Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Key clinical point: Lowering the current United Network for Organ Sharing-recommended alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level threshold for exclusion from liver transplant (LT) to ≥500 ng/mL for all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) instead of only for those with AFP levels >1000 ng/mL could improve post-LT outcomes.

Main finding: After multivariable adjustment, an AFP level ≥500 ng/mL at LT was associated with an elevated risk of post-LT mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.5; P = .02) and HCC recurrence (aHR, 1.88; P = .02) compared with an AFP level <100 ng/mL.

Study details: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 1,766 adult patients with HCC who had undergone LT and had listing AFP levels between 100 ng/mL and 999 ng/mL at initial model for end-stage liver disease exception.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Research Funding Award and UCSF Liver Center. Some of the authors reported being on the advisory board of or receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Goldman ML et al. Liver Transpl. 2021 Dec 20. doi: 10.1002/lt.26392.

Key clinical point: Lowering the current United Network for Organ Sharing-recommended alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level threshold for exclusion from liver transplant (LT) to ≥500 ng/mL for all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) instead of only for those with AFP levels >1000 ng/mL could improve post-LT outcomes.

Main finding: After multivariable adjustment, an AFP level ≥500 ng/mL at LT was associated with an elevated risk of post-LT mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.5; P = .02) and HCC recurrence (aHR, 1.88; P = .02) compared with an AFP level <100 ng/mL.

Study details: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 1,766 adult patients with HCC who had undergone LT and had listing AFP levels between 100 ng/mL and 999 ng/mL at initial model for end-stage liver disease exception.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Research Funding Award and UCSF Liver Center. Some of the authors reported being on the advisory board of or receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Goldman ML et al. Liver Transpl. 2021 Dec 20. doi: 10.1002/lt.26392.

Key clinical point: Lowering the current United Network for Organ Sharing-recommended alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level threshold for exclusion from liver transplant (LT) to ≥500 ng/mL for all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) instead of only for those with AFP levels >1000 ng/mL could improve post-LT outcomes.

Main finding: After multivariable adjustment, an AFP level ≥500 ng/mL at LT was associated with an elevated risk of post-LT mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.5; P = .02) and HCC recurrence (aHR, 1.88; P = .02) compared with an AFP level <100 ng/mL.

Study details: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 1,766 adult patients with HCC who had undergone LT and had listing AFP levels between 100 ng/mL and 999 ng/mL at initial model for end-stage liver disease exception.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute Research Funding Award and UCSF Liver Center. Some of the authors reported being on the advisory board of or receiving research grants from various organizations.

Source: Goldman ML et al. Liver Transpl. 2021 Dec 20. doi: 10.1002/lt.26392.

Key clinical point: Individuals with persistent or incident body fatness show an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Compared with their persistent no-fatness counterparts, both general fatness (persistent: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.23-1.34; incident: aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.20) and central fatness (persistent: aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.26-1.40; incident: aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11-1.27) were associated with an increased risk of HCC.

Study details: The data come from a nationwide population-based cohort study including 6,789,472 individuals aged 20 years or older who were not previously diagnosed with HCC and underwent health examinations twice with a gap of 2 years.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Research Supporting Program of The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver and the Korean Liver Foundation. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Kim MN et al. Int J Cancer. 2021 Dec 26. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33920.

Key clinical point: Individuals with persistent or incident body fatness show an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Compared with their persistent no-fatness counterparts, both general fatness (persistent: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.23-1.34; incident: aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.20) and central fatness (persistent: aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.26-1.40; incident: aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11-1.27) were associated with an increased risk of HCC.

Study details: The data come from a nationwide population-based cohort study including 6,789,472 individuals aged 20 years or older who were not previously diagnosed with HCC and underwent health examinations twice with a gap of 2 years.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Research Supporting Program of The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver and the Korean Liver Foundation. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Kim MN et al. Int J Cancer. 2021 Dec 26. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33920.

Key clinical point: Individuals with persistent or incident body fatness show an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Compared with their persistent no-fatness counterparts, both general fatness (persistent: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.23-1.34; incident: aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.20) and central fatness (persistent: aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.26-1.40; incident: aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.11-1.27) were associated with an increased risk of HCC.

