Transfusions of packed red blood cells in surgery for liver cancer: predictor of impaired overall survival but not recurrence-free survival - impact of blood transfusions in liver surgery.

BACKGROUND: Liver surgery remains a cornerstone of potentially curative multimodal treatments for primary malignancies of the liver and hepatic metastases. Improving perioperative safety is a prerequisite in this context. Perioperative blood transfusions negatively influence postoperative recovery. This study aimed to identify risk factors for perioperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion and to elucidate its effect on postoperative outcomes. METHODS: This was an observational study of a prospective data collection. A monocentric, retrospective analysis of 1118 hepatectomies at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus between 2013 and 2020 was conducted to compare postoperative short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing curative intended liver resection of hepatic primary or secondary malignancies. The outcomes were compared between 356 patients (31.8%) who received PRBC transfusions during surgery or within 7 days after surgery and 762 patients (68.2%) who did not receive PRBC transfusions. RESULTS: Preoperative anemia could be observed in 45.0% of the whole cohort: 65.7% in the PRBC transfusion group and 35.3% in the nontransfused group. Postoperative complications were significantly more common in the PRBC transfusion group in association with prolonged lengths of hospital stay and increased 30-day mortality than in the nontransfused group. After adjustment for possible confounders, preexisting kidney failure, preoperative hemoglobin and albumin levels outside of the reference range, intraoperative plasma transfusions, and overall surgery time were recognized as negative predictors for perioperative PRBC transfusions. PRBC transfusion increased the risk of death by approximately 38.8% (hazard ratio, 1.388; 95% CI, 1.027-1.876; P = .033), whereas no influence on recurrence-free survival (RFS) was observed. CONCLUSION: PRBC transfusions were associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality after curative-intended surgery for liver cancers and represented an independent poor prognostic indicator for overall survival but not for RFS.

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.

Prediction of vessels encapsulating tumor clusters pattern and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma based on preoperative gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) is a novel vascular pattern distinct from microvascular invasion that is significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to predict the VETC pattern and prognosis of patients with HCC based on preoperative gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Patients with HCC who underwent surgical resection and preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2022 were retrospectively included. The variables associated with VETC were evaluated using logistic regression. A nomogram model was constructed on the basis of independent risk factors. COX regression was used to determine the variables associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: A total of 98 patients with HCC were retrospectively included. Peritumoral hypointensity on the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) (odd ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% CI, 1.05-6.33; P = .04), tumor-to-liver signal intensity ratio on HBP of ≤0.75 (OR, 27.80; 95% CI, 1.53-502.91; P = .02), and tumor-to-liver apparent diffusion coefficient ratio of ≤1.23 (OR, 4.65; 95% CI, 1.01-21.38; P = .04) were independent predictors of VETC pattern. A nomogram was constructed by combining the aforementioned 3 significant variables. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 69.79%, 71.74%, and 68.00%, respectively, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.83). The variables significantly associated with RFS of patients with HCC after surgery were Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (hazard ratio [HR], 2.15; 95% CI, 1.09-4.22; P = .03) and VETC pattern (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.29-4.02; P = .004). CONCLUSION: The preoperative imaging features based on Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI can be used to predict the VETC pattern, which has prognostic significance for postoperative RFS of patients with HCC.

Simultaneous resection for colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases: current state-of-the-art.

BACKGROUND: A large proportion of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) presents with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (sCRLM) at diagnosis. Surgical approaches for patients with sCRLM have evolved over the past decades. Simultaneous resection (SR) of CRC and sCRLM for selected patients has emerged as a safe and efficient alternative approach to traditional staged resections. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science databases with the end of search date October 30, 2023. The MeSH terms "simultaneous resections" and "combined resections" in combination with "colorectal liver metastases," "colorectal cancer," "liver resection," and "hepatectomy" were searched in the title and/or abstract. RESULTS: SRs aim to achieve maximal tumor clearance, minimizing the risk of disease progression and optimizing the potential for long-term survival. Improvements in perioperative care, advances in surgical techniques, and a better understanding of patient selection criteria have collectively contributed to reducing morbidity and mortality associated with these complex procedures. Several studies have demonstrated that SR are associated with reduced overall length of stay and lower costs with comparable morbidity and long-term outcomes. In light of these outcomes, the proportion of patients undergoing SR for CRC and sCRLM has increased substantially over the past 2 decades. CONCLUSION: For patients with sCRLM, SR represents an attractive alternative to the traditional staged approach and should be selectively used; however, the decision on whether to proceed with a simultaneous versus staged approach should be individualized based on several patient- and disease-related factors.

