Extensive splanchnic vein thrombosis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A Vascular Liver Disease Group (VALDIG) initiative.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, several cases of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) have been described, especially cerebral vein thrombosis. We aimed to retrospectively collect all new cases of acute onset first or recurrent splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) following a recent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination within the Vascular Liver Disease Group network. APPROACH AND RESULTS: New cases of SVT were identified from April 2021 to April 2022; follow-up was completed on December 31, 2022. Criteria to define VITT were derived from previous studies. Data from a pre-COVID cohort of patients with SVT (N=436) were used for comparison of clinical presentation, etiology, and outcome. Twenty-nine patients were identified with SVT occurring with a median of 11 days (range 2-76) after the first (48%), second (41%), or third (10%) vaccination (ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (n=12) or BNT162b2 (n=14), other (n=3) Only 2 patients(7%) fulfilled criteria for definite VITT. Twenty (69%) had SVT at multiple sites, including 4 (14%) with concomitant extra-abdominal thrombosis. Only 28% had an underlying prothrombotic condition, compared to 52% in the pre-COVID SVT cohort ( p =0.01). Five patients (17%) underwent bowel resection for mesenteric ischemia, compared with 3% in pre-COVID SVT ( p <0.001). Two patients died shortly after diagnosis (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Although definite VITT was rare, in 72% of cases, no other cause for SVT could be identified following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. These cases were different from patients with nonvaccine-related SVT, with lower incidence of prothrombotic conditions, higher rates of bowel ischemia, and poorer outcome. Although SVT after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is rare in absolute terms, these data remain relevant considering ongoing revaccination programs.

Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A limited number of drugs are used as standard or alternative therapies in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). No specific recommendations are available for patients failing to respond to these therapies. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with AIH. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective study of 42 patients with AIH who received infliximab at 21 liver centers in 12 countries. Patients were categorized according to the reason for infliximab therapy. Patients in group 1 (n=20) had failed standard, second-line (mycophenolate mofetil and 6-mercaptopurine) or third-line (tacrolimus or cyclosporine) therapy. In group 2 (n=22), infliximab was given for treatment of concomitant extrahepatic autoimmune diseases. Patients received a median of 17 (range: 3-104) infliximab infusions. Complete biochemical response (CR) was achieved or maintained in 33 (78%) patients during infliximab therapy. In group 1, infliximab induced CR in 11 of 20 (55%) patients. In group 2, 16 patients with CR prior to infliximab maintained remission, and the remaining 6 patients with active AIH (5 on standard and 1 on both second-line and third-line therapy) showed CR following infliximab therapy. Infliximab led to CR in 75% (6/8) of nonresponders to second-line and in 46% (6/13) of failing third-line therapy. Overall, 65% (17/26) of the patients with active AIH achieved CR on infliximab. Infliximab was discontinued in 3 patients of group 1. One patient had a severe allergic reaction and 2 developed anti-infliximab autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that infliximab may be an effective and safe rescue therapy in AIH.

