Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Key clinical point: In patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone radiofrequency ablation (RFA), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) performed better at protecting liver function and reducing HBV DNA loads than entecavir (ETV), without significant difference in recurrence or overall survival.

Major finding: Patients receiving TDF vs. ETV showed significantly faster serum HBV DNA reduction (2.75 vs. 9.13 months; P = .015) and a higher stabilization/improvement rate of the albumin-bilirubin grade (64% vs. 41%; P < .001), but similar 5-year recurrence (40.3% vs. 40.8%; P = .35) and overall survival (93.5% vs. 96.9%; P = .12) rates.

Study details: This single-center retrospective cohort study propensity score-matched patients receiving ETV (n = 130) with those receiving TDF (n = 77) for chronic HBV infection after undergoing RFA as a curative treatment for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center physician scientist funding. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Hu Z et al. Tenofovir vs. entecavir on outcomes of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation. Viruses. 2022;14(4):656 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.3390/v14040656

Key clinical point: In patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone radiofrequency ablation (RFA), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) performed better at protecting liver function and reducing HBV DNA loads than entecavir (ETV), without significant difference in recurrence or overall survival.

Major finding: Patients receiving TDF vs. ETV showed significantly faster serum HBV DNA reduction (2.75 vs. 9.13 months; P = .015) and a higher stabilization/improvement rate of the albumin-bilirubin grade (64% vs. 41%; P < .001), but similar 5-year recurrence (40.3% vs. 40.8%; P = .35) and overall survival (93.5% vs. 96.9%; P = .12) rates.

Study details: This single-center retrospective cohort study propensity score-matched patients receiving ETV (n = 130) with those receiving TDF (n = 77) for chronic HBV infection after undergoing RFA as a curative treatment for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center physician scientist funding. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Hu Z et al. Tenofovir vs. entecavir on outcomes of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation. Viruses. 2022;14(4):656 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.3390/v14040656

Key clinical point: In patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone radiofrequency ablation (RFA), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) performed better at protecting liver function and reducing HBV DNA loads than entecavir (ETV), without significant difference in recurrence or overall survival.

Major finding: Patients receiving TDF vs. ETV showed significantly faster serum HBV DNA reduction (2.75 vs. 9.13 months; P = .015) and a higher stabilization/improvement rate of the albumin-bilirubin grade (64% vs. 41%; P < .001), but similar 5-year recurrence (40.3% vs. 40.8%; P = .35) and overall survival (93.5% vs. 96.9%; P = .12) rates.

Study details: This single-center retrospective cohort study propensity score-matched patients receiving ETV (n = 130) with those receiving TDF (n = 77) for chronic HBV infection after undergoing RFA as a curative treatment for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center physician scientist funding. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Hu Z et al. Tenofovir vs. entecavir on outcomes of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation. Viruses. 2022;14(4):656 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.3390/v14040656

Key clinical point: Although lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab exhibits similar tolerability between systemic therapy-naive and -experienced patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), the progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) may be compromised in patients with prior systemic therapy.

Major finding: After a 9.3-month median follow-up, therapy-naive vs. -experienced patients showed numerically greater median PFS (9.2 vs. 4.9 months; P = .092), ORR (34.1% vs. 18.5%; P = .157), and DCR (84.1% vs. 70.4%; P = .169), but similar incidence rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (96.4% vs. 97.7%).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective study that enrolled 71 patients with uHCC who were systemic therapy-naive (n = 44) or -experienced (n =2 7) and received lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: The study received financial support from Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wu C-J et al. Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for systemic therapy-naïve and -experienced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2022 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1007/s00262-022-03185-6

Key clinical point: Although lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab exhibits similar tolerability between systemic therapy-naive and -experienced patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), the progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) may be compromised in patients with prior systemic therapy.