Which factors predict tumor recurrence and survival after curative hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma? Results from a European institution.

BACKGROUND: High tumor recurrence and dismal survival rates after curative intended resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still concerning. The primary goal was to assess predictive factors associated with disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in a subset of patients with HCC undergoing hepatic resection (HR). METHODS: Between 08/2004-7/2021, HR for HCC was performed in 188 patients at our institution. Data allocation was conducted from a prospectively maintained database. The prognostic impact of clinico-pathological factors on DFS and OS was assessed by using uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Survival curves were generated with the Kaplan Meier method. RESULTS: The postoperative 1-, 3- and 5- year overall DFS and OS rates were 77.9%, 49.7%, 41% and 72.7%, 54.7%, 38.8%, respectively. Tumor diameter ≥ 45 mm [HR 1.725; (95% CI 1.091-2.727); p = 0.020], intra-abdominal abscess [HR 3.812; (95% CI 1.859-7.815); p < 0.0001], and preoperative chronic alcohol abuse [HR 1.831; (95% CI 1.102-3.042); p = 0.020] were independently predictive for DFS while diabetes mellitus [HR 1.714; (95% CI 1.147-2.561); p = 0.009), M-Stage [HR 2.656; (95% CI 1.034-6.826); p = 0.042], V-Stage [HR 1.946; (95% CI 1.299-2.915); p = 0.001, Sepsis [HR 10.999; (95% CI 5.167-23.412); p < 0.0001], and ISGLS B/C [HR 2.008; (95% CI 1.273-3.168); p = 0.003] were significant determinants of OS. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high postoperative recurrence rates, an acceptable long-term survival in patients after curative HR could be achieved. The Identification of parameters related to OS and DFS improves patient-centered treatment and surveillance strategies.

'Burn and Push' technique: A novel robotic liver parenchymal transection technique.

BACKGROUND: Liver parenchymal transection during robotic liver resection (RLR) remains a significant challenge due to the limited range of specialised instruments. This study introduces our 'Burn and Push' technique as a novel approach to address these challenges. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 patients who underwent RLR using the 'Burn and Push' technique at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System from November 2021 to August 2023. The study evaluated peri- and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: The median operation time was 241.5 min (range, 90-620 min), and the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 10-600 mL). Major complications occurred in one case, with no instances of postoperative bleeding, bile leak, or liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: The 'Burn and Push' technique is a viable and efficient alternative for liver parenchymal transection in RLR. Further research with larger sample sizes and consideration of the learning curve is necessary to validate these findings.

SUV max as Predictor of Metastatic Disease on 18 F-FDG PET-CT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the utility of maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) in 18F-FDG PET-CT in predicting metastatic disease burden in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT Imaging, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology (INMOL), Lahore, Pakistan, from April to October 2022. METHODOLOGY: 18F-FDG PET-CT data of 87 patients were analysed prospectively. Patients were considered regardless of resection status. The SUVmax measurements were performed, and their association with metastases was determined. Molecular docking studies were conducted to determine a mechanism behind the higher SUVmax at the metastatic sites. RESULTS: A higher number of patients (49) was found to have metastasis (1 to 5 in numbers) and demonstrated higher SUVmax, especially in cases of pre-surgery and post-transplant state. A positive correlation existed between SUVmax of pre-surgery (r = 0.419, p = 0.001) and post-transplant patients (r = 0.779, p = 0.001). Molecular docking studies revealed a strong binding affinity (-5.18± 0.25 kcal/mol) between the hexokinase (HK-II) and 18F-FDG. CONCLUSION: SUVmax positively correlated with metastatic tumour burden. The strong binding affinity between the HK-II and 18F-FDG may be the reason. 18F-FDG PET-CT appeared beneficial in providing prognostic information for HCC in a selected group. KEY WORDS: Hepatocellular carcinoma, 18F-FDG, Positron emission tomography, Maximum standardised uptake value, SUVmax, HK-II binding, PET-CT, Metastases.

[A Case of Stage â £ Gastric Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases, Resected Primary Tumor after Chemotherapy, and Alive for 3.5 Years without Recurrence].

