Abstract We report the first case of blunt splenic rupture in a child with situs inversus totalis treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). A 12-year-old girl fell roughly 4 feet onto ...the pavement while riding her bicycle. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed situs inversus totalis, a massive hemorrhage in the abdominal cavity, and a ruptured spleen with extravasation. Arteriography showed that the internal organs were located opposite their normal positioning. TAE was carried out with gelfoam and a micro coils at the branch of the upper lobe of the splenic artery. TAE is effective for blunt splenic injury with extravasation in a child with situs inversus. In TAE, there is no technical difference about situs inversus excepted mirror image of abdominal vascular formation.
Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and lenvatinib have not been compared in a randomised controlled trial. We conducted a retrospective multi-centre study to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of ...lenvatinib and atezolizumab with bevacizumab as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable HCC in the real-world scenario.
Clinical features of lenvatinib and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab patients were balanced through inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) methodology, which weights patients' characteristics and measured outcomes of each patient in both treatment arms. Overall survival (OS) was the primary end-point.
The analysis included 1341 patients who received lenvatinib, and 864 patients who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. After IPTW adjustment, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab did not show a survival advantage over lenvatinib HR 0.97 (p = 0.739). OS was prolonged by atezolizumab plus bevacizumab over lenvatinib in viral patients (HR: 0.76; p = 0.024). Conversely, OS was prolonged by lenvatinib in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (HR: 1.88; p = 0.014).
In the IPTW-adjusted population, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab provided better safety profile for most of the recorded adverse events.
Our study did not identify any meaningful difference in OS between atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and lenvatinib. Although some hints are provided suggesting that patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease might benefit more from lenvatinib therapy and patients with viral aetiology more from atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.
•No randomised trial has been conducted to compare atezolizumab plus bevacizumab to lenvatinib.•Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab did not show a survival advantage over lenvatinib.•Lenvatinib provided longer in patients with NASH/NAFLD.•Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab provided longer in patients with viral aetiology.•Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab consistently reduced any toxicity and those graded as 3–4.
The outcome of hepatectomy for a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exceeding 10 cm (i.e., huge HCC) remains unfavorable. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the optimal therapeutic approach for ...huge HCCs.BACKGROUND/AIMThe outcome of hepatectomy for a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exceeding 10 cm (i.e., huge HCC) remains unfavorable. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the optimal therapeutic approach for huge HCCs.Between 2008 and 2018, patients with a huge HCC who underwent treatment at our institution were enrolled. Cases not meeting the criteria (Child-Pugh grade A or performance status 0/1) and patients with distant metastases were excluded. Patients were stratified into three groups: a) upfront hepatectomy (Upfront); b) hepatectomy subsequent to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC-Hr); and c) HAIC alone (HAIC). Survival rates, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), were analyzed. The cancer-specific mortality attributed to recurrence within one year after surgery was defined as "futile surgery"; the rate of futile surgery was also assessed.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 2008 and 2018, patients with a huge HCC who underwent treatment at our institution were enrolled. Cases not meeting the criteria (Child-Pugh grade A or performance status 0/1) and patients with distant metastases were excluded. Patients were stratified into three groups: a) upfront hepatectomy (Upfront); b) hepatectomy subsequent to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC-Hr); and c) HAIC alone (HAIC). Survival rates, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), were analyzed. The cancer-specific mortality attributed to recurrence within one year after surgery was defined as "futile surgery"; the rate of futile surgery was also assessed.A total of 70 cases were censored (Upfront/HAIC-Hr/HAIC: 28/13/29). The 5-year PFS and OS rates for Upfront, HAIC-Hr, and HAIC were 7.7%, 69.2%, and 6.9%, and 37.1%, 79.1%, and 19.7%, respectively. The number of futile surgeries was 6 (21.4%) in the Upfront group, whereas no such cases occurred in the HAIC-Hr group.RESULTSA total of 70 cases were censored (Upfront/HAIC-Hr/HAIC: 28/13/29). The 5-year PFS and OS rates for Upfront, HAIC-Hr, and HAIC were 7.7%, 69.2%, and 6.9%, and 37.1%, 79.1%, and 19.7%, respectively. The number of futile surgeries was 6 (21.4%) in the Upfront group, whereas no such cases occurred in the HAIC-Hr group.Although hepatectomy was advocated in the Upfront group due to the potential resectability, the outcomes were comparable to those of the HAIC group. Conversely, the HAIC-Hr group had promising outcomes, marked by a decreased prevalence of futile surgeries. Huge HCCs should be regarded as borderline resectable, even when deemed potentially resectable. Therefore, a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach might be reasonable.CONCLUSIONAlthough hepatectomy was advocated in the Upfront group due to the potential resectability, the outcomes were comparable to those of the HAIC group. Conversely, the HAIC-Hr group had promising outcomes, marked by a decreased prevalence of futile surgeries. Huge HCCs should be regarded as borderline resectable, even when deemed potentially resectable. Therefore, a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach might be reasonable.
