Tumor-size responses to first-line is a predictor of overall survival in metastatic colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Early tumor shrinkage (ETS) has been reported to be associated with survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Our aim was to analyze long-term tumor-size evolution, according to early mCRC best responses during the first-line therapy, to evaluate first best response-survival links. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with unresectable mCRCs, treated between 2010 and 2015, were included retrospectively in this descriptive monocenter study and grouped according to their RECIST 1.1 first-line best responses: progressive disease (PDfl), stable disease with tumor-size evolution between 0 and + 19% (SDfl+) or 0 and - 29% (SDfl-), and partial responders (PRs), who were classed PR with ETS (ETSfl) or without (PRfl). Tumor-size evolution and best tumor responses to each chemotherapy line were analyzed. RESULTS: Tumor loads of ETSfl or PRfl mCRCs tended to remain inferior to their initial values: 60% of patients died with target lesion sums below baseline. For first-line SDfl+ or PDfl mCRCs, rapid tumor load increases continued during successive lines: > 80% died with target lesion sums above baseline. ETSfl mCRCs responded better to subsequent lines (37.5% second-line PR), whereas PDfl mCRCs remained refractory to other therapies (0% second- and third-line PR). Overall survival rates were significantly (p = 0.03) longer for the ETSfl group (29.9 [95% CI: 12.6-47.1] months) and shorter for the PDfl group (17.1 [95% CI: 1.5-37.5] months). CONCLUSION: Tumors responding to first-line chemotherapy also responded better to subsequent lines, whereas PDfl mCRCs remained refractory, which may explain the better survival associated with ETSfl. KEY POINTS: • Early shrinking tumors under first-line chemotherapy responded better to subsequent lines, maintaining low tumor loads, potentially explaining the link between early tumor shrinkage and overall survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. • mCRCs progressing under first-line chemotherapy remained refractory to other therapies and their tumor loads increased rapidly. • Even outside a clinical trial, an early first CT scan reevaluation with RECIST criteria 8 weeks after starting first-line therapy is crucial to determine long-term mCRC evolution.

Real-Time 3D Virtual Target Fluoroscopic Display for Challenging Hepatocellular Carcinoma Ablations Using Cone Beam CT.

Three-dimensional virtual target fluoroscopic display is a new guidance tool that can facilitate challenging percutaneous ablation. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, local efficacy, and safety of liver ablation assisted by three-dimensional virtual target fluoroscopic display. Sixty-seven hepatocellular carcinomas (mean diameter: 31 mm, range: 9-90 mm, 24 ≥ 30 mm, 16 of an infiltrative form) in 53 consecutive patients were ablated using irreversible electroporation (n = 39), multibipolar radiofrequency (n = 25), or microwave (n = 3) under a combination of ultrasound and three-dimensional virtual target fluoroscopic display guidance because the procedures were considered to be unfeasible under ultrasound alone. This guidance technology consisted of real-time fluoroscopic three-dimensional visualization of the tumor previously segmented from cone beam computed tomography images acquired at the start of the procedure. The results were assessed by cross-sectional imaging performed at 1 month and then every 3 months in the event of complete ablation. Factors associated with overall local tumor progression (initial treatment failure and subsequent local tumor progression) were assessed using a logistic regression model. Sixty-one (91%) tumors were completely ablated after 1 (n = 53) or 2 (n = 8) procedures. After a median follow-up of 12.75 months (1-23.2) of the 61 tumors displaying imaging characteristics consistent with complete ablation at 1 month, local tumor progression was observed in 9, so the overall local tumor progression rate was 22.3% (15 of 67). Under multivariate analysis, dome locations and infiltrative forms were associated with local tumor progression. No major complications occurred. Three-dimensional virtual target fluoroscopic display is a feasible and efficient image guidance tool to facilitate challenging ablations that are generally considered as infeasible using ultrasound alone.