Study details: The data come from a nationwide population-based cohort study including 6,789,472 individuals aged 20 years or older who were not previously diagnosed with HCC and underwent health examinations twice with a gap of 2 years.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Research Supporting Program of The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver and the Korean Liver Foundation. The authors declared no conflict of interests.

Source: Kim MN et al. Int J Cancer. 2021 Dec 26. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33920.

Key clinical point: Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) show a comparable improvement in recurrence-free survival (RFS) after undergoing surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Main finding: The median RFS of patients who had undergone surgery was not significantly different from that of patients receiving RFA (3.46 years vs 3.04 years; hazard ratio, 0.92; P = .58).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 SURF-trial including 301 patients aged between 20 and 80 years with the largest HCC diameter ≤3 cm and ≤3 HCC nodules who were randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo either surgery (n=150) or RFA (n=151).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer and the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant for Clinical Cancer Research. Some of the authors declared receiving lecture fees or research funds from or serving as an advisor for various companies. A few authors reported being on the editorial team/board of Liver Cancer.

Source: Takayama T et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.1159/000521665.

Key clinical point: Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) show a comparable improvement in recurrence-free survival (RFS) after undergoing surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Main finding: The median RFS of patients who had undergone surgery was not significantly different from that of patients receiving RFA (3.46 years vs 3.04 years; hazard ratio, 0.92; P = .58).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 SURF-trial including 301 patients aged between 20 and 80 years with the largest HCC diameter ≤3 cm and ≤3 HCC nodules who were randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo either surgery (n=150) or RFA (n=151).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer and the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant for Clinical Cancer Research. Some of the authors declared receiving lecture fees or research funds from or serving as an advisor for various companies. A few authors reported being on the editorial team/board of Liver Cancer.

Source: Takayama T et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.1159/000521665.

Key clinical point: Patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) show a comparable improvement in recurrence-free survival (RFS) after undergoing surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Main finding: The median RFS of patients who had undergone surgery was not significantly different from that of patients receiving RFA (3.46 years vs 3.04 years; hazard ratio, 0.92; P = .58).

Study details: Findings are from the phase 3 SURF-trial including 301 patients aged between 20 and 80 years with the largest HCC diameter ≤3 cm and ≤3 HCC nodules who were randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo either surgery (n=150) or RFA (n=151).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer and the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant for Clinical Cancer Research. Some of the authors declared receiving lecture fees or research funds from or serving as an advisor for various companies. A few authors reported being on the editorial team/board of Liver Cancer.

Source: Takayama T et al. Liver Cancer. 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.1159/000521665.

Key clinical point: The oncological outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver transplantation (LT) is strongly affected by the ABO blood group system.

Main finding: Blood group A showed an independent association with increased tumor recurrence risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.574; P = .034) with group A vs non-A recipients having higher 5-year tumor recurrence rates (20.1% vs 13.2%; aHR, 1.66; P = .011) and lower 5-year recurrence-free survival rates (66.8% vs 71.3%; aHR, 1.38; P = .045).

Study details: The data are derived from a multicentric retrospective observational study including 925 adult patients with HCC who underwent LT, of whom 406, 94, 380, and 45 had blood group A, B, O, and AB, respectively.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Kayvan M et al. Transplantation. 2021 Dec 27. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004004.

Key clinical point: The oncological outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver transplantation (LT) is strongly affected by the ABO blood group system.

Main finding: Blood group A showed an independent association with increased tumor recurrence risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.574; P = .034) with group A vs non-A recipients having higher 5-year tumor recurrence rates (20.1% vs 13.2%; aHR, 1.66; P = .011) and lower 5-year recurrence-free survival rates (66.8% vs 71.3%; aHR, 1.38; P = .045).

Study details: The data are derived from a multicentric retrospective observational study including 925 adult patients with HCC who underwent LT, of whom 406, 94, 380, and 45 had blood group A, B, O, and AB, respectively.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Kayvan M et al. Transplantation. 2021 Dec 27. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004004.

