Clinical study on simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the clinical effect of simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis. METHODS: A total of 144 patients with synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis who were admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and January 2019 were randomly assigned into a control group and an intervention group. The patients in the control group received simultaneous resection of liver metastases. The patients in the intervention group obtained simultaneous resection of liver metastases combined with HIPEC. The recent total effective rate of the 2 groups was compared, and the disease control rate of the 2 groups was calculated at 3 months after treatment. The patients were followed up for 3 years. The survival time of the 2 groups was observed and compared. Fasting venous blood was collected from patients in the 2 groups, and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was compared. The level of quality of life scale (Short Form 36-item Health Survey) and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The R0 complete resection rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < .05). The recent total effective rate in the intervention group (87.50%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (59.72%) (P < .05). The negative change of CEA in the intervention group was 72.22%, which was prominently higher than that in the control group of 43.06% (χ2 = 12.542, P < .001). After a 36-month follow-up, the overall survival rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (hazard ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.05-5.48; P < .001). The patients in the intervention group had significantly higher life quality scores of health status, social function, emotional function, physical function, and mental health than in the control group (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the 2 groups (P > .05). Age > 60 years, preoperative comorbidities, moderate and high differentiation of tumors, intraoperative blood loss > 150 mL, and less experienced surgeons were risk factors affecting the occurrence of complications after treatment and were closely correlated with the prognosis and survival of patients (P < .05). Patients with age ≤ 60 years, no preoperative comorbidities, low tumor differentiation, intraoperative blood loss ≤ 150 mL, more experienced surgeons, and complete R0 resection had a longer survival time. Age > 60 years, preoperative comorbidities, moderate and high differentiation of tumors, intraoperative blood loss > 150 mL, and less experienced surgeons were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (P < .05), whereas R0 surgery was an independent protective factor for the prognosis (P < .05). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastases, simultaneous resection of liver metastases in conjunction with HIPEC demonstrated superior efficacy. This approach may potentially extend patient survival and enhance quality of life and deserve to be extensively used in clinical practice.

Osteosarcopenia impacts treatment outcomes for Barcelona Cancer Liver Classification stage A hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To study the effect of preoperative osteosarcopenia (OSP) on the prognosis of treatment (surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA)) in patients with Barcelona Cancer Liver Classification stage A hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC A HCC). METHODS: This study enrolled 102 patients with BCLC A HCC who underwent surgical resection (n = 45) and RFA (n = 57); the patients were divided into two groups: OSP (n = 33) and non-OSP (n = 69). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) curves for both the groups and treatment methods (surgery and RFA) were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Univariate analyses for OS and DFS were performed using log-rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed for factors that were significant at univariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that OSP (HR 2.44; 95 % CI 1.30-4.55; p < 0.01) and treatment (HR 0.57; 95 % CI 0.31-0.99; p = 0.05) were significant independent predictors of DFS; and treatment (HR, 0.30; 95 % CI 0.10-0.85; p = 0.03) was a significant independent predictor of OS in the non-OSP group, in which the OS rate was significantly lower in patients treated with RFA than in those treated by resection (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: OSP is a prognostic factor for BCLC A HCC treatment. Surgical approach was associated with a significantly better prognosis in patients without OSP compared to those who underwent RFA.

Treatment of localized hepatocellular carcinoma: resection vs. ablation vs. radiation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with many patients presenting with local disease. As of date, the use of radiation is not included in the commonly utilized Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification but is in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Radiation can volumetrically cover the entire tumor and with novel technologic advances can be administered non-invasively with excellent clinical outcomes with few adverse events. The gold standard for localized early HCC (such as BCLC-A) is resection or transplantation. In patients who are not candidates for surgical treatment, locoregional therapy should be considered as an optimal therapy for these patients. Tumor ablation techniques such as microwave ablation (MWA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are excellent tools to control local disease or bridge to transplantation. Should these not be possible though then ablation with external beam radiation is also capable of yielding comparable local control and serve as a bridge to transplant without worse rates of adverse events. For tumors that meet Milan criteria for transplantation, in comparison to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), there is considerable randomized evidence demonstrating better local control, less adverse events, better progression-free survival (PFS), and less costly. It can be utilized as a bridge in Barcelona liver class B. For larger localized tumors though (extrahepatic disease or vascular invasion like BCLC-C), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is shown via a randomized clinical trial to have a survival benefit, local control benefit, and no worse adverse events compared to systemic therapy. In this setting, it should be considered the local consolidation standard of care.