Recurrent splanchnic and extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in patients with non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis associated with local factors.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: One-third of non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) cases are associated with local factors. The risk of rethrombosis after anticoagulation withdrawal is unknown. We aimed to determine factors associated with new splanchnic or extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in this setting. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study including cases of recent NCPVT associated with local factors. High- and low-risk prothrombotic factors, prespecified according to RIPORT study criteria, were assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox models assessed the influence of different variables on the occurrence of new thrombotic events. RESULTS: At baseline, 83/154 (53.9%) patients had at least one prothrombotic factor including 50 (32.5%) with a high-risk and 33 (21.4%) with a low-risk prothrombotic factor. Oestrogen-containing contraception was discontinued in all patients. During follow-up, 63/140 (45%) patients had at least one prothrombotic factor, including 47 (33.6%) with a high-risk and 16 (11.4%) with a low-risk prothrombotic factor. Seventeen new thrombotic events occurred after a median follow-up of 52 (IQR 14-62) (min-max 3.0-69.0) months. New thromboses were associated with high-risk factors (hazard ratio [HR] 3.817, 95% CI 1.303-11.180, p = 0.015), but were inversely related to recanalization (HR 0.222, 95% CI 0.078-0.635, p = 0.005) and anticoagulation (HR 0.976, 95% CI 0.956-0.995, p = 0.016). When a high-risk factor was present a new thrombotic event occurred in 7.4%, 14.6%, 14.6% and 28.8% of patients at 1, 3, 5 and 7 years under anticoagulants, respectively, compared to 21.2%, 21.2%, 58% and 58% without anticoagulants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of recent NCPVT associated with local factors, high-risk factors for thrombosis are associated with new thrombotic events. Permanent anticoagulation appears beneficial in this high-risk situation. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: In non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) associated with local factors, systematic screening for prothrombotic factors is recommended, but the prevalence of the latter is not clearly established, and the risk of recurrent intra or extrasplanchnic thromboembolism is poorly described. Thus, interest in permanent anticoagulation remains. NCPVT associated with local factors is a matter of concern for hepatologists, gastroenterologists and digestive surgeons. Due to a lack of knowledge, practices are heterogeneous. Our findings highlight that systematic screening for prothrombotic factors in NCPVT is needed even when associated with local factors, as it may justify long-term anticoagulation for the prevention of new intra or extrasplanchnic thrombotic events in at least one-third of cases. The interest in long-term anticoagulation should be investigated prospectively in the absence of high-risk prothrombotic factors. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT0536064.

Artificial intelligence-based pathology as a biomarker of sensitivity to atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical benefits of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezolizumab-bevacizumab) are observed only in a subset of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and the development of biomarkers is needed to improve therapeutic strategies. The atezolizumab-bevacizumab response signature (ABRS), assessed by molecular biology profiling techniques, has been shown to be associated with progression-free survival after treatment initiation. The primary objective of our study was to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model able to estimate ABRS expression directly from histological slides, and to evaluate if model predictions were associated with progression-free survival. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective study, we developed a model (ABRS-prediction; ABRS-P), which was derived from the previously published clustering-constrained attention multiple instance learning (or CLAM) pipeline. We trained the model fit for regression analysis using a multicentre dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (patients treated by surgical resection, n=336). The ABRS-P model was externally validated on two independent series of samples from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (a surgical resection series, n=225; and a biopsy series, n=157). The predictive value of the model was further tested in a series of biopsy samples from a multicentre cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab (n=122). All samples in the study were from adults (aged ≥18 years). The validation sets were sampled between Jan 1, 2008, to Jan 1, 2023. For the multicentre validation set, the primary objective was to assess the association of high versus low ABRS-P values, defined relative to cross-validation median split thresholds in the first biopsy series, with progression-free survival after treatment initiation. Finally, we performed spatial transcriptomics and matched prediction heatmaps with in situ expression profiles. FINDINGS: Of the 840 patients sampled, 641 (76%) were male and 199 (24%) were female. Across the development and validation datasets, hepatocellular carcinoma risk factors included alcohol intake, hepatitis B and C virus infections, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Using cross-validation in the development series, the mean Pearson's correlation between ABRS-P values and ABRS score (mean expression of ABRS genes) was r=0·62 (SD 0·09; mean p<0·0001, SD<0·0001). The ABRS-P generalised well on the external validation series (surgical resection series, r=0·60 [95% CI 0·51-0·68], p<0·0001; biopsy series, r=0·53 [0·40-0·63], p<0·0001). In the 122 patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab, those with ABRS-P-high tumours (n=74) showed significantly longer median progression-free survival than those with ABRS-P-low tumours (n=48) after treatment initiation (12 months [95% CI 7-not reached] vs 7 months [4-9]; p=0·014). Spatial transcriptomics showed significantly higher ABRS score, along with upregulation of various other immune effectors, in tumour areas with high ABRS-P values versus areas with low ABRS-P values. INTERPRETATION: Our study indicates that AI applied on hepatocellular carcinoma digital slides is able to serve as a biomarker for progression-free survival in patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab. This approach could be used in the development of inexpensive and fast biomarkers for targeted therapies. The combination of AI heatmaps with spatial transcriptomics provides insight on the molecular features associated with predictions. This methodology could be applied to other cancers or diseases and improve understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive responses to treatments. FUNDING: Institut National du Cancer, Fondation ARC, China Scholarship Council, Ligue Contre le Cancer du Val de Marne, Fondation de l'Avenir, Ipsen, and Fondation Bristol Myers Squibb Pour la Recherche en Immuno-Oncologie.