To evaluate the usefulness of bronchial lavage for the diagnosis of pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infection, we examined the clinical records and ...bacteriologic findings of patients admitted to our hospital between 1999 and 2002 who fulfilled the 1997 American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for MAC pulmonary infection. Bronchoscopic examinations were performed in those patients with MAC pulmonary disease who showed negative sputum smears for mycobacteria on 3 consecutive days (n=14) or who could not expectorate sputum (n=2). The bronchial lavage sample was smear-positive for acid-fast bacilli in 8 of the 16 patients (50.0%), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for MAC in 10 of 15 (66.7%), and culture-positive for MAC in 15 of 16 (93.7%). The brushing sample was positive for MAC in 5 of 14 patients (35.7%), and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB)-positive for MAC in 2 of 5 (40.0%). MAC was isolated by culture of bronchial lavage samples in a higher percentage of patients than that in whom MAC was isolated by sputum culture, and we could make an early diagnosis of MAC pulmonary disease based on the smear and PCR results for bronchial lavage samples. Bronchial lavage is useful to screen sputum smear-negative patients suspected of having MAC pulmonary disease.
Recently, treatments for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have undergone remarkable development. Various systemic chemotherapy drugs have been approved and are recommended by clinical ...guidelines worldwide. Although systemic treatments are effective and contribute to prolonged patient survival, their effects are unsatisfactory for some specific tumor conditions, such as macrovascular invasion. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is a traditional treatment for advanced HCC. As yet, there is no worldwide consensus recommending HAIC because no high-quality clinical trials have demonstrated its survival benefit. However, clinical evidence is gradually accumulating that shows its survival benefit, and it is recognized as an effective locoregional treatment for advanced HCC. Several HAIC regimens have been reported, including cisplatin monotherapy, cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (low-dose FP), lipiodol-suspended FP, and an oxaliplatin-based regimen. We have entered an era of chemo-diversity in the treatment of advanced HCC. This review aimed to clarify the relevance of HAIC in the era of chemo-diversity. We propose a multidisciplinary therapeutic strategy combining locoregional HAIC treatment with sequential drug therapy, with the aim of becoming cancer-free through conversion therapy. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2023;29:593-604)
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are considered for use in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) refractory to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The aim of the present retrospective study was ...to identify factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and to evaluate the indications for lenvatinib treatment in patients with intermediate-stage HCC refractory to TACE using a data-mining analysis. A total of 171 patients with intermediate-stage HCC refractory to TACE were included. All patients were classified into three groups according to their HCC treatment: Lenvatinib (n=45), sorafenib (n=53) and TACE (n=73) groups. PFS time was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed using a log-rank test. Factors associated with PFS time were evaluated using multivariate and decision-tree analyses. The median PFS time was 5.8, 3.2 and 2.4 months in the lenvatinib, sorafenib and TACE groups, respectively (P<0.001). In the Cox regression analysis, lenvatinib treatment and being within the up-to-seven criteria were identified as independent factors for PFS (lenvatinib, P<0.0001; within up-to-seven, P=0.001). The decision-tree analysis revealed that patients beyond the up-to-seven criteria, treated with lenvatinib and with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 1 had a longer PFS time (245.2+ or -107.9 days) than patients beyond the up-to-seven criteria, treated with lenvatinib and with ALBI grade 2 (147.1+ or -78.6 days). Additionally, lenvatinib was independently associated with longer PFS time in patients with intermediate-stage HCC refractory to TACE. Therefore, lenvatinib may be recommended for patients who have intermediate-stage HCC refractory to TACE, ALBI grade 1 and who are within the up-to-seven criteria. Key words: hepatoma, tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, transarterial chemoembolization failure, progression-free survival, intermediatestage hepatocellular carcinoma, lenvatinib
The aim of this retrospective proof-of-concept study was to compare different second-line treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and progressive disease (PD) after first-line ...lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.