Comparing iodized oil with polyvinyl alcohol for portal vein embolization in promoting liver remnant increase before partial hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy and safety of iodized oil versus polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles in portal vein embolization (PVE) before partial hepatectomy. METHODS: From October 2016 to December 2021, 86 patients who planned to undergo hepatectomy after PVE were enrolled, including 61 patients post-PVE with PVA particles + coils and 25 patients post-PVE with iodized oil + coils. All patients underwent CT examination before and 2-3 weeks after PVE to evaluate the future liver remnant (FLR). The intercohort comparison included the degree of liver volume growth, changes in laboratory data, and adverse events. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the resection rate between the iodized oil group and the PVA particle group (68 % vs. 70 %, p = 0.822). In terms of the degree of hypertrophy (9.52 % ± 13.47 vs. 4.03 % ± 10.55, p = 0.047) and kinetic growth rate (4.07 % ± 5.4 vs. 1.55 % ± 4.63, p = 0.032), the iodized oil group was superior to the PVA group. The PVE operation time in the PVA particle group was shorter than that in the iodized oil group (121. 72 min ± 34.45 vs. 156. 2 min ± 71.58, p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in the degree of hypertrophy between the high bilirubin group and the control group (5.32 % ± 9.21 vs. 6.1 % ± 14.79, p = 0.764). Only 1 patient had a major complication. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PVA particles, iodized oil PVE can significantly increase liver volume and the degree of hypertrophy without any significant difference in safety.

Rational design of NIR-II molecule-engineered nanoplatform for preoperative downstaging and imaging-guided surgery of orthotopic hepatic tumor.

Orthotopic advanced hepatic tumor resection without precise location and preoperative downstaging may cause clinical postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Early accurate monitoring and tumor size reduction based on the multifunctional diagnostic-therapeutic integration platform could improve real-time imaging-guided resection efficacy. Here, a Near-Infrared II/Photoacoustic Imaging/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NIR-II/PAI/MRI) organic nanoplatform IRFEP-FA-DOTA-Gd (IFDG) is developed for integrated diagnosis and treatment of orthotopic hepatic tumor. The IFDG is designed rationally based on the core "S-D-A-D-S" NIR-II probe IRFEP modified with folic acid (FA) for active tumor targeting and Gd-DOTA agent for MR imaging. The IFDG exhibits several advantages, including efficient tumor tissue accumulation, good tumor margin imaging effect, and excellent photothermal conversion effect. Therefore, the IFDG could realize accurate long-term monitoring and photothermal therapy non-invasively of the hepatic tumor to reduce its size. Next, the complete resection of the hepatic tumor in situ lesions could be realized by the intraoperative real-time NIR-II imaging guidance. Notably, the preoperative downstaging strategy is confirmed to lower the postoperative recurrence rate of the liver cancer patients under middle and advanced stage effectively with fewer side effects. Overall, the designed nanoplatform demonstrates great potential as a diagnostic-therapeutic integration platform for precise imaging-guided surgical navigation of orthotopic hepatic tumors with a low recurrence rate after surgery, providing a paradigm for diagnosing and treating the advanced tumors in the future clinical translation application.

