Efficacy of combined bland embolization and chemoembolization for huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the efficacy of combined therapy involving bland transarterial embolization using gelatin sponge particles (bland GS-TAE) followed by transarterial chemoembolization using lipiodol mixed with anticancer agents and GS particles (Lip-TACE) to reduce the adverse events and increase the therapeutic effect of Lip-TACE in the treatment of huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with huge HCCs (≥10 cm in diameter) were enrolled in this study. First, bland GS-TAE was performed to reduce the tumor volume, and then Lip-TACE was performed to control the remaining tumor at intervals of around three weeks. Tumor response, survival, and adverse events of this combined therapy were assessed. RESULTS: The tumor response was assessed three months after combined TACE, with complete response in 38.1% and partial response in 57.1% of cases. Severe adverse events were seen in two patients, acute cholecystitis and tumor rupture. The median survival time was 2.7 years, and the one-, two-, three-, and five-year overall survival rates were 76.2%, 66.7%, 42.9%, and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy involving bland GS-TAE followed by Lip-TACE can be performed safety and may improve survival in patients with huge HCCs.

Transarterial- chemoembolization remains an effective therapy for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma with preserved liver function.

AIM: To evaluate outcomes as well as prognostic factors of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with preserved liver function to determine positioning of TACE. METHODS: Of 158 treatment-naïve patients with intermediate-stage HCC who received initial TACE from February 2007 to January 2016, 113 patients met the following inclusion criteria: no combined therapy within 4 weeks after initial TACE, and Child-Pugh score under 7. Response rate and overall survival were evaluated. The prognostic factors were investigated in univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards models. The deterioration of liver function after repeated TACE was also evaluated. RESULTS: The response rate was 92.7% (complete response, 63.3%; partial response, 29.4%). The median survival time was 45.2 months. Survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 90.4%, 77.0%, and 60.8% respectively. Age ≥ 75 years (P = 0.022), serum α-fetoprotein level ≥ 200 ng/mL (P = .010), tumor number ≥ 11 (P = 0.008), and heterogeneous enhancement on dynamic computed tomography (P = 0.024) were poor prognostic factors. The deterioration rate of Child-Pugh score and albumin-bilirubin grade was 18.5% and 12.3%, respectively, after the first TACE, 15.6% and 5.1%, respectively, after the second TACE, and 14.5% and 11.1%, respectively, after the third TACE. CONCLUSION: Superselective TACE can achieve high tumor response rates with prolonged overall survival for patients with intermediate-stage HCC with preserved liver function. Age, serum α-fetoprotein level, tumor number ≥ 11, and heterogeneous enhancement on dynamic computed tomography indicated significantly poor prognosis.

Successful transcatheter arterial antimicrobial and steroid therapy for refractory liver abscess in chronic granulomatous disease: A case report and review of literature.

Hepatic abscess in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is very refractory and frequently requires multiple surgeries with frequent morbidities. Although surgical interventions are often required, patients are often not able to have surgery for various reasons. We present the case of a 21-year-old man with recurrent hepatic abscess in CGD. We could not provide surgical interventions due to the lack of a fluid cavity and the patient's refusal, and therefore we administered transcatheter arterial antimicrobial and steroid therapy. He did not have any exacerbation for more than 18 months after the final transcatheter treatment. This is the first reported case of successful transcatheter arterial antimicrobial and steroid therapy for refractory hepatic abscess in CGD. Although the patient's burden and medical cost were not inconsequential, this case shows that the transcatheter arterial antimicrobial and steroid therapy may be a treatment option for patients who are not candidates for surgical interventions.

