Surgical Management and Outcomes of Patients with Multifocal Hepatoblastoma

ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes of patients with multifocal hepatoblastoma (HB) treated at our institution with either orthotopic liver transplant (OLTx) or hepatic resection to determine outcomes and risk factors for recurrence.BackgroundMultifocality in HB has been shown to be a significant prognostic factor for recurrence and worse outcome. The surgical management of this type of disease is complex and primarily involves OLTx to avoid leaving behind microscopic foci of disease in the remnant liver.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review on all patients <18 years of age with multifocal HB treated at our institution between 2000 and 2021. Patient demographics, operative procedure, post-operative course, pathological data, laboratory values, short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed.ResultsA total of 41 patients were identified as having complete radiologic and pathologic inclusion criteria. Twenty-three (56.1%) underwent OLTx and 18 (43.9%) underwent partial hepatectomy. Median length of follow-up across all patients was 3.1 years (IQR 1.1–6.6 years). Cohorts were similar in rates of PRETEXT designation status identified on standardized imaging re-review (p = .22). Three-year overall survival (OS) estimate was 76.8% (95% CI: 60.0%–87.3%). There was no difference in rates of recurrence or overall survival in patients who underwent either resection or OLTx (p = .54 and p = .92 respectively). Older patients (>72 months), patients with a positive porta hepatis margin, and patients with associated tumor thrombus experienced worse recurrence rates and survival. Histopathology demonstrating pleomorphic features independently associated with worse rates of recurrence.ConclusionsThrough proper patient selection, multifocal HB was adequately treated with either partial hepatectomy or OLTx with comparable outcome results. HB with pleomorphic features, increased patient age at diagnosis, involved porta hepatis margin on pathology, and the presence of associated tumor thrombus may be associated with worse outcomes regardless of the local control surgery offered.Level of EvidenceIII.     

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of hepatoblastoma reveals high frequency of X-chromosome gains and similarities between epithelial and stromal components

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver tumor in childhood and differs in its environmental risk factors and genetic background from hepatocellular carcinoma. HB is associated with inherited conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, suggesting the importance of genetic abnormalities in the pathogenesis and progression of this disease. It has a very polymorphous morphology. A diverse range of cytogenetic alterations has been reported to date, the most frequent being trisomy 2 and trisomy 20. Thirty-five HB specimens from 31 patients (22 purely epithelial, 4 purely mesenchymal, 9 mixed) were examined by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a technique that enables us to screen the entire tumor genome for genetic losses and gains. Our aims were as follows: (1) to characterize chromosome abnormalities that appear in this tumor and (2) to identify possible differences between different histologic subtypes of HB. We found significant gains of genetic material, with very little difference in the number and type of alterations between the different histologic components of HB. The most frequent alterations were gains of Xp (15 cases, 43%) and Xq (21 cases, 60%). This finding was also confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization performed on nuclei extracted from 6 specimens. Other common alterations were 1p-, 2q+, 2q-, 4q-, and 4q+. We found no difference between different histologic subtypes, a finding that may be in agreement with the hypothesis of a common clonal origin for the different components. An hitherto-unreported high frequency of X chromosome gains may support the assumption that X-linked genes are involved in the development of this neoplasm.     

人IL-4基因修饰诱导肝母细胞瘤细胞凋亡及分化的研究

目的　研究人白细胞介素 4(IL 4)基因修饰对肝母细胞瘤细胞凋亡及分化的影响及可能机制。方法　以逆转录病毒为载体将人IL 4基因导入人肝母细胞瘤细胞系 (HepG2 )细胞。台盼蓝拒染、瑞氏染色、放射免疫测定、流式细胞仪细胞周期分析、原位杂交等方法检测人IL 4基因修饰后细胞形态、甲胎蛋白合成以及原癌基因c fos、c jun、c myc表达的变化。流式细胞仪AnnexinⅤ /PI双染色法及间接免疫荧光染色法检测凋亡细胞及凋亡调控基因p5 3、bcl 2的蛋白表达。结果　 (1)人IL 4基因修饰较空载体修饰及野生型HepG2细胞的细胞周期发生G0 /G1期阻滞 ,甲胎蛋白分泌量及原癌基因c fos、c jun、c myc表达降低 (P <0 .0 0 1)。细胞在形态及功能上趋向正常肝细胞转化 ;(2 )较空载体修饰及野生型HepG2细胞 ,IL 4基因修饰后部分细胞形态上出现核固缩等典型凋亡细胞的特征 ,流式细胞仪亦检测到 18.5 %± 4.7%的凋亡细胞 ;(3)人IL 4基因修饰增加p5 3而抑制bcl 2表达 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　人IL 4基因修饰可诱导肝母细胞的凋亡及分化 ,诱导凋亡细胞可能与上调p5 3蛋白及抑制bcl 2蛋白表达有关。     

NEOPLASTIC DISEASE AND DELETION 22q11.2: A MULTICENTRIC STUDY AND REPORT OF TWO CASES

Deletion 22q11.2 is a chromosomal abnormality detected in young patients with clinical manifestations of the DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome. Conotruncal heart defects are also associated with del22q11.2. An association of these cardiac malformations with neoplasias has been observed. Our series includes two cases of malignancies, a hepatoblastoma and a renal-cell carcinoma, arising in children with complex cardiac malformations. The aim of the study was to determine if the deletion at 22q11.2 was present and could be responsible for both pathological processes. Del22q11.2 was identified in both cases. Comparative genomic hybridization revealed terminal gains on chromosomes 1q and Xq and terminal loss on 1p in the hepatoblastoma, and gains in 1p, 12q, 16p, 20q, 22q, and whole chromosome 19 and loss of Xq in the renal-cell carcinoma. Our results confirm a common genetic basis for cardiac malformations, and del22q11.2 presents a risk factor for the development of pediatric tumours.     