Combined multiple regional anesthesia for microwave ablation of liver Tumors: Initial experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the feasibility and safety of combined multiple regional anesthesia (CMRA) as a potential strategy to decrease pain and reliance on intravenous analgesics during and after ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (US-guided-MWA) of liver tumors. METHODS: A cohort of 75 patients with a total of 99 liver tumors who underwent US-guided-MWA of liver tumors were enrolled. These patients were randomly allocated into three groups: A, B, and C. Prior to the ablation procedure, Group A patients received a combination of hepatic hilar block (HHB), Transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB), and local anesthesia (LA). Patients in Group B were administered HHB in conjunction with LA, while those in Group C received TAPB and LA. Evaluative parameters included the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, consumption of morphine, incidence of complications, and factors influencing perioperative pain. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent US-guided-MWA. The peak NRS scores for pain during ablation across the three groups were 2.36 ± 1.19, 3.28 ± 1.59, and 4.24 ± 1.42 respectively (P < 0.01), while the count of patients requiring morphine were 4/25, 8/25, and 13/25 respectively (P < 0.01). Postoperative NRS scores for the three groups at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 36-hour intervals demonstrated a pattern of initial increase followed by a decrease, with the order at each interval being: Group A < Group C < Group B. Factors associated with increased pain included larger tumor size, greater number of tumors, and longer procedure and ablation time (P < 0.05). No major complications were recorded across the three groups. CONCLUSION: CMRA offers an effective and safe modality to manage pain during and after US-guided-MWA of liver tumors.

Attenuation of binuclear hepatocytes in the paracancerous liver tissue is associated with short-term recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma post-radical surgery.

Short-term recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radical resection leads to dismal outcomes. To screen high-recurrence risk patients to provide adjuvant treatment is necessary. Herein, based on our previous research, we further focused on the changes in the abundance of binuclear hepatocytes (ABH) in the paracancerous liver tissue to discuss the relationship between the attenuation of binuclear hepatocytes and postoperative short-term recurrence, by combining with the assessment of the value of a reported independent early recurrence risk factor in HCC, protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II). A cohort of 142 paracancerous liver tissues from HCC patients who received radical resection was collected. Binuclear hepatocytes were reduced in the paracancerous liver tissues, compared with the liver tissues from normal donors. ABH was negatively correlated with clinical features such as tumor size, TNM stages, tumor microsatellite formation, venous invasion, and Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, as well as the expression of E2F7 and Anillin, which are two critical regulators concerning the hepatocyte polyploidization. According to the short-term recurrence information, ABH value was laminated, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the relationship between paracancerous ABH and short-term tumor relapse. Simultaneously, the predictive effectiveness of the ABH value was compared with the preoperative PIVKA-II value. As observed, the paracancerous ABH value below 1.5% was found to be an independent risk factor for recurrence. In conclusion, the paracancerous ABH is a credible indicator of short-term recurrence of HCC patients after radical resection, and regular assessment of ABH might help to prevent short-term HCC recurrence.

Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Macroscopic Vascular Invasion in the Era of Modern Molecular Therapy.

It has been reported that patients with macroscopic vascular invasion accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma have a poor prognosis. Modern molecular therapy with multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors has shown promising results in patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma; however, molecular therapy is limited to patients with Child-Pugh class A disease. This review summarizes the present status of surgical therapies, including conversion hepatectomy, for patients with MVI in the developing era of novel molecular therapy. Phase III studies showed patients with macroscopic vascular invasion had significant survival benefits from sorafenib [hazard ratio (HR)=0.68] and regorafenib (HR=0.67) versus placebo, and nivolumab (HR=0.74) versus sorafenib. Lenvatinib and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab showed marginal effects. It is currently widely assumed that molecular therapy alone will not cure the disease but that additional conversion hepatectomy will be required. A response other than progressive disease is essential but a pathological complete response is not always required. A significant randomized controlled trial has already started in China to assess the necessity for conversion hepatectomy after effective atezolizumab plus bevacizumab treatment, and the results are still awaited. According to Japanese national data, upfront hepatectomy can be recommended for patients with initially resectable disease and macroscopic vascular invasion other than for those with tumors in the main portal vein and the inferior vena cava. In addition, adequate adjuvant therapies with hepatic arterial chemotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization may be beneficial but an effective adjuvant molecular therapy is currently unavailable. In conclusion, novel molecular therapies with higher response rates customized to the oncologic characteristics of each hepatocellular carcinoma with macroscopic vascular invasion are needed to increase the likelihood of conversion surgery and improve long-term outcomes.