Major finding: After a 9.3-month median follow-up, therapy-naive vs. -experienced patients showed numerically greater median PFS (9.2 vs. 4.9 months; P = .092), ORR (34.1% vs. 18.5%; P = .157), and DCR (84.1% vs. 70.4%; P = .169), but similar incidence rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (96.4% vs. 97.7%).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective study that enrolled 71 patients with uHCC who were systemic therapy-naive (n = 44) or -experienced (n =2 7) and received lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: The study received financial support from Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wu C-J et al. Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for systemic therapy-naïve and -experienced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2022 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1007/s00262-022-03185-6

Key clinical point: Although lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab exhibits similar tolerability between systemic therapy-naive and -experienced patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), the progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) may be compromised in patients with prior systemic therapy.

Major finding: After a 9.3-month median follow-up, therapy-naive vs. -experienced patients showed numerically greater median PFS (9.2 vs. 4.9 months; P = .092), ORR (34.1% vs. 18.5%; P = .157), and DCR (84.1% vs. 70.4%; P = .169), but similar incidence rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (96.4% vs. 97.7%).

Study details: Findings are from a prospective study that enrolled 71 patients with uHCC who were systemic therapy-naive (n = 44) or -experienced (n =2 7) and received lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab.

Disclosures: The study received financial support from Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Wu C-J et al. Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab for systemic therapy-naïve and -experienced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2022 (Mar 28). Doi: 10.1007/s00262-022-03185-6

Key clinical point: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is an effective therapeutic option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in routine clinical practice and is safe even in patients with Child-Pugh (CP)-B grade liver function.

Major finding: After a 9-month median follow-up, median overall survival was 14.9 months (95% CI 13.6-16.3 months) and median progression-free survival was 6.8 months (95% CI 5.2-8.5 months). Tolerability was similar across CP classes, with comparable bevacizumab-related (CP-A, 48%; CP-B, 46%) and atezolizumab-related (CP-A, 53%; CP-B, 40%) adverse event rates of any grade.

Study details: This was a multicenter retrospective study that included 202 adult patients with uHCC and CP-A (76%) or CP-B (24%) cirrhosis who received AtezoBev as the first-line systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, among others. Some authors declared serving as consultants or advisors for or receiving advisory board honoraria, lecture/speaker fees, research grants, or travel/accommodation expenses from various sources.

Source: D'Alessio A et al. Preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh A and B cirrhosis: A real-world study. Hepatology. 2022 (Mar 21). Doi: 10.1002/hep.32468

Key clinical point: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is an effective therapeutic option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in routine clinical practice and is safe even in patients with Child-Pugh (CP)-B grade liver function.

Major finding: After a 9-month median follow-up, median overall survival was 14.9 months (95% CI 13.6-16.3 months) and median progression-free survival was 6.8 months (95% CI 5.2-8.5 months). Tolerability was similar across CP classes, with comparable bevacizumab-related (CP-A, 48%; CP-B, 46%) and atezolizumab-related (CP-A, 53%; CP-B, 40%) adverse event rates of any grade.

Study details: This was a multicenter retrospective study that included 202 adult patients with uHCC and CP-A (76%) or CP-B (24%) cirrhosis who received AtezoBev as the first-line systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, among others. Some authors declared serving as consultants or advisors for or receiving advisory board honoraria, lecture/speaker fees, research grants, or travel/accommodation expenses from various sources.

Source: D'Alessio A et al. Preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh A and B cirrhosis: A real-world study. Hepatology. 2022 (Mar 21). Doi: 10.1002/hep.32468

Key clinical point: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is an effective therapeutic option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) in routine clinical practice and is safe even in patients with Child-Pugh (CP)-B grade liver function.

Major finding: After a 9-month median follow-up, median overall survival was 14.9 months (95% CI 13.6-16.3 months) and median progression-free survival was 6.8 months (95% CI 5.2-8.5 months). Tolerability was similar across CP classes, with comparable bevacizumab-related (CP-A, 48%; CP-B, 46%) and atezolizumab-related (CP-A, 53%; CP-B, 40%) adverse event rates of any grade.

Study details: This was a multicenter retrospective study that included 202 adult patients with uHCC and CP-A (76%) or CP-B (24%) cirrhosis who received AtezoBev as the first-line systemic treatment.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Institute of Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, among others. Some authors declared serving as consultants or advisors for or receiving advisory board honoraria, lecture/speaker fees, research grants, or travel/accommodation expenses from various sources.