Little girl who conquered the "ALPPS’’

An insufficient future liver remnant(FLR)is associated with post-hepatectomy liver failure.Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for stage hepatectomy(ALPPS)has been shown to be effective for the induction of rapid FLR hypertrophy so as to improve the resectability in patients with insufficient FLR.We hereby report our experience of this novel approach for a 6-year-old patient with hepatoblastoma.Computed tomography showed a hepatoblastoma measuring12.5 cm×9.9 cm×11.7 cm in the right liver(Couinaud segmentⅣ,ⅤandⅧ).Volumetric assessment of the FLR i.e.,left lateral section was 112.6 mL i.e.,21.2%of the estimated total liver volume.In view of the small-for-size FLR,ALPPS was contemplated.An anterior approach was adopted for the in-situ parenchymal split without mobilisation of the right liver.FLR volumetry on the seventh postoperative day was 160.7 mL,which represented a 46.1%gain in volume,and a FLR/ESLV ratio of 30.2%.A right trisectionectomy was performed on the eighth postoperative day.Postoperative recovery was uneventful.Patient was discharged on day 16 after the first operation.To our knowledge,this was the first report that showed the applicability of ALPPS to a paediatric patient.     

Outcomes of pulmonary metastases in hepatoblastoma — is the prognosis always poor?

Background

Hepatoblastoma is a rare tumour accounting for approximately 1% of all paediatric malignancies. Hepatoblastoma complicated by pulmonary metastatic disease continues to cause management difficulties due to a lack of robust evidence and treatment guidelines.

Method

This series is the experience of a tertiary paediatric referral centre. Patients were prospectively enlisted, and their charts were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Thirty-seven patients were treated for hepatoblastoma from 1995 to 2012 inclusive. The overall survival was 34/37(91.9%). Eight patients had lung metastases at diagnosis (LMD) and twenty-nine did not (NLMD). Two-year EFS was 62.5% in the LMD group and 89.3% in the NLMD group (p = 0.078). Overall survival in the LMD and NLMD groups was 100% and 89.7%, respectively (p = 0.389). Two patients in the LMD group required multiple thoracic resections to achieve cure. Within the NLMD group, two patients developed lung metastases whilst on treatment, and both of these patients died.

Conclusion

In this series, children presenting with lung metastases had a higher risk of relapse but excellent overall survival. However, children who developed pulmonary disease during treatment had a poor prognosis. We advocate aggressive surgical treatment of pulmonary hepatoblastoma to achieve cure.     

State of the art in oncology: High risk neuroblastoma,alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma,desmoplastic small round cell tumor,and POST-TEXT 3 and 4 hepatoblastoma

Despite advances in the treatment of pediatric cancers during the past few decades, high-risk neuroblastoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, and hepatoblastomas with 3 or 4 sector involvement after chemotherapy continue to present significant challenges. This review summarizes recent research on the management of these diseases, with a special focus on the use of surgical debulking, genetic analysis, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy in improving outcomes of patients with these solid tumors.     

足月新生儿肝母细胞瘤CT影像特征分析

目的探讨足月新生儿肝母细胞瘤(HB)的CT特征。方法回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年1月在湖南省儿童医院经手术病理证实的7例新生儿肝母细胞瘤的临床资料及腹部CT表现特点,重点观察肿块的位置、大小、形态、密度及动态增强特征。结果7例HB患儿CT表现为肝内单发性肿块,其中累及肝Ⅵ段2例、肝Ⅶ段2例、肝Ⅴ+Ⅵ段1例、肝Ⅱ+Ⅲ段1例、肝Ⅳa+Ⅴ+Ⅷ段1例。肿瘤最大径为2.9~10.2 cm,中位数为4.7 cm;类球形4例,不规则分叶状且突向肝外生长3例;边界清晰6例,边界模糊1例;瘤内坏死囊变4例,钙化1例,小片状出血5例;7例肿瘤均呈不均匀强化,动脉期肿瘤中心及边缘出现多发结节状、条片状明显强化;门静脉期及延迟期强化呈进行性区域扩展、充填,呈多发条索状及"岛屿样"强化,且以边缘强化明显,坏死囊变区无强化;1例肿瘤侵犯门静脉及肝门区胆管,并肝内胆管扩张;3例腹腔干水平以下腹主动脉管径变细。病理诊断示肝母细胞瘤上皮胎儿型6例,混合型1例。结论新生儿HB的主要CT表现为可伴有不同程度坏死、出血及钙化的类球形或分叶状肿块,增强扫描呈进行性区域扩展的不均匀明显强化。