hepatic resection for colorectal metastases is a worthwhile treatment. Mortality, morbidity, and survival are similar to those following the initial resection.     

Pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: We reviewed our experience in the surgical treatment of 47 patients with colorectal pulmonary metastases and investigated factors affecting their survival. METHOD: From September 1986 to December 1999, 47 patients underwent 59 thoracotomies for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The median interval between colorectal resection and lung resection (disease-free interval [DFI]) was 33 months. Overall, 5-year survival was 48%. Five-year survival was 51% for patients with solitary metastasis (n = 30), 47% for patients with ipsilateral multiple metastases (n = 11), and 50% for patients with bilateral metastases (n = 6), and there were no significant differences. Five-year survival was 80.8% for 14 patients with DFI of < 2 years and 39.7% for 30 patients with a DFI of > 2 years (p = 0.22). Five-year survival for 11 patients with normal prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels was 70%, and that for 26 patients with elevated prethoracotomy CEA levels (> 5 ng/mL) was 36% (p < 0.05). Eight patients had extrathoracic disease. The median survival time after pulmonary resection was 18.5 months, and the 5-year survival was 60%. A second resection for recurrent metastases was performed in five patients, and a third resection was done in one patient. All six patients are alive. The median survival of five patients who underwent a second thoracotomy was 22 months (range, 2 to 68 months), and one patient is alive 39 months after the third resection. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal cancer may help prolong survival in selected patients, even with bilateral lesions, recurrent metastasectomy, or extrathoracic disease. Prethoracotomy CEA level was found to be a significant prognostic factor.     

Resection of peritoneal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate whether resection of peritoneal metastases arising from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a role to play in the management of the disease. METHODOLOGY: Resections of peritoneal metastases from HCC were performed in 6 patients. The survival of the patients was evaluated in relation to feature of primary liver tumor, number of peritoneal metastases and period between hepatectomy and resection of peritoneal metastases. RESULTS: Two patients had peritoneal metastases at the time of hepatectomy for HCC, their resection being carried out synchronously. In the other 4 patients, peritoneal metastases became evident between 6 and 34 months (mean: 18) after hepatectomy; resection was performed at the time of presentation of the metastases. Patient survival after resection of the peritoneal metastases ranged from 3-31 months. The 4 patients who survived for more than 1 year had the following features: 1) a small number of metastatic nodules (= or < 4); 2) low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values (mean: 205 ng/ml); and, (3) metachronous occurrence of the peritoneal metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of peritoneal metastases arising from HCC may be of value in improving patient survival.     

Transcatheter arterial embolization treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and risk of pulmonary metastasis

AIM: To investigate the relationship between transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and pulmonary metastasis in subjects with hepatocellular cardnoma (HCC).METHODS: A total of 287 patients with HCC followed up for more than i week were included. 102 patients underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE group) and 185 received conservative treatment (control group). Thepatients′ chest x-rays and chest CT scans were examined for pulmonary metastasis.RESULTS: Patients with TAE had a median survival of 19.3 months while that of the control group was only 10.0 months(P&lt;0.05). Pulmonary metastasis occurred in 14 (13.7 %) patients in the TAE group and 14 (7.6 %) patients in the control group, there was no significant difference (P&gt;O.05).The l-year, 2-year and 5-year cumulative incidence of pulmonary metastasis was 11.8 %, 17.6 % and 24.0 % in the TAE group and 7.0 %, 13.0 % and 21.7 % in the control group, respectively (P&gt;0.O5). On the univariate analysis,tumor size, abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase levels and heterogeneity on sonography were significantly associated with pulmonary metastasis. However, on the multivariate analysis, only tumor size was significantly predictive of pulmonary metastasis.CONCLUSION: TAE is effective on prolonging survival of patients with HCC. It does not significantly increase the risk of pulmonary metastasis. Tumor size is the only significant predictive factor associated with lung metastasis.     

