RESUMO
The term "cachexia" is derived from the Greek words kakos (bad) and hexis (habit). Cachexia is a malnutrition associated with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure, and autoimmune diseases, and is characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass. Cancer cachexia is quite common in patients with advanced cancer. Weight loss is also a characteristic symptom of cancer cachexia, along with decreased skeletal muscle mass. As nutritional supplementation alone cannot improve cachexia, cytokines and tumor-derived substances have been attracting attention as its relevant factors. Cancer cachexia can be also associated with reduced chemotherapeutic effects, increased side effects and treatment interruptions, and even poorer survival. In 2011, a consensus definition of cachexia has been proposed, and the number of relevant research reports has increased significantly. However, the pathogenesis of cachexia is not fully understood, and there are currently few regulatory-approved standard treatments for cachexia. The main reason for this is that multiple etiologies are involved in the development of cachexia. In this review, we will outline the current status of cachexia, the mechanisms of which have been elucidated in recent years, especially from the perspective of advanced cancer.
Assuntos
Caquexia/etiologia , Neoplasias/complicações , Anilidas/uso terapêutico , Animais , Caquexia/diagnóstico , Caquexia/fisiopatologia , Caquexia/terapia , Suplementos Nutricionais , Gerenciamento Clínico , Humanos , Hidrazinas/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias/fisiopatologia , Oligopeptídeos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: L-carnitine supplementation has been suggested to show several favorable effects on patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). However, there have been no reports regarding the effect of L-carnitine on energy metabolism in patients with LC using indirect calorimetry which is a well-established method for assessing the degree of liver malnutrition. We examined the effect of L-carnitine in patients with LC on energy metabolism using indirect calorimetry. METHODS: A total of 13 LC patients who are scheduled to be treated with L-carnitine (1,800 mg/day) were analyzed in this study. None of the patients previously received L-carnitine. An evaluation of the nutritional status was performed at the initiation of L-carnitine therapy and after 4 weeks of L-carnitine therapy. We evaluated the effect of L-carnitine on the nutritional status and energy metabolism by comparing various clinical variables at these two time points. In addition, the changes in the nutritional status of the patients were also evaluated using indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of L-carnitine treatment, for all cases, the mean substrate oxidation rates of carbohydrate (%C) increased from 37.6% to 48.2%, the mean substrate oxidation rates of fat (%F) decreased from 40.2% to 31.9% and the mean substrate oxidation rates of protein (%P) decreased from 22.2% to 19.9%. In a subgroup analysis of patients with baseline non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) < 0.85, the mean %C increased from 15.3% to 34.2%, the mean %F decreased from 59.9% to 45.1%, and the mean %P decreased from 24.8% to 20.6%. After 4 weeks of L-carnitine treatment, for all cases (n = 13), the mean value of npRQ increased in comparison with the baseline levels, although the difference was not significant (0.868 ± 0.060 vs. 0.838 ± 0.097, P = 0.19). Conversely, in patients with baseline npRQ < 0.85, the npRQ value significantly increased after 4 weeks treatment of L-carnitine compared with the baseline levels (0.827 ± 0.030 vs. 0.760 ± 0.043, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: L-carnitine supplementation can be useful for improving energy metabolism, especially in patients who have an advanced LC status and lower baseline npRQ values.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: There have been no established predictive factors of responders to sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the factors predicting a good response to sorafenib in Japanese patients with HCC. METHODS: A total of 465 patients with unresectable HCC in the Japanese Red Cross Liver Study Group were treated with sorafenib between January 2008 and August 2013, and 316 patients with sufficient clinical data were analysed. To determine the factors predicting a good response, the relationships between radiological response and the following clinicopathological factors were analysed: age, gender, performance status, liver function, tumour status and decrease in serum alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) level after 1 month. RESULTS: This study included 259 males and 57 females with a median age of 70 years (range, 37-90 years), of which 191 (60.4%) were classified as Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C, and 271 (85.8%) had Child-Pugh class A liver function. The median overall survival time was 307 days and progression-free survival time was 109 days. According to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours, four patients achieved a complete response, 51 achieved a partial response, 136 had stable disease and 125 had progressive disease. Multivariate analysis identified female gender (P = 0.003) and decreased serum AFP level after 1 month (P = 0.042) as independent predictors of a complete or partial response. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest female gender and a decrease in serum AFP level are independent predictors of good response to sorafenib.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Niacinamida/análogos & derivados , Compostos de Fenilureia/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/diagnóstico , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Humanos , Japão , Neoplasias Hepáticas/diagnóstico , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Niacinamida/uso terapêutico , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Sorafenibe , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Resultado do Tratamento , alfa-Fetoproteínas/metabolismoRESUMO