Source: D'Alessio A et al. Preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh A and B cirrhosis: A real-world study. Hepatology. 2022 (Mar 21). Doi: 10.1002/hep.32468

Key clinical point: Postoperative adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on suboptimal resection margin safely and effectively improves disease-free survival (DFS) and prevents local recurrence in microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: SBRT vs. surgery alone led to significantly higher 1-year (92.1% vs. 76.3%) and 5-year (56.1% vs. 26.3%) DFS rates (P = .005) and similar local recurrence (P = .236) rates. No grade ≥3 adverse events were noted.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 76 adult patients with MVI-positive HCC who underwent marginal resection and were randomly assigned to receive postoperative adjuvant SBRT or surgery alone.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shenkang Hospital Development Center, Shanghai Jiading District Fund, and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Program, China. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Shi C et al. Adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy after marginal resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Cancer. 2022;166:176-184 (Mar 16). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.02.012

Key clinical point: Postoperative adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on suboptimal resection margin safely and effectively improves disease-free survival (DFS) and prevents local recurrence in microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: SBRT vs. surgery alone led to significantly higher 1-year (92.1% vs. 76.3%) and 5-year (56.1% vs. 26.3%) DFS rates (P = .005) and similar local recurrence (P = .236) rates. No grade ≥3 adverse events were noted.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 76 adult patients with MVI-positive HCC who underwent marginal resection and were randomly assigned to receive postoperative adjuvant SBRT or surgery alone.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shenkang Hospital Development Center, Shanghai Jiading District Fund, and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Program, China. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Shi C et al. Adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy after marginal resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Cancer. 2022;166:176-184 (Mar 16). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.02.012

Key clinical point: Postoperative adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on suboptimal resection margin safely and effectively improves disease-free survival (DFS) and prevents local recurrence in microvascular invasion (MVI)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: SBRT vs. surgery alone led to significantly higher 1-year (92.1% vs. 76.3%) and 5-year (56.1% vs. 26.3%) DFS rates (P = .005) and similar local recurrence (P = .236) rates. No grade ≥3 adverse events were noted.

Study details: This randomized controlled trial included 76 adult patients with MVI-positive HCC who underwent marginal resection and were randomly assigned to receive postoperative adjuvant SBRT or surgery alone.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shenkang Hospital Development Center, Shanghai Jiading District Fund, and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Program, China. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Shi C et al. Adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy after marginal resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Cancer. 2022;166:176-184 (Mar 16). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.02.012

Key clinical point: Compared with other liver disease etiologies, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with lower hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance receipt and early-stage detection, thus calling for interventions for increased surveillance implementation and improved prognosis of patients with NAFLD-related HCC.

Major finding: NAFLD vs. hepatitis C virus etiology was associated with a lower likelihood of consistent or inconsistent HCC surveillance receipt (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.37; 95% CI 0.32-0.44) and detection of early-stage HCC (aOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.40-0.60) and worse overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20; 95% CI 1.09-1.32).

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study of US Medicare beneficiaries including 5098 patients aged ≥68 years with HCC, which was attributable to NAFLD in most patients (35.6%).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the American College of Gastroenterology, US Department of Defense, and US National Institute of Health. Some authors reported being consultants, advisory board members, or shareholders of and receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Karim MA et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease–associated hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.03.010

Key clinical point: Compared with other liver disease etiologies, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with lower hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance receipt and early-stage detection, thus calling for interventions for increased surveillance implementation and improved prognosis of patients with NAFLD-related HCC.

Major finding: NAFLD vs. hepatitis C virus etiology was associated with a lower likelihood of consistent or inconsistent HCC surveillance receipt (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.37; 95% CI 0.32-0.44) and detection of early-stage HCC (aOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.40-0.60) and worse overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20; 95% CI 1.09-1.32).