A 67-year-old man visited our hospital for epigastric pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)revealed type 2 gastric cancer from the cardia to the gastric angle, and histopathological examination revealed papillary adenocarcinoma(pap), HER2-positive. Contrast-enhanced CT showed wall thickening mainly in the posterior wall of the gastric body, enlarged lymph nodes that were lumped together with the main lesion, and 8 low-absorption areas with ring shaped contrast effects in both lobes of the liver. The patient was diagnosed as gastric cancer cT4aN(+)M1[HEP], clinical Stage ⅣB. Six courses of capecitabine plus cisplatin plus trastuzumab(XP plus Tmab)therapy and 17 courses of capecitabine plus trastuzumab(X plus Tmab)therapy were performed. After chemotherapy, liver and lymph node metastases disappeared on CT and MRI. EGD showed residual gastric cancer, and the policy was to resect the primary tumor. Laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was performed. Pathological results showed T1b(SM)depth, no lymph node metastasis, and histologic response was Grade 2a. Six courses of X plus Tmab were administered as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, but were discontinued at the patient's request. Currently, 5 years have passed since the first chemotherapy and 3.5 years have passed since the surgery, and the patient is alive without recurrence, suggesting that the conversion surgery may have contributed to the prolonged survival.

[A Case of Solitary Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis 15 Years after Colorectal Cancer Surgery].

The patient is a 69-year-old man. 17 years ago, a colectomy was performed for colorectal cancer, and a disseminated nodule was found during the operation, so the disseminated nodule was also resected. After the surgery, 12 courses of FOLFOX4 were administered, and there was no recurrence thereafter. He was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma 12 years after the colectomy and underwent liver resection. Fifteen years after the colectomy, a mass shadow appeared in the right inguinal region, and inguinal lymph node metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma or colorectal cancer was suspected. In the same year, he underwent the tumor resection and histopathological diagnosis revealed colon cancer inguinal lymph node metastasis. After the lymph node resection, he has been followed up for 2 years with no recurrence of colorectal cancer. It is extremely rare to have a solitary inguinal lymph node recurrence 15 years after colon surgery.

[A Case of Distal Gastrectomy and Left Segmentectomy for Hepatic Invasion of Gastric Cancer].

A 66-year-old male came to our hospital because of occult blood in stool and anemia. The patient was diagnosed as unresectable advanced gastric cancer,( ML/Less, type 2, tub2, cT4b[liver], cN+, cM0, cStage Ⅳ, HER2 negative). He was given oxaliplatin plus S-1 therapy. In the 3rd course of chemotherapy, he had severe anemia, and active bleeding from the tumor. To control the bleeding he underwent distal gastrectomy, lateral segmentectomy of the liver, and S4 partial hepatectomy. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel plus S-1. Three months after surgery, lymph nodes recurrence was observed. He underwent second-line therapy with paclitaxel and ramucirumab. Seven months after surgery, lymph nodes recurrence was increased. He was switched to third-line therapy with nivolumab. He is currently arrive 12 months after surgery.

Diagnostic performance of PIVKA-II in identifying recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma following curative resection: a retrospective cohort study.

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) plays a critical role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, studies on its efficacy in diagnosing recurrent HCC were rarely found. A multicenter, retrospective, and observational study was conducted. During the overall follow-up of 5 years, HCC patients who had curative resection were monitored every 3 months in the first year post-surgery and every 6 months thereafter if no recurrence occurred. Tumor markers were collected at the diagnosis of recurrence for those with recurrence and at the last follow-up for those without recurrence. The median serum levels of PIVKA-II and AFP in the recurrence group were significantly higher than those in the non-recurrence group (PIVKA-II: 84.62 vs. 18.76 mAU/ml, p < 0.001; AFP: 4.90 vs. 3.00 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and there is a significant correlation between PIVKA-II and AFP (R = 0.901, p < 0.001). PIVKA-II showed better accuracy than AFP in the diagnosis of overall recurrent HCC (AUC: 0.883 vs. 0.672; p < 0.0001), but also in patients with negative PIVKA-II before curative resection (AUC: 0.878 vs. 0.680, p = 0.001). Clinician should pay more attention to serum PIVKA-II values when following patients after curative HCC resection to detect early recurrence.Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2300070874.

Long-term outcome of adjuvant radiotherapy upon postoperative relapse of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma: a real-world study.

Despite that surgical resection is widely regarded as the most effective approach to the treatment of liver cancer, its safety and efficacy upon centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unsatisfactory. In consequence, seeking an integrated treatment, like combined with adjuvant radiotherapy, to enhance the prognosis of patients is of critical importance. By recruiting patients undergoing surgical resection for centrally located HCC ranging from June 2015 to 2020, they were divided into liver resection combined with adjuvant radiotherapy (LR + RT) and mere liver resection (LR) groups. The calculation of propensity score and model of Cox proportional hazards regression were utilized. 193 patients were recruited in aggregation, containing 88 ones undergoing LR + RT, while 105 handled with LR. RT was verified to be an independent factor of prognosis for relapse (HR 0.60). In propensity-score analyses, significant association existed between adjuvant radiotherapy and better disease-free survival (DFS) (Matched, HR 0.60; Adjustment of propensity score, HR 0.60; Inverse probability weighting, HR 0.63). The difference of DFS was apparent within two groups (p value = 0.022), and RT significantly down-regulated early relapse (p value < 0.05) in subgroup analysis. The calculation of E-value revealed robustness of unmeasured confounding. The combination of liver surgical resection with RT is safe and effective towards patients with centrally located HCC, which would notably enhance the prognosis and decrease the early relapse of HCC.