Local control and prognostic significance of transarterial treatment for limited recurrence of ovarian cancer as third-line and beyond therapy.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial treatment for the recurrence of ovarian cancer, limited to one or two gross regions, in a palliative setting as third-line and beyond therapy. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients were enrolled to undergo transarterial treatment of target lesions that were life-threatening or influenced their quality of life. Transarterial infusion via each feeding artery using 20-40 mg cisplatin and 20-40 mg docetaxel per patient was repeated every 4-6 weeks. Superabsorbent polymer microspheres were added for embolization after drug infusion, especially in hepatic or pelvic treatments. Univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazards models were used to assess the correlations between overall survival and individual parameters. RESULTS: A total of 63 feeding arteries (median 2 per patient; range 1-5) were treated for 36 target sites (liver, 12; pelvis, 8; abdominal cavity, 7; lymph node, 3; other, 6) at the initial treatment. Of the 128 total sessions, the only grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (3.8 %). The target lesion response rate by RECIST ver.1.1 was 50.0 % (11.5 % complete response; 38.5 % partial response). After a median follow-up of 30 months, the median overall survival was 16 months. Among 10 tumor-associated symptomatic patients, 7 showed symptom improvement. Multivariate analyses shows that the only independent prognostic factor was target lesion response (hazard ratio 18.7; 95 % CI 1.9-183.4; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Transarterial treatment for ovarian cancer achieves a high local response and good symptom control, and significantly contributes to survival for patients with local control after multiple relapses.

A case of rapidly progressing sarcomatous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with suddenly appearing lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The sarcomatous variant of carcinoma is relatively rare in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Sarcomatous ICC (SICC) is associated with a poorer prognosis compared with ICC. SICC is rarely diagnosed before surgery due to non-descriptive findings; it progresses rapidly, resulting in miserable prognosis. Here, we report a case of rapidly progressing SICC that showed a clinically significant tumor growth rate. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman who had undergone ileocecal resection for cecal cancer 5 years previously was found to have elevated levels of the tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Although an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan did not detect any liver mass lesions until 3 months before this serum examination, the subsequent CT scan revealed a hypodensity 20 mm mass lesion in the right anterior section. Contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging revealed peripheral enhancement in the arterial-to-equilibrium phase. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography revealed uptake in the lesion. None of the imaging modalities showed lymph node swelling or distant metastases. She underwent hepatectomy under the diagnosis of ICC or an atypical metastasis from previous cecal cancer. Although preoperative images showed no suspicious lymph node metastasis 3 weeks prior, the hilar lymph node swelled 3 cm and contained adenocarcinoma. Consequently, the patient underwent right anterior sectionectomy and lymph node dissection of the hepatoduodenal ligament. Histopathological examination revealed that the liver tumor was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with sarcomatous pattern. While the patient received adjuvant gemcitabine and S-1 therapy, lymph node metastasis appeared in the mediastinum 13 months after the surgery. She received gemcitabine + cisplatin + S-1 therapy but died 20 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: SICC and lymph node metastasis clinically appeared within 3 months and 3 weeks, respectively. Suspected ICC that rapidly progresses should be considered SICC and treated with early resection. SICC is often missed in clinical diagnosis and has a poor prognosis, even after curative resection. While an alternative strategy involving preoperative biopsy and neoadjuvant therapy may be beneficial, it should be approached with discretion due to the potential risks of tumor progression and peritoneal dissemination.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using cisplatin powder mixed with degradable starch microspheres for colorectal liver metastases after FOLFOX failure: results of a phase I/II study.

PURPOSE: To report the results of a phase I/II study of a transcatheter arterial chemoembolization protocol using cisplatin powder and degradable starch microspheres (DSM) for unresectable colorectal liver metastases after failure of FOLFOX (5-flourouracil, leucovorin plus oxaliplatin) chemotherapy conducted to determine the recommended dose of cisplatin powder and to assess the efficacy and safety of the protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A fine-powder formulation of cisplatin was mixed with DSM and administered via the hepatic artery every 4 weeks. In phase I, three cohorts of patients received escalating doses of cisplatin powder: 50 mg/m(2), 65 mg/m(2), and 80 mg/m(2). In phase II, tumor response, toxicity, and survival times were assessed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 24 patients. Previously, FOLFOX had been administered to all patients, an irinotecan-containing regimen had been administered to 12 patients, and bevacizumab or cetuximab or both had been administered to 14 patients. In phase I, dose-limiting toxicity did not appear at any level, and the recommended dose of cisplatin powder was determined to be 80 mg/m(2). In phase II, a tumor response rate of 61.1% was achieved. The median hepatic progression-free survival and overall survival were 8.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.06-13.5 mo) and 21.1 months (95% CI, 8.37-33.8 mo). The following grade 3 toxicities were observed: thrombocytopenia (12.5%), aspartate transaminase elevation (33.3%), alanine transaminase elevation (12.5%), hyponatremia (8.3%), and cholecystitis (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with cisplatin powder at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) mixed with DSM is well tolerated and can produce a high response rate with a long survival time for patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases after failure of FOLFOX.