射频消融与无水酒精注射治疗术后复发肝细胞癌患者的疗效比较

目的对比肝细胞癌（HCC）术后复发肿瘤病灶经射频消融（RFA）与无水酒精（PEI）注射治疗的疗效,以期为临床治疗HCC肿瘤复发提供参考。方法回顾性分析2007年8月至2010年1月HCC术后单一病灶复发患者175例,分为PEI治疗101例与RFA治疗74例。所有病例治疗前后均行常规彩超和超声造影/增强CT检查,观察比较治疗次数、病灶完全灭活率及治疗并发症发生率,记录患者治疗后1、2、3年生存率。计量资料采用t检验,计数资料采用χ2检验。结果 HCC术后复发病灶,平均每例的PEI治疗次数多于RFA（P〈0.05）,PEI和RFA治疗并发症的发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;肿瘤直径〈2.0 cm的HCC术后复发病灶组中,PEI和RFA治疗病灶完全灭活率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,而2.0～5.0 cm HCC术后复发病灶组,PEI治疗病灶完全灭活率低于RFA,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。HCC术后复发病灶直径〈2.0 cm组中,PEI和RFA治疗术后1、2、3年生存率分别为89.1%和90.2%、69.1%和70.7%、49.1%和53.7%,两种治疗方式术后生存率比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。而2.0～5.0cm组中,PEI和RFA治疗术后1、2、3年生存率分别为63.0%和84.8%、43.5%和66.7%、21.7%和45.5%,两种治疗方式术后生存率比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论肿瘤直径小于2.0 cm HCC术后复发病灶的RFA和PEI局部消融治疗,患者术后的生存率无明显差异,而肿瘤直径2.0～5.0 cm时,RFA治疗后生存期优于PEI。     

Prognosis following non‐surgical second treatment in patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous ablation therapy

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify prognostic factors in patients who received a non‐surgical second treatment for the development of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after an initial percutaneous ablation therapy. Methods: We retrospectively studied 147 patients with HCC who had received an initially successful percutaneous ablation therapy. The patients were followed up using computed tomography and/or ultrasound every 3 months and a second treatment was performed for subsequent recurrent tumours. Results: The 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates of the 147 patients were 90 and 65% respectively. During a mean follow‐up period of 33 months, local or distant tumour recurrences developed in 77 of the 147 patients, and the 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates after a second treatment in these 77 patients were 73 and 44% respectively. Forty‐six of the 77 patients with up to three recurrent tumours received percutaneous ablation therapy for the second treatment, and the remaining 31 patients with more than three (multiple) recurrent tumours received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for their second treatment. A multivariate analysis revealed the serum α‐fetoprotein level at the time of the appearance of the recurrent HCC (<100 ng/ml vs ≥100 ng/ml, P=0.009) and the number of recurrent tumours (up to three vs more than three, P=0.009) to be independent prognostic factors after the second treatment. Conclusions: The serum α‐fetoprotein level and recurrent tumour number were prognostic factors following the second treatment in patients with recurrent HCC who had received an initially successful ablation therapy.     

Surgical treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma based on the mode of recurrence: repeat hepatic resection or ablation are good choices for patients with recurrent multicentric cancer

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) often recur after curvative resection. Recurrence in the remnant liver originates from intrahepatic metastasis (IM) from the primary resected tumor, and/or from multicentric (MC) occurrence. In order to achieve better survival after intrahepatic recurrence in HCC patients, we have surgically treated patients according to the recurrence pattern. In this study, we investigated the advantage of repeat surgery for MC recurrent HCC. The subjects were 176 patients who had undergone primary macroscopically complete tumor removal for HCC at our department from 1984 to 1999. Differential diagnosis of IM and MC recurrence was done by pathological analysis. Twenty‐nine of the 149 patients with recurrence (19.5%) underwent a total of 31 second and third operations. Of the 29 patients, 18 had MC (14 received repeat hepatectomy and 4, microwave tissue coagulation [MTC]), 7 had IM (4 had repeat hepatectomy and 3, MTC), and, in 4 patients, pathological investigation failed to determine the mode of recurrence. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates for MC patients after the repeat operations were 100%, 69.7%, and 58.1%, respectively, and the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year survival rates for the IM patients were 57.1%, 14.3%, and 14.3%, respectively. Survival after the repeat operation was significantly better in the MC group than in the IM group (P = 0.0016). Moreover, there was no significant difference between survival in the MC group after a repeat operation and survival in control patients after an initial hepatectomy (P = 0.9282). These results indicated that patients with resectable or ablative recurrent MC HCC have almost the same survival benefit after repeat operations as patients who undergo initial curative resection of HCC.     

Clinical analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after living-donor liver transplantation

AIM: To evaluated patterns and outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) recurrence after living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).METHODS: From 2001 to 2014, 293 patients underwent LDLT for HCC at our transplant center. We retrospectively reviewed 54(18.4%) patients with HCC recurrence after LDLT. We evaluated patterns and outcomes of HCC recurrence after LDLT, with particular attention to the Milan criteria at transplantation, treatments for HCC-recurrent patients, and factors related to survival after HCC recurrence. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of combination treatment of sorafenib and an mT OR inhibitor.RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates after HCC recurrence were 41.1%, 20.5%, and 15.4%, respectively. The median time interval between LDLT and HCC recurrence was 6.5 mo. Although recurrence rates according to the Milan criteria at LDLT were significantly different, HCC recurrence patterns and survival rates after HCC recurrence were not significantly different between the two groups. Time to recurrence 12 mo(P = 0.048), multiple recurrences at HCC recurrence(P = 0.038), and palliative treatment for recurrent tumors(P = 0.003) were significant independent prognostic factors for poor survival after HCC recurrence in a multivariate analysis. The combination treatment of sorafenib and sirolimus showedsurvival benefits in the palliative treatment group(P = 0.005).CONCLUSION: Curative treatment for recurrent HCC after LDLT is the most important factor in survival rates after HCC recurrence and combination treatments of sorafenib and an m TOR inhibitor could have survival benefits in patients with HCC recurrence after LT in the palliative treatment group.     