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study of US Medicare beneficiaries including 5098 patients aged ≥68 years with HCC, which was attributable to NAFLD in most patients (35.6%).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the American College of Gastroenterology, US Department of Defense, and US National Institute of Health. Some authors reported being consultants, advisory board members, or shareholders of and receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Karim MA et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease–associated hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.03.010

Key clinical point: Compared with other liver disease etiologies, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with lower hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance receipt and early-stage detection, thus calling for interventions for increased surveillance implementation and improved prognosis of patients with NAFLD-related HCC.

Major finding: NAFLD vs. hepatitis C virus etiology was associated with a lower likelihood of consistent or inconsistent HCC surveillance receipt (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.37; 95% CI 0.32-0.44) and detection of early-stage HCC (aOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.40-0.60) and worse overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20; 95% CI 1.09-1.32).

Study details: This was a population-based cohort study of US Medicare beneficiaries including 5098 patients aged ≥68 years with HCC, which was attributable to NAFLD in most patients (35.6%).

Disclosures: The study was funded by the American College of Gastroenterology, US Department of Defense, and US National Institute of Health. Some authors reported being consultants, advisory board members, or shareholders of and receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Karim MA et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease–associated hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.03.010

Key clinical point: In hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, non-cirrhotic, adult patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, pretreatment baseline serum HBV DNA levels were inversely associated with the on-treatment risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: Relative to that at HBV DNA levels of ≥8.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, HCC risk increased incrementally with a decrease in baseline HBV DNA levels, with the adjusted hazard ratios for 7.00-7.99, 6.00-6.99, and 5.00-5.99 log₁₀ IU/mL of HBV DNA being 2.48 (P = .03), 3.69 (P = .002), and 6.10 (P < .001), respectively.

Study details: The findings are from a multicenter cohort study involving 2073 HBeAg-positive, non-cirrhotic, treatment-naive, adult patients with CHB who had baseline HBV DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL and had initiated treatment with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea. Y-S Lim declared being an advisory board member of and receiving research funds from Gilead Sciences.

Source: Choi W-M et al. Increasing on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk with decreasing baseline viral load in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. J Clin Invest. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1172/JCI154833

Key clinical point: In hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, non-cirrhotic, adult patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, pretreatment baseline serum HBV DNA levels were inversely associated with the on-treatment risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: Relative to that at HBV DNA levels of ≥8.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, HCC risk increased incrementally with a decrease in baseline HBV DNA levels, with the adjusted hazard ratios for 7.00-7.99, 6.00-6.99, and 5.00-5.99 log₁₀ IU/mL of HBV DNA being 2.48 (P = .03), 3.69 (P = .002), and 6.10 (P < .001), respectively.

Study details: The findings are from a multicenter cohort study involving 2073 HBeAg-positive, non-cirrhotic, treatment-naive, adult patients with CHB who had baseline HBV DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL and had initiated treatment with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea. Y-S Lim declared being an advisory board member of and receiving research funds from Gilead Sciences.

Source: Choi W-M et al. Increasing on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk with decreasing baseline viral load in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. J Clin Invest. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1172/JCI154833

Key clinical point: In hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, non-cirrhotic, adult patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, pretreatment baseline serum HBV DNA levels were inversely associated with the on-treatment risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Major finding: Relative to that at HBV DNA levels of ≥8.00 log₁₀ IU/mL, HCC risk increased incrementally with a decrease in baseline HBV DNA levels, with the adjusted hazard ratios for 7.00-7.99, 6.00-6.99, and 5.00-5.99 log₁₀ IU/mL of HBV DNA being 2.48 (P = .03), 3.69 (P = .002), and 6.10 (P < .001), respectively.

Study details: The findings are from a multicenter cohort study involving 2073 HBeAg-positive, non-cirrhotic, treatment-naive, adult patients with CHB who had baseline HBV DNA levels of ≥5.00 log₁₀ IU/mL and had initiated treatment with entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea. Y-S Lim declared being an advisory board member of and receiving research funds from Gilead Sciences.