Increased Incidence of Liver Metastases in Colorectal Versus Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma Peritonectomy Patients Despite Equivocal Survival.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRAdenoCa) and appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AAdenoCa) are diseases of the same histopathological type that metastasise to the liver and peritoneum. In selected subgroups, peritonectomy and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) may be indicated as part of the multimodal treatment plan. However, literature comparing the survival outcomes and preoperative tumour activity and burden of CRAdenoCa and AAdenoCa peritonectomy patients without synchronous liver metastases (sLM) is scarce. Little is also known about the comparative incidence of sLM and metachronous LM (mLM) between CRAdenoCa and AAdenoCa peritonectomy patients. This study aimed to clarify the above. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 684 CRAdenoCa and AAdenoCa primary peritonectomy patients between 2001-2021 was conducted at St George Hospital in Sydney, Australia. RESULTS: Median overall survival (years) was equivocal between CRAdenoCa and AAdenoCa peritonectomy patients (1.7 vs. 1.9, p=0.35). Peritoneal cancer index and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were significantly elevated (25 vs. 9, p<0.0001 and 7.9 vs. 5, p=0.0080) in AAdenoCa versus CRAdenoCa peritonectomy patients without sLM. The incidence of sLM and mLM was increased in CRAdenoCa peritonectomy patients (24% vs. 3.1%, p<0.0001 and 26% vs. 10%, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates similar survival outcomes between CRAdenoCa and AAdenoCa peritonectomy patients. Despite elevated preoperative tumour burden and biological activity in AAdenoCa patients, CRAdenoCa patients had higher rates of sLM and mLM. Further studies are warranted to validate and identify cellular and molecular targets that increase CRAdenoCa's ability to metastasise to the liver.

Prognostic Analysis of Prophylactic Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: a Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). METHODS: We included 198 patients treated from December 2016 to January 2019; of these patients, the 132 who had clinical T4 gastric cancer were divided into a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy group (HIPEC group) and a radical gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection group (control group). Because this study was retrospective, we used propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce selectivity bias; we then assessed risk factors for recurrence and compared prognosis in terms of survival in the gastrectomy and prophylactic HIPEC groups. RESULTS: Prophylactic HIPEC reduced the risk of postoperative peritoneal metastasis (PM: 27.5% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.015) and did not increase the risk of postoperative complications, but there was no significant difference in the effect on hepatic metastases or other distant metastases. Risk factors for recurrence included pT4 staging and positive lymph node metastases. Both disease-free survival (DFS: HR 0.592; 95% CI 0.354-0.990; P = 0.042) and peritoneal recurrence-free survival (PFS: HR 0.314; 95% CI 0.127-0.774; P = 0.008) were better in the prophylactic HIPEC group than in the gastrectomy-only group. In addition, there was no difference in the prognosis of patients between the two groups of raltitrexed (RT) and paclitaxel (PTX) for perfusion dosing. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that prophylactic HIPEC could prevent postoperative PM in patients with AGC and did not increase the incidence of postoperative complications. However, it was not found to be effective in the prevention of other metastases, such as hepatic metastases.

Comparison of RETREAT and CCFSS Scoring Systems for Risk Estimation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Radical Resection.