Efficacy of surgical resection in management of isolated extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To clarify the benefit of surgical excision for patients with extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 140 patients with pathologically proven extrahepatic metastases of HCC and evaluated the outcomes of those who had undergone surgical resection (SR) for extrahepatic metastatic lesions.Prognoses made on the basis of extrahepatic metastatic sites were also examined.RESULTS: The survival rates of patients who underwent SR of extrahepatic metastases were significantly better than those of patients who did not receive SR.For the SR group, 1- and 3-year survival rates were 24% and 7%, respectively, while for the non-resection group, the survival rates were 8% and 0%, respectively ( P < 0.0001).Survival rates related to metastatic sites were also significantly superior after SR of extrahepatic metastases: median survivals were 32 mo with lung metastasis, 10 mo with bone metastasis, 6.1 mo with brain metastasis.CONCLUSION: SR can provide survival benefits for patients with 1 or 2 isolated extrahepatic metastases and who concurrently exhibit good hepatic functional reserve and general performance status as well as successful treatment of intrahepatic HCC.     

Prolonged survival after repeat resection of pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

We report a patient in whom two pulmonary resections were performed for lung metastasis after hepatic resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 56‐year‐old Japanese man with an 8‐year history of chronic liver disease was admitted with elevated serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) and a liver tumor that had been detected by ultrasonography. Computed tomography showed a 6‐cm tumor in the medial segment of the liver, and partial resection of the medial segment was performed. Thirty‐six months after the first operation, pulmonary resection was performed for a solitary metastasis in the left lung. Fifty‐one months after the second operation, a solitary metastatic tumor was detected in the right lung, without any evidence of recurrence or other metastatic foci, and thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lung was performed as the third operation. The patient is alive 36 months after the second pulmonary resection, has a normal AFP value, and shows no signs of recurrent or metastatic foci. Repeat pulmonary resection for metastasis from HCC resulted in long‐term survival in this patient.     

Clinical manifestations and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cardiac metastasis

Background and Aim:  Antemortem diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cardiac metastasis is uncommon. To clarify the clinical manifestation and survival of HCC patients with cardiac metastases, we initiated the present study.
Methods:  We retrospectively analyzed 48 HCC patients with metastases into cardiac cavity diagnosed antemortem. The baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiogram, treatment modality and the outcome data were collected.
Results:  The most common symptoms of cardiac metastasis included asymptomatic in 19 cases (39.5%), bilateral lower leg edema in 18 cases (37.5%) and exertional dyspnea in 15 cases (31.3%). The median and mean survival times from the time of diagnosis of cardiac metastasis were 102 days and 161 days, respectively. Compared with another cohort of 48 patients with age-, gender-, and stage-matched HCC patients without cardiac metastasis, the median survival in the cardiac metastasis group was similar to the control group (68 days) ( P  = 0.67). The cause of death was HCC in 29, hepatic failure in seven, multiple organ failure in four, gastrointestinal bleeding in three, sepsis in two, pulmonary embolism in one, respiratory failure in one, and acute myocardial infarction in one.
Conclusions:  Hepatocellular carcinoma patients with cardiac metastases were in the advanced stages. These patients had limited survival from the diagnosis of cardiac metastases. The most common cause of death was related to HCC per se or the underlying liver disease. Only a few patients expired because of cardiac metastases.     

Efficacy of antiviral therapy with lamivudine after initial treatment for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine whether antiviral therapy with lamivudine is beneficial in patients after initial treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients with HBV-related HCC completely treated by hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Comparison was made between 16 patients who received lamivudine therapy at a dose of 100 mg/day after treatment for HCC (lamivudine group) and 33 patients who did not (control group) in terms of changes in remnant liver function, HCC recurrence and survival. RESULTS: Cumulative recurrence rates of HCC did not significantly differ between the two groups (P = 0.622). However, median Child-Pugh score at the time of HCC recurrence was significantly different; 5 (range 5-6) in the lamivudine group versus 7 (range 5-12) in the control group (P = 0.005). All patients in the lamivudine group were able to receive curative treatment for recurrent HCC. In contrast, 10 of 15 patients in the control group were unable to receive curative optimal therapy for recurrent HCC due to deterioration of remnant liver function. The cumulative survival rates of patients in the lamivudine group tended to be higher than those of patients in the control group (P = 0.063). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that lamivudine therapy is beneficial for patients after initial treatment for HBV-related HCC because it contributes to improving remnant liver function, thus decreasing the risk of liver failure and increasing the chances of receiving available treatment modalities for recurrent HCC.     