Palliative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) include transcatheter arterial embolic therapies, radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapies such as sorafenib. Conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is the golden standard for the treatment of intermediate-stage HCC, and involves the administration of chemotherapuetic drugs, with or without lipiodol, by means of a catheter directly to the feeding artery of the targeted tumor followed by administration of embolic agents, while the concept of drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) builds on the rationale for cTACE. DEB-TACE has been demonstrated to substantially improve the pharmacokinetic profile of TACE, providing levels of consistency and repeatability in patients that are not available with cTACE. On the other hand, the technique of radioembolization therapy for HCC involves the delivery of high-dose radiation via the hepatic artery. In the present review, we summarize the current status of these transcatheter arterial embolic therapies in HCC.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Quimioembolização Terapêutica/métodos , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/radioterapia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirurgia , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Cisplatino/uso terapêutico , Doxorrubicina/administração & dosagem , Doxorrubicina/uso terapêutico , Epirubicina/administração & dosagem , Epirubicina/uso terapêutico , Óleo Etiodado/administração & dosagem , Óleo Etiodado/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Fígado/irrigação sanguínea , Fígado/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/radioterapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirurgia , Compostos Organoplatínicos/administração & dosagem , Compostos Organoplatínicos/uso terapêutico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The aims of the present study were to examine whether unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with initial dose of sorafenib of 400 mg/day (half-dose group) had comparable treatment efficacy, safety and survival merit as compared with those treated with initial dose of sorafenib of 800 mg/day (standard-dose group) in a multicenter large study. For reducing the bias in patient selection, we compared clinical outcomes of these two groups using propensity score matching analysis. A total of 465 patients were treated with sorafenib at fourteen hospitals in Japanese Red Cross Liver Study Group from 2008 to 2013. After propensity score matching, 139 matched HCC patients were selected for analysis in both groups. We retrospectively compared overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), best treatment response and sorafenib related serious adverse events (SAEs) in the two groups. There were no relevant differences in terms of OS (median OS intervals: 9.2 months in the standard-dose group and 9.7 months in the halfdose group, P=0.350), PFS (median PFS intervals: 3.4 months in the standard-dose group and 3.2 months in the half-dose group, P=0.729) and best treatment efficacy (objective response rate: P=0.416; disease control rate: P=0.719). Grade 3 or more SAEs were observed in 37 patients (26.6%) in the standard-dose group and 33 patients (23.7%) in the half-dose group (P=0.580). Furthermore, in all subgroup analyses according to Child-Pugh classification and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, there were no significant differences in the two groups. In conclusion, unresectable HCC patients treated with initial halfdose sorafenib had comparable prognosis compared with those treated with initial standard-dose sorafenib.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Niacinamida/análogos & derivados , Compostos de Fenilureia/administração & dosagem , Prognóstico , Idoso , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Niacinamida/administração & dosagem , Niacinamida/efeitos adversos , Compostos de Fenilureia/efeitos adversos , Pontuação de Propensão , Sorafenibe , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to compare clinical outcomes in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent the following treatments: transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using an epirubicin-mitomycin-lipiodol (EML) emulsion at initial therapy (TACE group; n=145), and transcatheter chemotherapy infusion (TACI) using an EML emulsion at initial therapy (TACI group; n=81). Overall survival (OS) and treatment efficacy in the TACE and TACI groups were retrospectively compared. Prognostic factors associated with OS were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Treatment-related mortality was also calculated. The median observation periods were 1.8 years (range, 0.2-9.0 years) in the TACE group and 2.0 years (range, 0.2-8.7 years) in the TACI group. The median survival time and the 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year cumulative OS rates were 2.68 years and 81.5, 63.4, 43.9 and 32.7%, respectively, in the TACE group, and 2.64 years and 85.0, 60.0, 43.2 and 26.0%, respectively, in the TACI group (P=0.691). The objective response rate was significantly higher in the TACE group compared to the TACI group (80.0 vs. 66.7%; P=0.009). Using multivariate analysis, the Child-Pugh classification (P=0.017), tumor number ≤5 (P=0.045) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin level >100 mAU/ml (P=0.002) were found to be significant predictors linked to OS. In all subgroup analyses involving Child-Pugh classification, maximum tumor size and tumor distribution, the differences in the two groups did not reach statistical significance in terms of OS. Treatment mortality was 0% in the two groups. In conclusion, patients with intermediate-stage HCC had a comparable prognosis when treated with TACI or TACE.
Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administração & dosagem , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Quimioembolização Terapêutica/métodos , Infusões Intra-Arteriais/métodos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/mortalidade , Epirubicina/administração & dosagem , Epirubicina/uso terapêutico , Óleo Etiodado/administração & dosagem , Óleo Etiodado/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidade , Masculino , Mitomicina/administração & dosagem , Mitomicina/uso terapêutico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In our previous study, we classified the radicality (R grading) of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to the extent of the ablated margin, and demonstrated that this grading system was useful for predicting local tumor progression (LTP) after RFA. The aim of this study was to measure the overall survival (OS), the recurrence free survival (RFS), and the distant recurrence (DR) rate for each R grade (A-D), and to examine the relationship between clinical outcome and R grading. METHODS: This study involved 368 patients with solitary HCC who had undergone RFA. The mean tumor diameter was 2.0 ± 0.7 cm. We calculated the post-RFA cumulative OS, RFS, and DR rate for each R grade and analyzed the factors contributing to clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, significant factors were as follows: tumor size >2 cm, serum albumin >3.5 g/dL, prothrombin time >70 %, HCC recurrence within 1 year, and R grading (grade A) in OS; cause of liver disease (hepatitis B), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) >80 IU/L, platelet count >10 × 10(4)/mm(3), and R grading (grade A or B) in RFS; GGT >80 IU/L, platelet count >10 × 10(4)/mm(3), and R grading (grade A or B) in DR. In patients with sufficient Lipiodol accumulation (n = 219), very similar results were obtained. However, in patients with grade A and B (n = 232), R grade was not a significant independent factor linked to OS, although grade A patients had lower LTP rate. CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed R grading system appears to be useful for predicting clinical outcomes after RFA.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirurgia , Ablação por Cateter/métodos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirurgia , Idoso , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Meios de Contraste/administração & dosagem , Progressão da Doença , Intervalo Livre de Doença , Óleo Etiodado/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Taxa de Sobrevida , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) of the whole liver using an epirubicin-mitomycin-lipiodol emulsion, prior to radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA), in preventing intrahepatic distant recurrence (IDR) from single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of the 269 consecutive patients who underwent RFA in our institute for single HCC, a total of 182 patients were analyzed in the present study. The primary endpoint was comparison of the post-RFA IDR-free survival rates in patients treated using TAI with an epirubicin-mitomycin-lipiodol emulsion via the proper hepatic artery (TAI-EML) prior to RFA, and patients that received lipiodol infusion-alone prior to RFA. The secondary endpoints were local tumor progression (LTP) and overall survival (OS). Lipiodol infusion-alone prior to RFA was performed in 88 patients and TAI-EML prior to RFA in 94 patients. The mean tumor size was 2.06 cm (range, 0.9-3.2 cm) in the TAI group and 1.97 cm (range, 0.9-3.3 cm) in the lipiodol-alone group, respectively. The cumulative IDR-free survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 74.0, 50.8 and 34.9%, respectively, in the lipiodol-alone group, and 90.8, 74.8 and 70.0%, respectively, in the TAI group (P<0.001). In terms of the OS, there was a significant difference between these two groups (P=0.048), although there was no significant difference in terms of the LTP (P=0.145). We concluded that TAI-EML prior to RFA appears to be useful in reducing post-RFA IDR and may contribute to improved survival rates.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Ablação por Cateter , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/prevenção & controle , Idoso , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/cirurgia , Quimioterapia Adjuvante , Epirubicina/uso terapêutico , Óleo Etiodado/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Infusões Intra-Arteriais , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirurgia , Masculino , Mitomicina/uso terapêutico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, has demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, in the SHARP trial (Sorafenib HCC Assessment Randomized Protocol trial) and the Asia-Pacific trial (conducted in the Asia-Pacific region), no cases of complete response (CR) were reported. Thereafter, only a relatively small number of CR cases were reported worldwide for sorafenib therapy. We herein report a case of CR in a patient treated with sorafenib for 4 months. The patient had advanced HCC with multiple lung metastases, and there has been no recurrence after 8 months following cessation of administration. To our knowledge, this is the first time a female treated with sorafenib alone for HCC has had a CR.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Benzenossulfonatos/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/secundário , Piridinas/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/secundário , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Niacinamida/análogos & derivados , Compostos de Fenilureia , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/uso terapêutico , Indução de Remissão , Sorafenibe , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into target cells is mediated by its envelope protein gp41 through membrane fusion. Interaction of two extra-virion heptad repeats (HRs) in the gp41 plays a pivotal role in the fusion, and its inhibitor, enfuvirtide (T-20), blocks HIV-1 entry. To identify agents that block HIV-1 fusion, two screening methods based on detection and quantification by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) principle have been established. One method uses an alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-conjugated antibody (Ab-ELISA) and the other uses an ALP-fused HR (F-ELISA) to detect and quantify the interaction of the two HRs. The F-ELISA was more simple and rapid, since no ALP-conjugated antibody reaction was required. Both ELISAs detected all the fusion inhibitors tested except for T-20. Interaction of the two HRs was observed in both ELISAs, even in the presence of 10% dimethyl sulfoxide. Ab-ELISA performed best in a pH ranging from 6 to 8, while F-ELISA performed best at a pH ranging from 7 to 8. These results indicate that both established ELISAs are suitable for the identification of HIV-1 fusion inhibitors.