Plain language summary of the HIMALAYA study: tremelimumab and durvalumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: This is a summary of results from a phase 3 clinical study called HIMALAYA. HIMALAYA looked at treatment with one dose of a medication called tremelimumab combined with multiple doses of a medication called durvalumab (the STRIDE regimen) or multiple doses of durvalumab alone. These treatments were compared with a medication called sorafenib in participants with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is a type of liver cancer that is difficult to treat because it is often diagnosed when it is unresectable, meaning it can no longer be removed with surgery. Sorafenib has been the main treatment for unresectable HCC since 2007. However, people who take sorafenib may experience side effects that can reduce their quality of life, so alternative medicines are being trialed. Tremelimumab and durvalumab are types of drugs called immunotherapies, and they both work in different ways to help the body's immune system fight cancer. WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY?: Participants who took STRIDE lived longer than participants who took sorafenib, whilst participants who took durvalumab alone lived a similar length of time as participants who took sorafenib. Participants who took STRIDE or durvalumab had a lower relative risk of experiencing worsening in their quality of life than participants who took sorafenib. The side effects that participants who received STRIDE or durvalumab experienced were expected for these types of treatments and could mostly be managed. WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY MEAN?: Overall, STRIDE is more effective than sorafenib for people with unresectable HCC.

Early liver transplantation for corticosteroid non-responders with acute severe autoimmune hepatitis: The SURFASA score.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In acute severe autoimmune hepatitis (AS-AIH), the optimal timing for liver transplantation (LT) remains controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine early predictive factors for a non-response to corticosteroids and to propose a score to identify patients in whom LT is urgently indicated. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study (2009-2016). A diagnosis of AS-AIH was based on: i) Definite or probable AIH based on the simplified IAIHG score; ii) international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.5 and/or bilirubin >200 µmol/L; iii) No previous history of AIH; iv) Histologically proven AIH. A treatment response was defined as LT-free survival at 90 days. The evolution of variables from corticosteroid initiation (day-D0) to D3 was estimated from: Δ%3 = (D3-D0)/D0. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included, with a median age of 52 (39-62) years; 72% were female. Overall survival reached 88%. One hundred and fifteen (90%) patients received corticosteroids, with a LT-free survival rate of 66% at 90 days. Under multivariate analysis, D0-INR (odds ratio [OR] 6.85; 95% CI 2.23-21.06; p <0.001), Δ%3-INR ≥0.1% (OR 6.97; 95% CI 1.59-30.46; p <0.01) and Δ%3-bilirubin ≥-8% (OR 5.14; 95% CI 1.09-24.28; p <0.04) were predictive of a non-response. The SURFASA score: -6.80+1.92∗(D0-INR)+1.94∗(Δ%3-INR)+1.64∗(Δ%3-bilirubin), created by combining these variables, was highly predictive of LT or death (AUC = 0.93) (88% specificity; 84% sensitivity) with a cut-off point of <-0.9. Below this cut-off, the chance of responding was 75%. With a score higher than 1.75, the risk of dying or being transplanted was between 85% and 100%. CONCLUSION: In patients with AS-AIH, INR at the introduction of corticosteroids and the evolution of INR and bilirubin are predictive of LT or death. Within 3 days of initiating corticosteroids, the SURFASA score can identify non-responders who require a referral for LT. This score needs to be validated in a prospective cohort. LAY SUMMARY: The management of patients with acute severe autoimmune hepatitis is highly challenging, particularly regarding their early referral for liver transplantation. We found that international normalized ratio at the initiation of corticosteroid therapy and the evolution of international normalized ratio and bilirubin values after 3 days of therapy were highly predictive of liver transplantation or death. We are thus proposing a score that combines these variables and identifies patients in whom liver transplantation is urgently required.