Surgical management of recurrence after resection of colorectal liver metastases

The optimal treatment for recurrent lesions after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases is controversial. We report the outcome of aggressive surgery for recurrent disease after the initial hepatectomy and the influence on quality of life of such treatment. Forty-five (70%) of the 64 surviving patients developed recurrence after the initial hepatectomy for liver metastases. The determinants of hepatic recurrence were the distribution and the number of liver metastases. Twenty-eight (62%) of patients with recurrence underwent resection. A second hepatectomy was performed in 20 patients, and a third hepatectomy was done in 5 patients. Ten patients with pulmonary metastasis underwent partial lung resection on 14 occasions, while resection of brain metastases was performed in 3 patients on 5 occasions. There were no operative deaths after resection of recurrent disease. The morbidity rate was 28% after repeat hepatectomy, 21% after pulmonary resection, and 0% after resection of brain metastasis. The Karnofsky performance status (PS) after the last surgery was not significantly different from that after the initial hepatectomy. The 3- and 5-year survival rates after the second hepatectomy were 54% and 14%, respectively. The 3-and 5-year survival rates of the patients undergoing resection of extrahepatic recurrence were both 17%. The survival rate after resection of recurrent disease (n=28) was significantly better than that of patients (n=17) with unresectable recurrence (P < 0.05). For the 66 patients with colorectal liver metastases, the 5-year survival rate after initial hepatectomy was 50%. The distribution and the number of liver metastases and the presence of extrahepatic disease, as single factors, significantly affected prognosis after the initial hepatectomy. Multivariate analysis revealed that only the presence of extrahepatic metastasis and a disease-free interval of less than 6 months were independent predictors of survival after the initial and second hepatectomy, respectively. It is concluded that aggressive surgery is an effective strategy for selected patients with recurrence after initial hepatectomy. Careful selection of candidates for repeat surgery will yield increased clinical benefit, including long-term survival.     

Prognostic factors after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatitis C viral infection: univariate and multivariate analysis

OBJECTIVES: Although the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is higher than in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC in Japan, the long-term prognosis and prognostic factors of HCV-related HCC after hepatic resection are poorly understood. METHODS: The surgical outcome of HCV-related HCC in 172 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection between 1989 and 1997 was retrospectively clarified. Postresection prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 23.2%, and 11 patients among that group had hospital deaths (6.4%) including 9 (5.2%) operative deaths. The mean and median overall survivals including hospital death after surgery were 41 months and 33 months, respectively. The 3-, 5-, and 7-yr overall survival rates after hepatic resection were 63%, 52%, and 47%, respectively. The 3-, 5-, and 7-yr disease-free survival rates after hepatic resection were 33%, 20%, and 15%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of > or = 1000 ng/ml and the presence of vascular invasion were independent unfavorable prognostic factors affecting overall survival and that AFP of > or = 1000 ng/ml was an independently significant factor of poor disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: We found the postresection survival of patients with HCV-related HCC should be stratified by the high value of AFP and the presence of vascular invasion. AFP may be the most powerful predictor of the long-term prognosis and recurrence in such patients.     

Clinical manifestations and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with peritoneal metastasis

Background and Aim:  Peritoneal metastasis is an uncommon manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present paper was to investigate the characteristics and survival of HCC patients with peritoneal metastases.
Methods:  From January 1985 to December 2004, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 53 Taiwanese HCC patients with peritoneal metastases.
Results:  Peritoneal metastases were detected at the time of HCC diagnosis (synchronously) in 10 patients and after the initial therapy for the primary tumors (metachronously) in 43 patients. The mean time for development of the metachronous peritoneal metastases was similar whether the primary cancer was treated with surgery (24 months) or transarterial chemoembolization (22.2 months). The single patient whose primary cancer was treated with supportive care alone developed peritoneal metastasis only 7.5 months after detection of the primary cancer. Surgical resection of the peritoneal metastases was possible in two-thirds of the 43 metachronous patients. The median survival for those who received surgery for these metastases was 12.5 months vs. 2.1 months for those without surgery ( P  = 0.0013). However, there was no difference in survival if patients were stratified to Child-Pugh grade.
Conclusions:  Peritoneal metastases of HCC are rare and can occur synchronously or metachronously. Though increased long-term survival was found in patients who had surgical removal of peritoneal metastases, the main determinant of better survival is Child-Pugh grade.