Safety and Efficacy of TIPS as a Bridge to Liver Transplantation in Two Cases of Severely High MELD Patients With Variceal Bleeding.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is well established as a salvage therapy for refractory esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH). A more controversial issue is the upper limit of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores at which this procedure can be performed safely. We present 2 cases of TIPS performed for EVH in patients with severely high MELD scores as a successful intervention for hemostatic and hemodynamic stabilization, and as a bridge to urgent liver transplantation. Both patients had endoscopically confirmed EVH with high blood product transfusion and vasopressor needs despite standard medical therapy. Each received narrow bore TIPS at MELD 42 and 44, respectively, with subsequent resolution of hemorrhage despite worsening synthetic liver function. Detrimental consequences of metabolic acidosis associated with minimal residual hepatic function were avoided via continuous renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation, with a goal to maintain cardiopulmonary stability and favorable acid base balance. Liver transplant followed TIPS 4 and 3 days, respectively, with both patients maintaining good functional status at discharge. Both cases suggest that in patients deemed otherwise appropriate for liver transplantation, a severely high MELD score alone should not preclude TIPS as salvage therapy for refractory EVH bleeds.

Evaluation of Medium-Term Efficacy of Y90 Radiation Segmentectomy vs Percutaneous Microwave Ablation in Patients with Solitary Surgically Unresectable < 4 cm Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matched Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Y90 radiation segmentectomy (RS) vs. percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in patients with solitary HCC ≤ 4 cm. METHODS: From 2014 to 2017, 68 consecutive treatment naïve patients were included (34 per treatment arm). Chi-square and t-test were used to evaluate differences in baseline demographics between groups. Objective response was evaluated using mRECIST and toxicity using CTCAE. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) in the targeted tumor and the remainder of liver from initial treatment was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimation. Propensity score matching was then performed with n = 24 patients matched in each group. Similar outcome analysis was then pre-formed. RESULTS: In the overall study population, both groups had similar baseline characteristics with the exception of larger lesions in the RS group. There was no difference in toxicity, objective tumor response, OS and non-target liver PFS between the MWA and RS group (p's > 0.05). In the matched cohort, the objective tumor response was 82.6% in MWA vs. 90.9%% in RS (p = 0.548). The mean OS in the MWA group (44.3 months) vs RS (59.0 months; p = 0.203). The targeted tumor mean PFS for the MWA groups was 38.6 months vs. 57.8 months in RS group (p = 0.005). There was no difference overall PFS and toxicity between the 2 matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest Y90 RS achieves similar tumor response and OS with a similar safety compared to MWA in the management of HCC lesions ≤ 4 cm. Additionally, targeted tumor PFS appears to be prolonged in the RS group with similar non-target liver PFS between RS and MWA group.

Predictors of Survival after Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of Chemotherapy-Refractory Hepatic Metastases from Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine predictors of survival after transarterial radioembolization of hepatic metastases from breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with chemotherapy-refractory hepatic metastases from breast cancer who underwent radioembolization from 2013 to 2018 were evaluated based on various demographic and clinical factors before and after treatment. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank analysis was performed to determine predictors of prolonged OS from the time of first radioembolization and first hepatic metastasis diagnosis. RESULTS: Median OS times were 35.4 and 48.6 months from first radioembolization and time of hepatic metastasis diagnosis, respectively. Radioembolization within 6 months of hepatic metastasis diagnosis was a positive predictor of survival from first radioembolization, with median OS of 38.9 months vs 22.1 months for others (P = .033). Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive status predicted prolonged survival (38.6 months for ER+ vs 5.4 months for ER-; P = .005). The presence of abdominal pain predicted poor median OS: 12.8 months vs 38.6 months for others (P < .001). The presence of ascites was also a negative predictor of OS (1.7 months vs 35.4 months for others; P = .037), as was treatment-related grade ≥ 2 toxicity at 3 months (5.4 months vs 38.6 months for others; P = .017). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with metastatic breast cancer, radioembolization within 6 months of hepatic metastasis diagnosis and ER+ status appear to be positive predictors of prolonged survival. Conversely, baseline abdominal pain, baseline ascites, and treatment-related grade ≥ 2 toxicity at 3 months after treatment appear to be negative predictors of OS.

Predictors of Overall and Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Ocular Melanoma Metastatic to the Liver Undergoing Y90 Radioembolization.

PURPOSE: To investigate predictors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver undergoing yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization, including the effect of concurrent immunotherapy. METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective review of 24 patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver who underwent Y-90 treatment between June 2003 and January 2018 was performed. Data regarding patients' performance status at the time of Y90, intra-/extrahepatic tumor burden, and treatment response were evaluated. RECIST was used to determine objective tumor response. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate OS and PFS from the first Y90 therapy. Log-rank analysis was used to determine predictors of prolonged OS and PFS. RESULTS: Median OS from primary diagnosis and diagnosis of liver metastases was 66 months (mo) and 26.3 mo, respectively. Median OS for those who received immunotherapy within 3 months of undergoing Y90 was prolonged at 26.0 mo versus 9.5 mo for others (p = 0.014). Median OS for patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 was prolonged at 26 mo versus 5.5 mo for others (p = 0.003). Median hepatic PFS was prolonged in patients treated with Y-90 on concurrent immunotherapy at 10.3 mo versus 2.7 mo for TARE only (p = 0.002). Patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 had prolonged PFS (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent immunotherapy and an ECOG performance status of 0 at the time of Y90 therapy appear to be predictors of prolonged OS and PFS in patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver.

Incidence of Radioembolization-Induced Liver Disease and Liver Toxicity Following Repeat 90Y-Radioembolization: Outcomes at a Large Tertiary Care Center.

PURPOSE: The complication profile following repeat Y-radioembolization (RE) is not well understood, and repeat RE is sometimes avoided because of concerns for RE-induced liver disease (REILD) and liver toxicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of REILD and liver toxicity following repeat Y-RE and to identify potential risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing repeat RE to the same hepatic lobe between 2013 and 2018 was performed. Baseline factors were evaluated as predictors of liver toxicity, mortality, and REILD, which was defined as the presence symptomatic ascites or jaundice in the absence of biliary obstruction within 8 weeks following RE. Post-RE complications were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients underwent repeat RE with 14 (35.9%) experiencing Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events toxicity of grade 2 or greater, 3 (10.3%) grade 3, and no grade 4 or greater. A Model for End Stage Liver Disease score of 8 or greater was associated with grade 2 toxicity or greater (26.7% vs 75%; P = 0.013). Only 3 patients (7.7%) experienced REILD due to symptomatic ascites without jaundice. Greater than 2 REs were associated with a greater rate of 6-month mortality (12% vs 58.3%, P = 0.003), 12-month mortality (28% vs 75%, P = 0.007), and REILD (0% vs 21.4%, P = 0.016). Age, sex, microsphere type, cirrhosis, Child-Pugh, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status were not significantly associated with complications, REILD, or survival. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat Y-RE appears to be well tolerated with a low rate of high-grade adverse events and REILD.