A total of 1381 patients had PD at first-line therapy. 917 patients received lenvatinib as first-line treatment, and 464 patients atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line.
49.6% of PD patients received a second-line therapy without any statistical difference in overall survival (OS) between lenvatinib (20.6months) and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab first-line (15.7months; p = 0.12; hazard ratio HR= 0.80). After lenvatinib first-line, there wasn’t any statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p = 0.27; sorafenib HR: 1; immunotherapy HR: 0.69; other therapies HR: 0.85). Patients who underwent trans-arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) had a significative longer OS than patients who received sorafenib (24.7 versus 15.8months, p < 0.01; HR=0.64). After atezolizumab plus bevacizumab first-line, there was a statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p < 0.01; sorafenib HR: 1; lenvatinib HR: 0.50; cabozantinib HR: 1.29; other therapies HR: 0.54). Patients who received lenvatinib (17.0months) and those who underwent TACE (15.9months) had a significative longer OS than patients treated with sorafenib (14.2months; respectively, p = 0.01; HR=0.45, and p < 0.05; HR=0.46).
Approximately half of patients receiving first-line lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab access second-line treatment. Our data suggest that in patients progressed to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is lenvatinib, while in patients progressed to lenvatinib, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is immunotherapy.
•About half of progressed patients undergo second-line therapy.•Second-line TACE achieve significantly longer survivals than second-line sorafenib.•After lenvatinib, immunotherapy is the systemic treatment with the longest survival.
Background and Aim
This study aimed to investigate whether telephone follow‐up by clinical pharmacists for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with lenvatinib (LEN) ...contributes to improved adherence and treatment duration for LEN.
Methods
This retrospective study enrolled 132 patients with HCC who were treated with LEN. The patients were classified into non‐telephone follow‐up (n = 32) or telephone follow‐up groups (n = 100) the latter group was further classified into family‐pharmacist (FP) telephone follow‐up (n = 18), or hospital family‐pharmacist (HFP) telephone follow‐up (n = 82) groups.
Results
The progression‐free survival (PFS) in the telephone follow‐up group was significantly higher than that in the non‐telephone follow‐up group (PFS 6.1 months vs 3.7 months, P = 0.001, respectively). Although treatment duration was significantly longer in the telephone follow‐up group than in the non‐telephone follow‐up group median treatment duration: 10.4 months vs 4.1 months, P = 0.001, respectively., no significant differences were noted between the HFP telephone follow‐up group and FP telephone follow‐up groups (10.3 months vs 13.3 months, P = 0.543). Self‐interruption and adverse‐event discontinuation in the HFP‐telephone follow‐up group were significantly lower than those in the FP‐telephone and non‐telephone groups (0% vs 11.1% vs 18.8%; P < 0.001, 25.6% vs 33.3% vs 53.1%; P = 0.022, respectively).
Conclusions
Telephone follow‐up contributes to prolonged treatment duration for LEN in patients with HCC treated. Moreover, telephone follow‐up with an HFP may further improve treatment adherence.
Some cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)diagnosed as unresectable(UR)have been reported to undergo conversion surgery following systemic therapy. Furthermore, the combination of ...atezolizumab plus bevacizumab(Atez/Bev) shows potential therapeutic effects in conversion surgery for UR-HCC. At our hospital, neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC) using New-FP therapy(hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: HAIC)has been performed for borderline resectable HCC. New-FP therapy for advanced HCC with macrovascular invasion has a high response rate of 70%. For hepatectomy after NAC, a high response rate is required as a pretreatment, and New-FP therapy may be useful as the initial treatment. Limited reports exist of the laparoscopic approach in conversion surgery for advanced HCC. However, 14 cases of minimally invasive liver resection, including 10 cases after New-FP therapy and 4 cases after Atez/Bev therapy, have been safely performed conversion surgery for advanced HCC. In selected patients with advanced HCC, minimally invasive liver resection may be safely performed if the tumor shows shrinkage with various treatments.
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