Pregnancy in idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension: A multicentric study on maternal and fetal management and outcome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A total of 15% of patients with idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) are women of childbearing age. We aimed to determine maternal and fetal outcome of pregnancies occurring in women with INCPH. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the charts of women with INCPH followed in the centers of the VALDIG network, having had ≥1 pregnancy during the follow-up of their liver disease. Data are represented as median (interquartile range). RESULTS: A total of 24 pregnancies occurred in 16 women within 24 (5-66) months after INCPH diagnosis. Four women had associated partial portal vein thrombosis before pregnancy. At conception, 2 out of the 16 women had detectable ascites and others were asymptomatic. Out of these 24 pregnancies, there were four miscarriages, one ectopic pregnancy, and one medical termination of pregnancy at 20 weeks of gestation. Out of the 18 other pregnancies reaching 20 weeks of gestation (in 14 patients), there were nine preterm and nine term deliveries. All infants were healthy at delivery, but one died at day 1 of unknown cause and one at day 22 of infectious meningitis; both were preterm. Concerning mothers, two had worsening of ascites, two had variceal bleeding despite non-selective betablockers during pregnancy and one developed a main portal vein thrombosis in early postpartum. Genital bleeding occurred in three patients, including two receiving anticoagulation. All 16 women were alive and asymptomatic after a median follow-up of 27 (9-93) months after last delivery. CONCLUSION: The overall outcome of women with INCPH who become pregnant is favorable despite a significant incidence of complications related to portal hypertension. Fetal outcome is favorable in most pregnancies reaching 20 weeks of gestation. LAY SUMMARY: About 15% of patients with idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension are women of childbearing age, who can become pregnant. As available reports on pregnancy in these women are scarce and heterogeneous, it is unclear whether or not pregnancy should be contraindicated in this setting. We provide detailed data showing that, regardless of the associated conditions, the overall outcome of women with idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension becoming pregnant is good despite a significant incidence of complications related to portal hypertension, and that fetal outcome is favorable in most pregnancies reaching 20 weeks of gestation.

[General practitioner density is not associated with survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Absence de lien entre la densité de médecins généralistes et la survie des patients atteints de carcinome hépatocellulaire.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the density of general practitioners (GPs) had an impact on overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and stage of HCC at initial diagnosis in a North-Eastern region of France. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed with 246 consecutive HCC patients referred to a multidisciplinary meeting dedicated to hepatobiliary tumors in the Reims University Hospital from 2012 to 2016. The following data were collected: clinico-biological and radiological data, GP density in patient residence area, stage of HCC at diagnosis, treatment. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (20.7%) were living in a low GP density area (2.2 to 6.8 GPs/10000 inhabitants) and 195 (79.3%) in a high GP density area (6.8 à 12.6 GPs/10000 inhabitants). Overall survival of patients living in a low GP density area was not statistically different from that of patients living in a high GP density area (median survival of 11.7 and 14.8 months respectively; p = 0.58). The tumor stage at initial diagnosis and the delay between diagnosis and case presentation at the multidisciplinary meeting were not significantly different between high and low GP density areas. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients with HCC referred to a regional multidisciplinary meeting dedicated to hepatobiliary cancers, the GP density in residence area of patients with HCC did not influence significantly their survival nor the stage of HCC at diagnosis.