Source: Choi W-M et al. Increasing on-treatment hepatocellular carcinoma risk with decreasing baseline viral load in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. J Clin Invest. 2022 (Mar 31). Doi: 10.1172/JCI154833

Key clinical point: Long-term aspirin use may reduce the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Major finding: After adjusting for confounding factors, aspirin use was associated with a decreased likelihood of HCC in the entire population (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.84; P = .002) and in the matched cohort (aHR 0.87; P = .01).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study including 161,673 patients aged ≥40 years with chronic HBV infection and no history of HCC, of which 9837 patients were aspirin users (for ≥3 years). A 1:4 propensity score matching yielded 9837 matched pairs of users and nonusers.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute through “Social and Environmental Risk Research” funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yun B et al. Clinical indication of aspirin associated with reduced risk of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001725

Key clinical point: Long-term aspirin use may reduce the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Major finding: After adjusting for confounding factors, aspirin use was associated with a decreased likelihood of HCC in the entire population (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.84; P = .002) and in the matched cohort (aHR 0.87; P = .01).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study including 161,673 patients aged ≥40 years with chronic HBV infection and no history of HCC, of which 9837 patients were aspirin users (for ≥3 years). A 1:4 propensity score matching yielded 9837 matched pairs of users and nonusers.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute through “Social and Environmental Risk Research” funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yun B et al. Clinical indication of aspirin associated with reduced risk of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001725

Key clinical point: Long-term aspirin use may reduce the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Major finding: After adjusting for confounding factors, aspirin use was associated with a decreased likelihood of HCC in the entire population (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.84; P = .002) and in the matched cohort (aHR 0.87; P = .01).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study including 161,673 patients aged ≥40 years with chronic HBV infection and no history of HCC, of which 9837 patients were aspirin users (for ≥3 years). A 1:4 propensity score matching yielded 9837 matched pairs of users and nonusers.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute through “Social and Environmental Risk Research” funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yun B et al. Clinical indication of aspirin associated with reduced risk of liver cancer in chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide cohort study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 (Mar 14). Doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001725

Key clinical point: Donor sex did not affect post-liver transplantation (LT) recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and need not be considered during donor selection or organ allocation.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, the female donor (F-D) and male donor (M-D) groups showed comparable 5-year overall recurrence rates (15% vs. 14%; P = .63) and graft recurrence rates (5% vs. 5%; P = .94). Donor sex was not identified as a significant risk factor for HCC recurrence by either univariate or multivariate analysis.

Study details: This study evaluated 1118 patients with HCC who underwent LT receiving a liver graft from the F-D (n = 446) or M-D (n = 672) groups.

Disclosures: The authors did not declare any funding source or conflicts of interest.

Source: Taura K et al. No impact of donor sex on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2022 (Mar 13). Doi: 10.1002/jhbp.1134

Key clinical point: Donor sex did not affect post-liver transplantation (LT) recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and need not be considered during donor selection or organ allocation.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, the female donor (F-D) and male donor (M-D) groups showed comparable 5-year overall recurrence rates (15% vs. 14%; P = .63) and graft recurrence rates (5% vs. 5%; P = .94). Donor sex was not identified as a significant risk factor for HCC recurrence by either univariate or multivariate analysis.

Study details: This study evaluated 1118 patients with HCC who underwent LT receiving a liver graft from the F-D (n = 446) or M-D (n = 672) groups.

Disclosures: The authors did not declare any funding source or conflicts of interest.

Source: Taura K et al. No impact of donor sex on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2022 (Mar 13). Doi: 10.1002/jhbp.1134

Key clinical point: Donor sex did not affect post-liver transplantation (LT) recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and need not be considered during donor selection or organ allocation.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, the female donor (F-D) and male donor (M-D) groups showed comparable 5-year overall recurrence rates (15% vs. 14%; P = .63) and graft recurrence rates (5% vs. 5%; P = .94). Donor sex was not identified as a significant risk factor for HCC recurrence by either univariate or multivariate analysis.