Transarterial Chemoembolization with Irinotecan-loaded Beads Followed by Arterial Infusion of 5-Fluorouracil for Metastatic Liver Tumors Refractory to Standard Systemic Chemotherapy.

We report two cases of liver metastases from colorectal and anal cancers after the failure of systemic chemotherapies that were successfully treated with a combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization using irinotecan-loaded drug-eluting beads and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. In both cases, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was performed as maintenance therapy after irinotecan-loaded drug-eluting beads. Irinotecan at a dose of 120 mg was loaded on drug delivery beads for irinotecan-loaded drug-eluting bead-transarterial chemoembolization. A weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil regimen (1000 mg/m2/5 h) was used for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. The liver metastases shrank remarkably in both cases, and progression-free survivals of 13 and 9 months, respectively, were obtained without any severe adverse events.

Percutaneous Trans-jejunum Pancreatojejunostomy Reconstruction for Intractable Pancreatic Fistula after Pancreatoduodenectomy.

We present an interventional radiology technique for percutaneous trans-jejunal pancreatojejunostomy reconstruction for intractable pancreatic fistula. A 70-year-old man with pancreatic cancer who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy underwent percutaneous drainage for leakage from the anastomosis of the pancreatic duct to the jejunum. The leakage continued and the hole at the anastomosis site in the jejunum closed completely after 5 months. We performed percutaneous jejunostomy; the previously placed drainage catheter was then replaced with a balloon catheter, which was punctured by a 19-gauge needle from inside the jejunum through the percutaneous jejunostomy tube. The seeking catheter was inserted into the pancreatic duct. Finally, a side-holed 6-Fr straight catheter was successfully placed in the pancreatic duct through the percutaneous jejunostomy route.

[A case of radiofrequency ablation with hepatic venous balloon occlusion and transient hepatic arterial embolization using degradable starch microspheres for a large well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma].

A 70-year-old man with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C viral infection had a single well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) of 5-cm diameter in the right superior anterior segment of the liver. Surgery could not be performed because of his poor liver function. Furthermore, it was difficult to treat this tumor with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization because the tumor exhibited hypovascularity. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) alone was also not an option because the tumor was too large to manage with a simple RFA procedure. This solitary tumor was adjacent to the right and middle hepatic veins. Finally, we planned to treat this tumor with RFA and temporary vessel occlusion as follows: RFA was performed with a 5-cm expandable type RITA model 90 electrode under temporary occlusions of the right anterior hepatic artery with degradable starch microspheres, and of the right and middle hepatic veins by balloon catheters, to reduce the heat sink effect and obtain a larger coagulation size. We successfully treated this HCC with RFA combined with temporary vessel occlusion, and the patient has not obtained local recurrence at 18 months of the procedure.