Anterior Versus Classical Approach During Right Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Inverse Propensity Score Weighted Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Eastern data highlight the oncological benefits of the anterior approach (AA) during right hepatectomy (RH) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, to our knowledge, previous western data on this topic are scarce. In this study, the oncological outcomes of AA and classical approach (CA) during RH for HCC were compared. METHODS: A retrospective inverse propensity score-weighted fashion (IPTW) case-control study was performed in two French hepatobiliary surgery departments. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and early recurrence rate (within 2 years after surgery) were analyzed. RESULTS: Survival analysis was performed for 114 patients (CA group,60 patients; AA group, 54 patients). Before IPTW adjustment, the 3-year DFS rates were 29.4% (AA group) and 44% (CA group), respectively. No significant differences were found in DFS (HR = 1.1, 95%CI:0.62-1.9, p = 0.77) and OS (HR = 1.2, 95%CI:0.54-2.6, p = 0.66). After IPTW, DFS and OS analyses showed no differences between the two groups (p = 0.77 and p = 0.46, respectively). Early recurrence rates were similar before and after IPTW. Satellite nodules were the only significant independent risk factor for recurrence. CONCLUSION: AA and CA did not result in significant differences in DFS, OS, or early recurrence after right hepatectomy for HCC before and after IPTW.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterised by necrotico-inflammatory lesions of hepatocytes, the presence of specific autoantibodies and response to corticosteroid treatment. AIH must be considered in any patient with acute or chronic liver disease. As there is no pathognomonic sign of AIH, the diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, biological, immunological and histological findings, after excluding other causes of liver disease. The clinical and biological presentation of AIH is variable and AIH can be associated with an autoimmune biliary disease, primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis in an overlap syndrome. For these reasons, diagnosis of AIH can be challenging. Even if liver histology remains essential in the diagnosis of AIH, non-invasive tests can be used at different steps of the management of AIH: diagnosis of AIH, notably diagnosis of an overlap syndrome, assessment of severity of AIH, searching for extra-hepatic disease frequently associated to AIH, evaluation of response to therapy, decision of treatment withdrawal. This review aims to provide practical guidelines for the use of non-invasive tests for the diagnosis and the follow-up of AIH.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary biliary cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intra-hepatic bile ducts [1]. It is characterised biologically by chronic cholestasis associated with the presence of specific autoantibodies, and histologically by lesions of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. If left untreated it can progress to cirrhosis, portal hypertension and liver failure. Diagnosis, staging and follow-up are largely based on non- or minimally-invasive assessment (blood tests, ultrasound, liver stiffness measurement). Histological examination of the liver and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are sometimes necessary, but their indications remain limited. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the clinicians with what should be known about the non-invasive assessment of PBC and to provide specific recommendations for clinical practice.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare and chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown cause commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and characterized by progressive obliterative fibro-inflammation of the biliary tree. Although the natural course is highly variable, PSC is often progressive, leading to biliary cirrhosis and its complications. In addition, PSC is a condition harbouring broad neoplastic potential with increased susceptibility for the development of both biliary and colon cancer. As in other chronic liver diseases, non-invasive methods play a major role in the diagnosis and monitoring of PSC. MR cholangiography is the key exam for the diagnosis and has replaced diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). A strict and standardised protocol for carrying out MR cholangiography is recommended. Liver stiffness measured by FibroScan® correlates with the degree of liver fibrosis, has a prognostic value and should be repeated during follow-up. Invasive methods still play an important role, especially ERCP which is indicated for therapeutic purposes or for endo-biliary sample collection in suspected cholangiocarcinoma (following discussion in a multidisciplinary team meeting) and total colonoscopy which is recommended at the initial diagnosis of any PSC and annually in patients with IBD.