Survival outcome following surgical versus non-surgical treatment of colorectal lung metastasis-a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The optimal management of colorectal lung metastases (CRLM) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to compare surgical and non-surgical treatment for CRLM regarding the prognostic outcome. METHODS: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 418 patients, who were treated from January 2000 to December 2018 at a German University Hospital due to their colorectal carcinoma and had synchronous or metachronous lung metastases. Patients were stratified according the treatment of the CRLM into two groups: surgical resection of CRLM versus no surgical resection of CRLM. The survival from the time of diagnosis of lung metastasis was compared between the groups. RESULTS: Two- and 5-year overall survival (OS) from the time of diagnosis of lung metastasis was 78.2% and 54.6%, respectively, in our cohort. Patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy showed a significantly better 2- and 5-year survival compared to patients with non-surgical treatment (2-year OS: 98.1% vs. 67.9%; 5-year OS: 81.2% vs. 28.8%; p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression revealed the surgical treatment (HR 4.51 (95% CI = 2.33-8.75, p < 0.001) and the absence of other metastases (HR 1.79 (95% CI = 1.05-3.04), p = 0.032) as independent prognostic factors in patients with CRLM. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that patients with CRLM, who qualify for surgery, benefit from surgical treatment. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our findings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: The work has been retrospectively registrated at the German Clinical Trial Registry (DRKS00032938).

Stereotactic ablative brachytherapy versus percutaneous microwave ablation as salvage treatments for lung oligometastasis from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The treatment for lung oligometastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) remains challenging. This retrospective study aimed to compare the local tumor control, survival and procedure-related complications in CRC patients undergoing low-dose rate stereotactic ablative brachytherapy (L-SABT) versus percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for lung oligometastasis. METHODS: Patients between November 2017 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Local tumor progression-free survival (LTPFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in the entire cohort as well as by stratified analysis based on the minimal ablation margin (MAM) around the tumor. RESULTS: The final analysis included 122 patients: 74 and 48 in the brachytherapy and MWA groups, respectively, with a median follow-up of 30.5 and 35.3 months. The 1- and 3-year LTPFS rate was 54.1% and 40.5% in the brachytherapy group versus 58.3% and 41.7% in the MWA group (P = 0.524 and 0.889, respectively). The 1- and 3-year OS rate was 75.7% and 48.6% versus 75.0% and 50.0% (P = 0.775 and 0.918, respectively). Neither LTPFS nor OS differed significantly between the patients with MAM of 5-10 mm versus > 10 mm. Pulmonary complication rate did not differ in the overall analysis, but was significantly higher in the MWA group in the subgroup analysis that only included patients with lesion within 10 mm from the key structures (P = 0.005). The increased complications was primarily bronchopleural fistula. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the caveats associated with radioisotope use in L-SABT, MWA is generally preferable. In patients with lesion within 10 mm from the key pulmonary structures, however, L-SABT could be considered as an alternative due to lower risk of bronchopleural fistula.

Hepatic arterial infusion pump chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy for borderline resectable and unresectable colorectal liver metastases: phase II feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic arterial infusion pump chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy (HAIP-SYS) for liver-only colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) has shown promising results but has not been adopted worldwide. This study evaluated the feasibility of HAIP-SYS in the Netherlands. METHODS: This was a single-arm phase II study of patients with CRLMs who received HAIP-SYS consisting of floxuridine with concomitant systemic FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. Main inclusion and exclusion criteria were borderline resectable or unresectable liver-only metastases, suitable arterial anatomy and no previous local treatment. Patients underwent laparotomy for pump implantation and primary tumour resection if in situ. Primary end point was feasibility, defined as ≥70% of patients completing two cycles of HAIP-SYS. Sample size calculations led to 31 patients. Secondary outcomes included safety and tumour response. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with median 13 CRLMs (i.q.r. 6-23) were included. Twenty-eight patients (90%) received two HAIP-SYS cycles. Three patients did not get two cycles due to extrahepatic disease at pump placement, definitive pathology of a recto-sigmoidal squamous cell carcinoma, and progressive disease. Five patients experienced grade 3 surgical or pump device-related complications (16%) and 11 patients experienced grade ≥3 chemotherapy toxicity (38%). At first radiological evaluation, disease control rate was 83% (24/29 patients) and hepatic disease control rate 93% (27/29 patients). At 6 months, 19 patients (66%) had experienced grade ≥3 chemotherapy toxicity and the disease control rate was 79%. CONCLUSION: HAIP-SYS for borderline resectable and unresectable CRLMs was feasible and safe in the Netherlands. This has led to a successive multicentre phase III randomized trial investigating oncological benefit (EUDRA-CT 2023-506194-35-00). Current trial registration number: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04552093).