Key clinical point: The oncological outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver transplantation (LT) is strongly affected by the ABO blood group system.

Main finding: Blood group A showed an independent association with increased tumor recurrence risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.574; P = .034) with group A vs non-A recipients having higher 5-year tumor recurrence rates (20.1% vs 13.2%; aHR, 1.66; P = .011) and lower 5-year recurrence-free survival rates (66.8% vs 71.3%; aHR, 1.38; P = .045).

Study details: The data are derived from a multicentric retrospective observational study including 925 adult patients with HCC who underwent LT, of whom 406, 94, 380, and 45 had blood group A, B, O, and AB, respectively.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Kayvan M et al. Transplantation. 2021 Dec 27. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004004.

Key clinical point: Between 2005 and 2019, sorafenib therapy has led to improvement in clinical outcomes among treatment-naïve patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in concurrence with a decrease in the median duration of therapy.

Main finding: While the median duration of therapy decreased by 53%, from 23.1 weeks to 12.2 weeks (P = .003) over the study period, the median overall survival increased by 4.5 months (P = .048) and the objective response rate increased by 6 months (P = .003).

Study details: This was an analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials (9 phase 3 and 7 phase 2) conducted from 2005-2019, wherein sorafenib was administered to 4,086 patients with advanced HCC naïve to systemic therapy to compare its effect relative to another systemic therapy or placebo.

Disclosures: The study received grants from the National Institutes of Health. M Yarchoan declared receiving research grants from or working as a consultant for various organizations.

Source: Brown TJ et al. Gastrointest Tumors. 2021 Dec 22. doi: 10.1159/000521625.

Key clinical point: Between 2005 and 2019, sorafenib therapy has led to improvement in clinical outcomes among treatment-naïve patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in concurrence with a decrease in the median duration of therapy.

Main finding: While the median duration of therapy decreased by 53%, from 23.1 weeks to 12.2 weeks (P = .003) over the study period, the median overall survival increased by 4.5 months (P = .048) and the objective response rate increased by 6 months (P = .003).

Study details: This was an analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials (9 phase 3 and 7 phase 2) conducted from 2005-2019, wherein sorafenib was administered to 4,086 patients with advanced HCC naïve to systemic therapy to compare its effect relative to another systemic therapy or placebo.

Disclosures: The study received grants from the National Institutes of Health. M Yarchoan declared receiving research grants from or working as a consultant for various organizations.

Source: Brown TJ et al. Gastrointest Tumors. 2021 Dec 22. doi: 10.1159/000521625.

Key clinical point: Between 2005 and 2019, sorafenib therapy has led to improvement in clinical outcomes among treatment-naïve patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in concurrence with a decrease in the median duration of therapy.

Main finding: While the median duration of therapy decreased by 53%, from 23.1 weeks to 12.2 weeks (P = .003) over the study period, the median overall survival increased by 4.5 months (P = .048) and the objective response rate increased by 6 months (P = .003).

Study details: This was an analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials (9 phase 3 and 7 phase 2) conducted from 2005-2019, wherein sorafenib was administered to 4,086 patients with advanced HCC naïve to systemic therapy to compare its effect relative to another systemic therapy or placebo.

Disclosures: The study received grants from the National Institutes of Health. M Yarchoan declared receiving research grants from or working as a consultant for various organizations.

Source: Brown TJ et al. Gastrointest Tumors. 2021 Dec 22. doi: 10.1159/000521625.

Key clinical point: Having undergone drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), treatment response and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could be predicted by MRI signal intensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, respectively.

Main finding: The only significant predictive factors of noncomplete response and short DFS were signal intensity heterogeneity in the HBP (adjusted odds ratio, 4.807; P = .048) and elevated serum AFP levels (≥30 ng/mL; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.916; P = .040), respectively.

Study details: This was a preliminary single-center retrospective study including 55 treatment-naive patients who underwent DEB-TACE for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation funded by the Korean government. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Lee JY et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01839-6.