Objective: RETREAT and CCFSS are two scoring systems specifically designed to predict postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RETREAT and CCFSS are scoring systems designed to predict postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to evaluate and compare the prognostic performance of two scoring systems, RETREAT and CCFSS, for predicting tumor recurrence after radical resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical data of 124 patients with HCC who underwent radical resection at our hospital between March 2017 and February 2020. The patients were categorized into a recurrence group (n = 41) and a non-recurrence group (n = 83) based on whether they experienced recurrence within 3 years of follow-up. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare the clinical characteristics between the two groups and identify factors associated with HCC recurrence. Additionally, we generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the predictive value of the RETREAT and CCFSS scoring systems for predicting HCC recurrence after surgery. Results: Significant differences (P < .05) were found in the postoperative relapse-free survival time, HBsAg positivity, preoperative ALT≥ 40 U/L, preoperative Alb < 40 g/L, pericardial invasion, RETREAT score, and CCFSS score between the two groups. A multi-factor logistic regression analysis was performed between postoperative relapse in HCC patients and HBsAg positivity, preoperative ALT ≥ 40U/L, preoperative Alb<40g/L, pericardial invasion, RETREAT score, and CCFSS score grading as independent variables. The analysis revealed that HBsAg positivity (OR = 6.039, 95%CI: 2.994~12.182), preoperative ALT ≥ 40 U/L (OR = 3.738, 95%CI: 2.016-6.931), preoperative Alb< 40g/L (OR = 3.655, 95%CI: 2.083-6.415), envelope invasion (OR = 3.119, 95%CI: 1.922-5.061), RETREAT score (OR = 6.867, 95%CI: 3.204-14.719), and CCFSS score (OR = 3.228, 95%CI: 1.951-5.342) were significant factors influencing postoperative recurrence in HCC patients (P < .05). The RETREAT score had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.853, with a sensitivity of 89.23% and a specificity of 93.87% (95%CI: 0.7567-0.950), while the AUC of the CCFSS score for predicting postoperative recurrence in HCC patients was 0.741, with a sensitivity of 78.57% and a specificity of 60.71% (95%CI: 0.609-0.873). Among the factors analyzed, including postoperative relapse-free survival time, HBsAg positivity, preoperative ALT≥ 40 U/L, preoperative Alb < 40 g/L, pericardial invasion, RETREAT score, and CCFSS score, statistically significant differences were observed between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups (P < .05). Conclusion: The RETREAT score demonstrates higher efficacy compared to the CCFSS score in predicting postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and can serve as a valuable tool for the prognostic evaluation of HCC patients who undergo radical resection. The RETREAT score's superiority can be attributed to its higher area under the curve (AUC) and improved sensitivity and specificity, which allow for better discrimination between positive and negative cases. This enhanced accuracy enables clinicians to make more informed decisions towards post-surgical management and treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Thus, the RETREAT score serves as a vital tool for personalized and targeted care towards HCC patients undergoing radical resection.

Comparison of different adjuvant therapy regimen efficacies in patients with high risk of recurrence after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high recurrence rate even after radical surgery. Postoperative adjuvant transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (PA-TACE), postoperative adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (PA-HAIC), postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PA-RT), and postoperative adjuvant molecular targeted therapy have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the postoperative recurrence rate. The present network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of PA-TACE, PA-HAIC, PA-RT and postoperative adjuvant molecular targeted therapy on the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients after radical resection and to determine the optimal treatment strategy. METHODS: Network meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were used to collect eligible studies up to December 25, 2022. Studies related to PA-TACE, PA-HAIC, and postoperative adjuvant molecular targeted therapy after radical HCC resection was included. The endpoints were OS and DFS, and the effect size was determined using hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval. R software and "gemtc" package were employed to analyze the results. RESULTS: A total of 38 studies involving 7079 patients with HCC after radical resection were ultimately enrolled to be analyzed. Four postoperative adjuvant therapy measures and two oncology indicators were evaluated. In this study, OS-related investigations validated that PA-Sorafenib and PA-RT markedly enhanced the OS rates in patients after radical resection when compared to PA-TACE and PA-HAIC. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between PA-Sorafenib and PA-RT, as well as PA-TACE and PA-HAIC. In the DFS-related investigations, PA-RT demonstrated superior efficacy over PA-Sorafenib, PA-TACE, and PA-HAIC. Additionally, PA-Sorafenib displayed better efficacy than PA-TACE. Nevertheless, there was no statistical significance between PA-Sorafenib and PA-HAIC, as well as PA-TACE and PA-HAIC. We also performed a subgroup analysis of studies focusing on HCC complicated by microvascular invasion after radical resection. In terms of OS, both PA-RT and PA-Sorafenib demonstrated a noteworthy improvement over PA-TACE, whereas no statistical significance was detected between PA-RT and PA-Sorafenib. Likewise, for DFS, both PA-Sorafenib and PA-RT exhibited superior efficacy compared to PA-TACE. CONCLUSION: In patients with HCC after radical resection and a high risk of recurrence, both PA-Sorafenib and PA-RT significantly improved OS and DFS when compared to PA-TACE and PA-HAIC. Notably, PA-RT exhibited superior efficacy over PA-Sorafenib, PA-TACE, and PA-HAIC in terms of DFS. Similarly, PA-Sorafenib appeared to be more effective than PA-TACE for DFS.