Lower Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index and Prognostic Nutritional Index Predict Postoperative Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Increasing evidence suggests that nutritional indices, including the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), are predictors of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hence, this study aimed to explore the value of the GNRI and PNI in evaluating postoperative prognosis in patients with HCC, particularly regarding its recurrence patterns. We performed a retrospective analysis of 203 patients with HCC who underwent initial hepatic resection. Patients were divided into two groups according to the GNRI (cutoff: 98) and PNI (cutoff: 45). The GNRI and PNI were significantly associated with body composition (body mass index and skeletal muscle mass index), hepatic function (Child-Pugh Score), tumor factors (tumor size and microvascular invasion), and perioperative factors (blood loss and postoperative hospitalization). Patients with a low PNI or low GNRI had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival. Patients with early recurrence had lower PNI and GNRI scores than those without early recurrence. Patients with extrahepatic recurrence had lower PNI and GNRI scores than those without extrahepatic recurrence. The PNI and GNRI might be useful in predicting the prognosis and recurrence patterns of patients with HCC after hepatic resection.

ICG-Fluorescence Imaging for Margin Assessment During Minimally Invasive Colorectal Liver Metastasis Resection.

Importance: Unintended tumor-positive resection margins occur frequently during minimally invasive surgery for colorectal liver metastases and potentially negatively influence oncologic outcomes. Objective: To assess whether indocyanine green (ICG)-fluorescence-guided surgery is associated with achieving a higher radical resection rate in minimally invasive colorectal liver metastasis surgery and to assess the accuracy of ICG fluorescence for predicting the resection margin status. Design, Setting, and Participants: The MIMIC (Minimally Invasive, Indocyanine-Guided Metastasectomy in Patients With Colorectal Liver Metastases) trial was designed as a prospective single-arm multicenter cohort study in 8 Dutch liver surgery centers. Patients were scheduled to undergo minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robot-assisted) resections of colorectal liver metastases between September 1, 2018, and June 30, 2021. Exposures: All patients received a single intravenous bolus of 10 mg of ICG 24 hours prior to surgery. During surgery, ICG-fluorescence imaging was used as an adjunct to ultrasonography and regular laparoscopy to guide and assess the resection margin in real time. The ICG-fluorescence imaging was performed during and after liver parenchymal transection to enable real-time assessment of the tumor margin. Absence of ICG fluorescence was favorable both during transection and in the tumor bed directly after resection. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was the radical (R0) resection rate, defined by the percentage of colorectal liver metastases resected with at least a 1 mm distance between the tumor and resection plane. Secondary outcomes were the accuracy of ICG fluorescence in detecting margin-positive (R1; <1 mm margin) resections and the change in surgical management. Results: In total, 225 patients were enrolled, of whom 201 (116 [57.7%] male; median age, 65 [IQR, 57-72] years) with 316 histologically proven colorectal liver metastases were included in the final analysis. The overall R0 resection rate was 92.4%. Re-resection of ICG-fluorescent tissue in the resection cavity was associated with a 5.0% increase in the R0 percentage (from 87.4% to 92.4%; P < .001). The sensitivity and specificity for real-time resection margin assessment were 60% and 90%, respectively (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.751; 95% CI, 0.668-0.833), with a positive predictive value of 54% and a negative predictive value of 92%. After training and proctoring of the first procedures, participating centers that were new to the technique had a comparable false-positive rate for predicting R1 resections during the first 10 procedures (odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.44-4.24). The ICG-fluorescence imaging was associated with changes in intraoperative surgical management in 56 (27.9%) of the patients. Conclusions and Relevance: In this multicenter prospective cohort study, ICG-fluorescence imaging was associated with an increased rate of tumor margin-negative resection and changes in surgical management in more than one-quarter of the patients. The absence of ICG fluorescence during liver parenchymal transection predicted an R0 resection with 92% accuracy. These results suggest that use of ICG fluorescence may provide real-time feedback of the tumor margin and a higher rate of complete oncologic resection.