[Initial experience of transcatheter arterial chemolipiodolization with miriplatin for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: Miriplatin(MP) is a promising newly developed anticancer agent for transcatheter arterial chemoinfusion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), particularly those previously not treated with chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemolipiodolization with MP for recurrent HCC in patients previously treated with chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2010 to March 2011, 17 patients with recurrent HCC were treated with MP via a transcatheter arterial approach. The dose of MP per treatment session was up to 140 mg. We repeated this treatment protocol until tumor progression occurred. We assessed the therapeutic results and the adverse events. RESULTS: MP was infused at a dose of 60-140 mg in the initial treatment session; the mean treatment session number was 1.8; and the total dose of MP was 60-400 mg (median, 120 mg). Response rate and disease control rate after the initial treatment were 17.6% and 47.1%,respectively. Response rate and disease control rate after the total treatment session were 17.6% and 29.4%,respectively. Median tumor-free survival was 86 days. We encountered a severe adverse event in 1 patient who died due to his concomitant disease( diabetic nephropathy and radiation hepatitis) 38 days after this protocol. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic result of MP was unsatisfactory, but adverse events due to MP infusion, including renal and/or liver damage, were minor.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of pancreatic arterial infusion chemotherapy after unification of the blood supply in an animal model.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential pharmacokinetic advantage of pancreatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with temporary unification of the pancreatic blood supply for advanced pancreatic cancer in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine pigs were divided into three groups of three pigs each. 5-FU (20 mg/kg) was infused via jugular vein (group I), celiac artery (group II), and celiac artery with balloon occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA; group III). At 0, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after drug infusion, the concentrations of 5-FU were measured in plasma and tissues including the liver, pancreatic head, pancreatic uncinate process, and duodenum. Areas under the concentration-time curve (AUCs) were calculated and statistically compared. RESULTS: The temporary unification of the pancreatic blood supply by converting from dual blood supply through the celiac artery and SMA into a single celiac arterial supply was confirmed by dye injection. Mean AUCs in the pancreas head and liver were significantly higher for groups II and III compared with group I (P < .05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in plasma 5-FU concentrations between groups. In addition, the AUC in the pancreatic uncinate process was significantly higher for group III compared with groups I and II (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic arterial infusion chemotherapy allows efficient regional drug delivery into the pancreas and liver. Importantly, the unification of the pancreatic blood supply may be required to induce maximum efficacy of arterial infusion chemotherapy for the tumor in the pancreatic uncinate process.

[Locally advanced pancreatic cancer successfully treated by arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with stereotactic radiotherapy--a case report].

We report a 60-year-old female with locally advanced pancreatic cancer successfully treated with stereotactic radiotherapy after arterial chemoinfusion. Using the indwelling catheter-port system with the unification of the pancreatic blood supply, we initially conducted an arterial infusion of weekly high-dose 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2/qw) combined with systemic gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2/qw). As a result, the tumor was remarkably decreased. However, a part of the tumor where the drug had not been distributed remained in no reduction. Therefore, we added the stereotactic radiotherapy (50 Gy) targeted on the limited residual tumor and combined with concurrent systemic gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2/qw). The residual tumors have been controlled well without distant metastases, and the patient is alive today 36 months after our initial treatment.

Hard-copy versus soft-copy image reading for detection of ureteral stones on abdominal radiography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of soft-copy images displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) with hard-copy images (film images) for detecting ureteral stones on abdominal radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five radiologists read images from 50 cases of ureteral stones and 50 normal cases diagnosed on the basis of intravenous urography and CT. For hard-copy reading, 10-bit images at 3,520x4,280 pixels obtained by computed radiography were printed on 14x17-inch films. For soft-copy reading, 8-bit images were displayed on a 17-inch monochrome monitor at 1,024x1,280 pixels. The study items were area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve (Az), ureteral stone detection sensitivity and specificity, and reading time. RESULTS: For soft-copy and hard-copy images, the average Az values were 0.855 and 0.851, sensitivity was 62.8% and 62%, and specificity was 70.8% and 62.4%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between these values. Reading time was 106.6 min for soft-copy images, significantly longer than the 71.2 min for hard-copy images (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although soft-copy image reading time was longer than hard-copy image reading time, the ability to diagnose ureteral stones on abdominal radiography did not differ for soft- and hard-copy images.

Transcatheter arterial embolization with spherical embolic agent for pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the safety and local efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with superabsorbent polymer microspheres (SAP-MS) in patients with pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Sixteen patients with unresectable pulmonary metastases from RCC refractory to standard therapy were enrolled to undergo TAE with the purpose of mass reduction and/or palliation. The prepared SAP-MS swell to approximately two times larger than their dry-state size (100-150 µm [n = 14], 50-100 µm [n = 2]). Forty-nine pulmonary nodules (lung n = 22, mediastinal lymph node n = 17, and hilar lymph node n = 10) were selected as target lesions for evaluation. Local tumor response was evaluated 3 months after TAE according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST; version 1.1). The relationship between tumor enhancement ratio by CT during selective angiography and local tumor response was evaluated. RESULTS: The number of TAE sessions per patient ranged from 1 to 5 (median 2.9). Embolized arteries at initial TAE were bronchial arteries in 14 patients (87.5 %) and nonbronchial systemic arteries in 11 patients (68.8 %). Nodule-based evaluation showed that 5 (10.2 %) nodules had complete response, 17 (34.7 %) had partial response, 15 (30.6 %) had stable disease, and 12 (24.5 %) had progressive disease. The response rate was significantly greater in 22 lesions that had a high tumor enhancement ratio than in 27 lesions that had a slight or moderate ratio (90.9 vs. 7.4 %, p = 0.01). Severe TAE-related adverse events did not occur. CONCLUSION: TAE with SAP-MS might be a well-tolerated and locally efficacious palliative option for patients with pulmonary metastases from RCC.