Complications and local recurrence of malignant liver tumor after ablation in risk areas: a retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective local treatment for malignant liver tumors; however, its efficacy and safety for liver tumors adjacent to important organs are debatable. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three cases with liver tumors adjacent to important organs were the risk group and 66 cases were the control group. The complications between two groups were compared by chi-square test and t-test. Local tumor recurrence (LTR) was analyzed by log-rank test. Factors affecting complications were analyzed by logistic regression and Spearman analyses. Factors affecting LTR were analyzed by Cox regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic curve predicted pain treated with drugs and LTR. RESULTS: We found no significant difference in complications and LTR between two groups. The risk group experienced lower ablation energy and more antennas per tumor than control group. Necrosis volume after MWA was positively correlated with pain; necrosis volume and ablation time were positively correlated with recovery duration. Major diameter of tumor >3 cm increased risk of LTR by 3.319-fold, good lipiodol deposition decreased risk of LTR by 73.4%. The area under the curve (AUC) for necrosis volume in predicting pain was 0.74, with a 69.1 cm3 cutoff. AUC for major diameter of tumor in predicting LTR was 0.68, with a 27.02 mm cutoff. CONCLUSION: MWA on liver tumors in at-risk areas is safe and effective, this is largely affected by proper ablation energy, antennas per tumor, and experienced doctors. LTR is primarily determined by major diameter of tumor and lipiodol deposition status.

Postoperative adjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with anti-PD-1 antibodies improves surgical outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma with high-risk recurrent factors.

Background: The clinical value of postoperative adjuvant therapy (PAT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of PAT with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-PD-1 antibodies on the surgical outcomes of HCC patients with high-risk recurrent factors (HRRFs). Methods: HCC patients who underwent radical hepatectomy at Tongji Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled, and those with HRRFs were divided into PAT group and non-PAT group. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups after propensity score matching (PSM). Prognostic factors associated with RFS and OS were determined by Cox regression analysis, and subgroup analysis was also conducted. Results: A total of 250 HCC patients were enrolled, and 47 pairs of patients with HRRFs in the PAT and non-PAT groups were matched through PSM. After PSM, the 1- and 2-year RFS rates in the two groups were 82.1% vs. 40.0% (P < 0.001) and 54.2% vs. 25.1% (P = 0.012), respectively. The corresponding 1- and 2-year OS rates were 95.4% vs. 69.8% (P = 0.001) and 84.3% vs. 55.5% (P = 0.014), respectively. Multivariable analyses indicated that PAT was an independent factor related to improving RFS and OS. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that HCC patients with tumor diameter > 5 cm, satellite nodules, or vascular invasion could significantly benefit from PAT in RFS and OS. Common grade 1-3 toxicities, such as pruritus (44.7%), hypertension (42.6%), dermatitis (34.0%), and proteinuria (31.9%) were observed, and no grade 4/5 toxicities or serious adverse events occurred in patients receiving PAT. Conclusions: PAT with TKIs and anti-PD-1 antibodies could improve surgical outcomes for HCC patients with HRRFs.

Glutamine synthetase-negative hepatocellular carcinoma has better prognosis and response to sorafenib treatment after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Glutamine synthetase (GS) and arginase 1 (Arg1) are widely used pathological markers that discriminate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; however, their clinical significance in HCC remains unclear. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 431 HCC patients: 251 received hepatectomy alone, and the other 180 received sorafenib as adjuvant treatment after hepatectomy. Expression of GS and Arg1 in tumor specimens was evaluated using immunostaining. mRNA sequencing and immunostaining to detect progenitor markers (cytokeratin 19 [CK19] and epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM]) and mutant TP53 were also conducted. RESULTS: Up to 72.4% (312/431) of HCC tumors were GS positive (GS+). Of the patients receiving hepatectomy alone, GS negative (GS-) patients had significantly better overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than GS+ patients; negative expression of Arg1, which is exclusively expressed in GS- hepatocytes in the healthy liver, had a negative effect on prognosis. Of the patients with a high risk of recurrence who received additional sorafenib treatment, GS- patients tended to have better RFS than GS+ patients, regardless of the expression status of Arg1. GS+ HCC tumors exhibit many features of the established proliferation molecular stratification subtype, including poor differentiation, high alpha-fetoprotein levels, increased progenitor tumor cells, TP53 mutation, and upregulation of multiple tumor-related signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: GS- HCC patients have a better prognosis and are more likely to benefit from sorafenib treatment after hepatectomy. Immunostaining of GS may provide a simple and applicable approach for HCC molecular stratification to predict prognosis and guide targeted therapy.