Study details: This study evaluated 1118 patients with HCC who underwent LT receiving a liver graft from the F-D (n = 446) or M-D (n = 672) groups.

Disclosures: The authors did not declare any funding source or conflicts of interest.

Source: Taura K et al. No impact of donor sex on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2022 (Mar 13). Doi: 10.1002/jhbp.1134

Key clinical point: When technically feasible, surgical liver resection (LR) should be recommended to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) over transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) because it provides better prognosis.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, patients who underwent LR vs. TACE showed a significantly longer median overall survival (20.0 vs. 11.0 months; P < .001) and disease-free survival (7.0 vs. 2.0 months; P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 145 patients with HCC with BDTT who underwent LR (n = 105) or TACE (n = 40).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Z-H et al. Prognostic comparison between liver resection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bile duct tumor thrombus: A propensity-score matching analysis. Front Oncol. 2022;12:835559 (Mar 15). Doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.835559

Key clinical point: When technically feasible, surgical liver resection (LR) should be recommended to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) over transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) because it provides better prognosis.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, patients who underwent LR vs. TACE showed a significantly longer median overall survival (20.0 vs. 11.0 months; P < .001) and disease-free survival (7.0 vs. 2.0 months; P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 145 patients with HCC with BDTT who underwent LR (n = 105) or TACE (n = 40).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Z-H et al. Prognostic comparison between liver resection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bile duct tumor thrombus: A propensity-score matching analysis. Front Oncol. 2022;12:835559 (Mar 15). Doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.835559

Key clinical point: When technically feasible, surgical liver resection (LR) should be recommended to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) over transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) because it provides better prognosis.

Major finding: After propensity score matching, patients who underwent LR vs. TACE showed a significantly longer median overall survival (20.0 vs. 11.0 months; P < .001) and disease-free survival (7.0 vs. 2.0 months; P = .007).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 145 patients with HCC with BDTT who underwent LR (n = 105) or TACE (n = 40).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Liu Z-H et al. Prognostic comparison between liver resection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bile duct tumor thrombus: A propensity-score matching analysis. Front Oncol. 2022;12:835559 (Mar 15). Doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.835559

Key clinical point: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) demonstrated a comparable safety profile between elderly and younger patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with its efficacy remaining uncompromised with advancing age.

Major finding: The occurrence rate of at least one serious adverse event was similar between elderly and younger patients (20.5% vs. 21.3%; P = .87). The objective tumor response rate did not decline in the elderly patients (89.5%) compared with that in younger patients (78.7%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study including 271 patients aged >18 years with intermediate HCC who underwent the first session of TACE, of which 88 were elderly patients (≥70 years old).

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Roth GS et al. Safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization in elderly patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancers. 2022;14(7):1634 (Mar 23). Doi:  10.3390/cancers14071634

Key clinical point: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) demonstrated a comparable safety profile between elderly and younger patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with its efficacy remaining uncompromised with advancing age.

Major finding: The occurrence rate of at least one serious adverse event was similar between elderly and younger patients (20.5% vs. 21.3%; P = .87). The objective tumor response rate did not decline in the elderly patients (89.5%) compared with that in younger patients (78.7%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study including 271 patients aged >18 years with intermediate HCC who underwent the first session of TACE, of which 88 were elderly patients (≥70 years old).

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Roth GS et al. Safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization in elderly patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancers. 2022;14(7):1634 (Mar 23). Doi:  10.3390/cancers14071634

Key clinical point: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) demonstrated a comparable safety profile between elderly and younger patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with its efficacy remaining uncompromised with advancing age.

Major finding: The occurrence rate of at least one serious adverse event was similar between elderly and younger patients (20.5% vs. 21.3%; P = .87). The objective tumor response rate did not decline in the elderly patients (89.5%) compared with that in younger patients (78.7%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study including 271 patients aged >18 years with intermediate HCC who underwent the first session of TACE, of which 88 were elderly patients (≥70 years old).

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Roth GS et al. Safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization in elderly patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancers. 2022;14(7):1634 (Mar 23). Doi:  10.3390/cancers14071634