Hepatic arterial thrombosis: a critical complication during combination therapy of arterial chemoinfusion and sorafenib.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) combined with sorafenib is considered to be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, this combination therapy carries the risk of hepatic arterial thrombosis (HAT), which interrupts the continuation of HAIC, due to the side-effects of sorafenib. This case demonstrates a complication of HAT which occurred during HAIC combined with sorafenib. HAT was detected early by angiography via an implantable port-catheter system and was successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis.

Long-term outcome of transcatheter subsegmental and segmental arterial chemoemobolization using lipiodol for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To clarify the efficacy of transcatheter hepatic sub-subsegmental, subsegmental, and segmental arterial chemoembolization using lipiodol (subseg/seg lip-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), long-term outcomes of patients who had been treated using subseg/seg lip-TACE alone were retrospectively examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects comprised 199 patients with HCC (T1/2/≥3=30/108/61; Child-Pugh A/B/C=115/52/32; Japan Integrated Staging [JIS] score≤1/2/≥3=88/64/47) who underwent subseg/seg lip-TACE using lipiodol mixed with an anticancer drug followed by injection of gelatin sponge particles. Each patient was followed-up every 3 months, and repeat subseg/seg lip-TACE and/or conventional lip-TACE was performed in cases showing recurrence. One-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year cumulative survival rates were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed by stratifying the population according to T-factor, Child-Pugh classification, and JIS score. RESULTS: Median duration of follow-up was 3.8 years (range 0.2 to 16.4). Median overall survival was 3.8 years. One-, 3-, 5-, 7- and 10-year survival rates were 91.5, 66.1, 38.8, 20.3, and 9.4% for all patients, and 95.5, 76.9, 51.9, 27.9 and 20.4% for patients with JIS≤1, respectively. Significant survival differences were found across two subgroups of staging systems (T2 vs. T3≤[P=0.0012] and JIS score≤1 vs. 2 [P=0.0036]). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that subseg/seg lip-TACE is a feasible treatment for obtaining prolonged survival in patients with localized HCC showing rich vasculature. Outcomes are influenced by both tumor stage and liver function, as seen in the best prolonged survival in patients with JIS score≤1.

Intra-arterial chemoinfusion prior to chemoradiotherapy with full-dose systemic gemcitabine for management of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although chemoradiotherapy with full-dose gemcitabine as a strategy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer was expected to optimize local tumor control and prevent distant metastasis, the volume of the radiation field is the critical factor related to toxicities. We are currently developing a novel therapeutic technique to conduct neoadjuvant treatments of intra-arterial chemoinfusion prior to chemoradiotherapy with the aim of tumor volume reduction. CASE REPORT: In two patients with locally invasive pancreatic cancer, the pancreatic blood supply was altered under angiographic guidance, and an intra-arterial catheter with a subcutaneous port was left in place for the administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 1,000 mg/m(2). After shrinkage of the tumor, chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) was delivered. In both patients, the full-dose gemcitabine was administered concurrently with radiation therapy without severe complications. The patients responded to the treatment with survival times of 42 and 38 months. CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial chemoinfusion followed by chemoradiation with full-dose systemic gemcitabine might prove to be a promising therapeutic approach for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Large prospective Phase II trials of this combination regimen are warranted.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with venous embolization in a patient with hepatic metastases with an arteriovenous shunt.

We describe herein a patient who had hepatic metastases with an arteriovenous shunt and was treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. The arteriovenous shunt was diagnosed by (99m)Tc-macroaggregated albumin scintigraphy and hepatic venous embolization was performed to reduce shunt flow.