ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The extent of liver resection for tumours is limited by the expected functional reserve of the future liver remnant (FRL), so hypertrophy may be induced by portal vein embolization (PVE), taking 6 weeks or longer for growth. This study assessed the hypothesis that simultaneous embolization of portal and hepatic veins (PVE/HVE) accelerates hypertrophy and improves resectability. METHODS: All centres of the international DRAGON trials study collaborative were asked to provide data on patients who had PVE/HVE or PVE on 2016-2019 (more than 5 PVE/HVE procedures was a requirement). Liver volumetry was performed using OsiriX MD software. Multivariable analysis was performed for the endpoints of resectability rate, FLR hypertrophy and major complications using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) statistics, regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In total, 39 patients had undergone PVE/HVE and 160 had PVE alone. The PVE/HVE group had better hypertrophy than the PVE group (59 versus 48 per cent respectively; P = 0.020) and resectability (90 versus 68 per cent; P = 0.007). Major complications (26 versus 34 per cent; P = 0.550) and 90-day mortality (3 versus 16 per cent respectively, P = 0.065) were comparable. Multivariable analysis confirmed that these effects were independent of confounders. CONCLUSION: PVE/HVE achieved better FLR hypertrophy and resectability than PVE in this collaborative experience.
Subject(s)
Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Hepatectomy/methods , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Preoperative Care/methods , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatic Veins , Humans , Liver Regeneration , Male , Middle Aged , Portal Vein , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Raloxifene is a member of a family of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene is currently approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. SERMs hold the potential to treat and prevent breast cancer, osteoporosis and coronary heart disease. Ongoing clinical trials are in place to address the role of raloxifene and SERMs in each of these areas. We review the pharmacology, clinical utility, safety and tolerability of raloxifene and speculate on what the future holds for SERMs and their use in breast cancer.