Tremelimumab plus Durvalumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A single, high priming dose of tremelimumab (anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte­associated antigen 4) plus durvalumab (anti­programmed cell death ligand-1), an infusion regimen termed STRIDE (Single Tremelimumab Regular Interval Durvalumab), showed encouraging clinical activity and safety in a phase 2 trial of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: In this global, open-label, phase 3 trial, the majority of the patients we enrolled with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and no previous systemic treatment were randomly assigned to receive one of three regimens: tremelimumab (300 mg, one dose) plus durvalumab (1500 mg every 4 weeks; STRIDE), durvalumab (1500 mg every 4 weeks), or sorafenib (400 mg twice daily). The primary objective was overall survival for STRIDE versus sorafenib. Noninferiority for overall survival for durvalumab versus sorafenib was a secondary objective. RESULTS: In total, 1171 patients were randomly assigned to STRIDE (n=393), durvalumab (n=389), or sorafenib (n=389). The median overall survival was 16.43 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.16 to 19.58) with STRIDE, 16.56 months (95% CI, 14.06 to 19.12) with durvalumab, and 13.77 months (95% CI, 12.25 to 16.13) with sorafenib. Overall survival at 36 months was 30.7%, 24.7%, and 20.2%, respectively. The overall survival hazard ratio for STRIDE versus sorafenib was 0.78 (96.02% CI, 0.65 to 0.93; P=0.0035). Overall survival with durvalumab monotherapy was noninferior to sorafenib (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95.67% CI, 0.73 to 1.03; noninferiority margin, 1.08). Median progression-free survival was not significantly different among all three groups. Grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events occurred for 50.5% of patients with STRIDE, 37.1% with durvalumab, and 52.4% with sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS: STRIDE significantly improved overall survival versus sorafenib. Durvalumab monotherapy was noninferior to sorafenib for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. (Funded by AstraZeneca; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03298451.)

Combination of fibrates with obeticholic acid is able to normalise biochemical liver tests in patients with difficult-to-treat primary biliary cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Obeticholic acid (OCA) and fibrates are second-line therapies for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). AIM: To know whether OCA and fibrates, administered together in combination with UDCA, have additive beneficial effects in patients with difficult-to-treat PBC. METHODS: PBC patients treated for ≥3 months with UDCA, OCA and fibrates (bezafibrate or fenofibrate) due to failure of either second-line therapy were included in a multicentre, uncontrolled retrospective cohort study. Changes in biochemical liver tests and pruritus were analysed using a generalised linear mixed-effect model. RESULTS: Among 58 patients included, half received OCA as second-line and fibrates as third-line therapy (Group OCA-Fibrate), while the other half had the inverse therapeutic sequence (Group Fibrate-OCA). The mean duration of triple therapy was 11 months (range 3-26). Compared to dual therapy, triple therapy was associated with a significant gain in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reduction: 22% per first year (95% CI 12%-31%), an effect that was stronger in OCA-Fibrate than in Fibrate-OCA group. Triple therapy was associated with a 3.4 (95% CI 1.4-8.2) odds ratio (OR) of reaching normal ALP and with a significant decrease in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin. The ORs of achieving the Paris-2 and Toronto criteria of adequate biochemical response were 6.8 (95% CI 2.8-16.7) and 9.2 (95% CI 3.4-25.1) respectively. Finally, triple therapy significantly improved pruritus in OCA-Fibrate but not in Fibrate-OCA group. CONCLUSIONS: Triple therapy with UDCA, OCA and fibrates is able to normalise biochemical liver tests and improve pruritus in patients with difficult-to-treat PBC.

Liver transarterial chemoembolization and sunitinib for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Results of the PRODIGE 16 study.