[Specimen extraction through natural orifices with Cai tubes in gastrointestinal surgery: a single-institute series of 234 cases].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of Cai tube-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This was a descriptive case-series study. Inclusion criteria: (1) colorectal or gastric cancer diagnosed by preoperative pathological examination or redundant sigmoid or transverse colon detected by barium enema; (2) indications for laparoscopic surgery; (3) body mass index <30 kg/m2 (transanal surgery) and 35 kg/m2 (transvaginal surgery); (4) no vaginal stenosis or adhesions in female patients undergoing transvaginal specimen extraction; and (5) patients with redundant colon aged 18-70 years and a history of intractable constipation for more than 10 years. Exclusion criteria: (1) colorectal cancer with intestinal perforation or obstruction, or gastric cancer with gastric perforation, gastric hemorrhage, or pyloric obstruction; (2) simultaneous resection of lung, bone, or liver metastases ; (3) history of major abdominal surgery or intestinal adhesions; and (4) incomplete clinical data. From January 2014 to October 2022, 209 patients with gastrointestinal tumors and 25 with redundant colons who met the above criteria were treated by NOSES utilizing a Cai tube (China invention patent number:ZL201410168748.2) in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University. The procedures included eversion and pull-out NOSES radical resection in 14 patients with middle and low rectal cancer, NOSES radical left hemicolectomy in 171 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer, NOSES radical right hemicolectomy in 12 patients with right-sided colon cancer, NOSES systematic mesogastric resection in 12 patients with gastric cancer, and NOSES subtotal colectomy in 25 patients with redundant colons. All specimens were collected by using an in-house-made anal cannula (Cai tube) with no auxiliary incisions. The primary outcomes included 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and postoperative complications. Results: Among 234 patients, 116 were male and 118 were female. The mean age was (56.6±10.9) years. NOSES was successfully completed in all patients without conversion to open surgery or procedure-related death. The negative rate of circumferential resection margin was 98.8% (169/171) with both two positive cases having left-sided colorectal cancer. Postoperative complications occurred in 37 patients (15.8%), including 11 cases (4.7%) of anastomotic leakage, 3 cases(1.3%) of anastomotic bleeding, 2 cases (0.9%) of intraperitoneal bleeding, 4 cases (1.7%) of abdominal infection, and 8 cases (3.4%) of pulmonary infection. Reoperations were required in 7 patients (3.0%), all of whom consented to creation of an ileostomy after anastomotic leakage. The total readmission rate within 30 days after surgery was 0.9% (2/234). After a follow-up of (18.3±3.6) months, the 1-year RFS was 94.7%. Five of 209 patients (2.4%) with gastrointestinal tumors had local recurrence, all of which was anastomotic recurrence. Sixteen patients (7.7%) developed distant metastases, including liver metastases(n=8), lung metastases(n=6), and bone metastases (n=2). Conclusion: NOSES assisted by Cai tube is feasible and safe in radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors and subtotal colectomy for redundant colon.

Thermal ablation of ultrasound and non-contrast computed tomography invisible primary and secondary liver tumors: targeting by selective intra-arterial lipiodol injection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the technical feasibility and outcomes of thermal ablation following selective intra-arterial lipiodol injection (SIALI) for targeting primary and secondary liver tumors invisible on ultrasound (US) and non-contrast computed tomography (CT). METHODS: This retrospective study included 18 patients with 20 tumors (67% male, mean age 60.8 ± 12.1 years). The 20 tumors included 15 liver metastases and 5 hepatocellular carcinomas. All patients underwent single-session SIALI and subsequent CT-guided thermal ablation. The primary outcome was a technical success, defined as visualization of the tumor after SIALI and successful thermal ablation. Secondary outcomes were local recurrence rate and procedure-related complications. RESULTS: The median tumor size was 1.5 (1-2.5) cm. In addition, SIALI was performed with a median volume of 3 (1-10) mL of lipiodol resulting in intra-tumoral iodized oil accumulation in 19 tumors and negative imprint with iodized oil accumulation of the surrounding liver parenchyma in 1 tumor. The technical success rate was 100%. No local occurrence was observed at a mean follow-up time of 3 ± 2.5 years. CONCLUSION: SIALI to tag liver tumors not visible with US and non-contrast CT before percutaneous ablation is highly feasible and has a high success rate for the treatment of both primary and secondary liver tumors.

[A Case of Recurrent Rectal Cancer with Acute Lower Extremity Arterial Occlusion during Treatment with Bevacizumab].

The patient was 40s male, who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection for his upper rectal cancer with final pathology results of tub2, pT3(SS), no lymph metastasis and fStage Ⅱ. He was followed up without adjuvant chemotherapy. Half a year after surgery, tumor marker was elevated and CT scan revealed multiple liver metastases. He was treated with oxaliplatin, irinotecan, Leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil(FOLFOXIRI)plus bevacizumab because of RAS mutant type. In the third courses, he has pain in the lower extremities and was diagnosed with acute lower extremity arterial occlusion. Subsequently, chemotherapy was resumed with the exception of bevacizumab, in combination with DOAC, which resulted in tumor shrinkage and allowed resection of the liver metastases.

Laser Interstitial Thermotherapy in Surgical Treatment of Vascular Anomalies.

The effects of subcooled boiling of water and blood in the experimental cuvette and rabbit hepatic vessels under the influence of optical fiber-guided continuous IR laser radiation (1.94 µm) were studied using optical methods and ultrasonic diagnostics near the tip of the laser optical fiber. The liver was chosen as a model of vascular abnormality with a conglomerate of blood vessels. In the proposed approach, modification (obliteration and coagulation) of the vascular anomalies occurred as a result of intense subcooled boiling of the blood with generation of heated submerged jets.

Survival Outcomes of Optimally Treated Colorectal Metastases: The Importance of R0 Status in Surgical Treatment of Hepatic and Peritoneal Surface Disease.

BACKGROUND: Although colorectal hepatic metastases (HM) and peritoneal surface disease (PSD) are distinct biologic diseases, they may have similar long-term survival when optimally treated with surgery. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed prospectively managed databases. Patients undergoing R0 or R1 resections were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression. Survival was compared over time for the following periods: 1993-2006, 2007-2012, and 2013-2020. RESULTS: The study enrolled 783 HM patients undergoing liver resection and 204 PSD patients undergoing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Compared with PSD patients, HM patients more often had R0 resections (90.3% vs. 32.4%), less often had pre-procedure chemotherapy (52.4% vs. 92.1%), and less often were functionally independent (79.7% vs. 95.6%). The 5-year overall survival for HM was 40.9%, with a median survival period of 45.8 months versus 25.8% and 33.4 months, respectively, for PSD (p < 0.05). When stratified by resection status, R0 HM and R0 PSD did not differ significantly in median survival (49.0 vs. 45.4 months; p = 0.83). The median survival after R1 resection also was similar between HM and PSD (32.6 vs. 26.9 months; p = 0.59). Survival between the two groups again was similar over time when stratified by resection status. The predictors of survival for HM patients were R0 resection, number of lesions, intraoperative transfusion, age, and adjuvant chemotherapy. For the PSD patients, the predictors were peritoneal cancer index (PCI) score, estimated blood loss (EBL), and female gender. CONCLUSION: The study showed that R0 resections are associated with improved outcomes and that median survival is similar between HM and PSD patients when it is achieved. Surveillance and treatment strategies that facilitate R0 resections are needed to improve results, particularly for PSD.