BACKGROUND: Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is one first-line option therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not suitable for surgical resection. AIMS: We evaluated the effects of sunitinib plus doxorubicin-TACE on bleeding or liver failure. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with HCC were included in this randomized, double-blind study. They received one to three TACE plus either sunitinib or placebo four weeks out of six for one year. The occurrence of severe bleeding or liver failure was assessed during the week after the TACE. The safety and survival outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: No bleeding complication was reported. One and two liver failures were respectively observed in sunitinib and placebo patients. Compliance to sunitinib treatment was acceptable. Sunitinib dose reduction occurred in 37% of patients due to acute toxicity. Main grade 3-4 toxicities were: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, increased bilirubin, increased ALT and asthenia. In the sunitinib group, the median PFS and OS were 9.05 [5.81;11.63] and 25.0 [13.5;36.8] months, respectively. In the placebo group, the median PFS and OS were 5.51 [4.14;7.79] and 20.5 [15.1;30.6] months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TACE plus sunitinib in the first-line therapy for patients with HCC not suitable for surgical resection was feasible. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV NUMBER: NCT01164202.

Experience of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDS: The combination gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (GEMOX) is frequently used in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC). However, this is only based on phase II studies performed in selected patients.We assessed the efficacy and safety of the GEMOX regimen in non-selected patients with advanced BTC. METHODS: All consecutive patients with advanced BTC received the GEMOX regimen in a setting outside a study: gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on day 1, and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m(2) on day 2, treatment repeated every 2 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were enrolled. EFFICACY: 1 complete and 6 partial responses (objective response rate = 16.3%), 18 tumour stabilizations (41.9%, disease control rate = 58.1%), median progression-free survival was 5.0 months and median overall survival was 11.0 months. TOXICITY: grade 3 neuropathy in 4 patients, grade 3 asthenia in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: The GEMOX combination was well tolerated, with a modest activity in non-selected patients with advanced BTC. This regimen should be compared to the new standard gemcitabine-cisplatin combination.

Overlap syndrome of primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis: a retrospective study of 115 cases of autoimmune liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare clinical, biological, and histological features and treatment response in 115 patients with overlap syndrome (OS), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS: Consecutive patients with AIH, PBC or OS followed between 1984 and 2005 in five different centers were included. All data were re-evaluated using current diagnostic criteria of each disease. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had OS (13 females), 48 AIH (40 females) and 52 PBC (49 females). Patients with OS were significantly younger than patients with PBC (median age: 44 vs 59 years). Jaundice (20%) and pruritus (20%) were the main initial symptoms in OS. Patients with OS had serum transaminase and gammaglobulin levels significantly higher than patients with PBC; serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase and IgM levels were significantly higher in OS than in patients with AIH. Histological analysis showed moderate or severe piecemeal necrosis in 86% and destructive cholangitis in 93% in OS group. Among 11 patients with OS treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or immunosuppressors alone, only 6 had a complete biochemical response. In contrast, all patients with OS receiving combined therapy, as first or second line, responded, 5 patients to the combination corticosteroids-azathioprine-UDCA and 2 to the combination cyclosporine-UDCA. CONCLUSION: OS is not rare and accounts for 13.9% of patients with autoimmune liver disease in our series. Combination of immunosuppressors and UDCA appears the most efficient treatment in these patients.

Signet Ring Cells and Efficacy of First-line Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric or Oesogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of first-line palliative chemotherapy, regarding the presence of signet ring cells (SRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric or oesogastric junction adenocarcinoma who received first-line chemotherapy. Response to chemotherapy, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between SRC and non-SRC (NSRC) groups. RESULTS: Two hundred and three patients were treated, with 57 (28%) having SRC adenocarcinoma. Objective response rate was significantly lower in SRC patients (5.3% vs. 28.1%, p=0.0004). PFS was not significantly different between SRC and NSRC patients (median=3.8 vs. 4.9 months, p=0.07). OS was significantly shorter in SRC patients (median=5.6 vs. 9.4 months, p<0.008). In multivariate analysis SRC was not an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio (HR)=1.28, p=0.15). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced SRC adenocarcinomas seemed to benefit less from chemotherapy, whereas the presence of SRC was not an independent survival prognostic factor.