Key clinical point: Having undergone drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), treatment response and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could be predicted by MRI signal intensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, respectively.

Main finding: The only significant predictive factors of noncomplete response and short DFS were signal intensity heterogeneity in the HBP (adjusted odds ratio, 4.807; P = .048) and elevated serum AFP levels (≥30 ng/mL; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.916; P = .040), respectively.

Study details: This was a preliminary single-center retrospective study including 55 treatment-naive patients who underwent DEB-TACE for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation funded by the Korean government. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Lee JY et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01839-6.

Key clinical point: Having undergone drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE), treatment response and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could be predicted by MRI signal intensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, respectively.

Main finding: The only significant predictive factors of noncomplete response and short DFS were signal intensity heterogeneity in the HBP (adjusted odds ratio, 4.807; P = .048) and elevated serum AFP levels (≥30 ng/mL; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.916; P = .040), respectively.

Study details: This was a preliminary single-center retrospective study including 55 treatment-naive patients who underwent DEB-TACE for HCC.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation funded by the Korean government. The authors reported no conflict of interests.

Source: Lee JY et al. Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01839-6.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: Compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA) effectuates better 1- and 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) along with a lower risk of major complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: Although both ablation therapies led to a similar 2-year overall survival (P = .573), MWA achieved better 1-year DFS (79.7% vs 60.7%; P = .035) and 2-year DFS (72.5% vs 45.4%; P = .02) rates than RFA. Concurrently, MWA showed a lower rate of major complications than RFA (14% vs 29%; P = .043).

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study involving 150 patients with HCC, including treatment-naïve and recurrent HCC, who were treated with either RFA (n=100) or MWA (n=50).

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. No conflict of interests was reported by the authors.

Source: Lee SK et al. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020302.

Key clinical point: First-line radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is associated with worse long-term therapeutic outcomes for single periportal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than for single nonperiportal HCC.

Main finding: At 1 and 5 years, periportal vs nonperiportal HCC was associated with significantly higher local tumor progression rates (15.7% and 46.9% vs 6.0% and 28.7%, respectively; P = .007) and worse overall survival rates (81.3% and 42.9% vs 99.3% and 78.1%, respectively; P < .0001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study involving 233 patients with HCC, either periportal (n=56) or nonperiportal (n=177), who underwent percutaneous RFA alone or combined with transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Cao S et al. Cancer Imaging. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1186/s40644-021-00442-2.

Key clinical point: First-line radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is associated with worse long-term therapeutic outcomes for single periportal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than for single nonperiportal HCC.

Main finding: At 1 and 5 years, periportal vs nonperiportal HCC was associated with significantly higher local tumor progression rates (15.7% and 46.9% vs 6.0% and 28.7%, respectively; P = .007) and worse overall survival rates (81.3% and 42.9% vs 99.3% and 78.1%, respectively; P < .0001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study involving 233 patients with HCC, either periportal (n=56) or nonperiportal (n=177), who underwent percutaneous RFA alone or combined with transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Cao S et al. Cancer Imaging. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1186/s40644-021-00442-2.

Key clinical point: First-line radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is associated with worse long-term therapeutic outcomes for single periportal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than for single nonperiportal HCC.

Main finding: At 1 and 5 years, periportal vs nonperiportal HCC was associated with significantly higher local tumor progression rates (15.7% and 46.9% vs 6.0% and 28.7%, respectively; P = .007) and worse overall survival rates (81.3% and 42.9% vs 99.3% and 78.1%, respectively; P < .0001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective study involving 233 patients with HCC, either periportal (n=56) or nonperiportal (n=177), who underwent percutaneous RFA alone or combined with transarterial chemoembolization as first-line treatment.

Disclosures: The authors reported no funding source or conflict of interests.

Source: Cao S et al. Cancer Imaging. 2022 Jan 4. doi: 10.1186/s40644-021-00442-2.

Key clinical point: As initial treatment, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) effectuates a greater survival and radiological response than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) among patients with infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: HIAC vs TACE led to a longer median overall survival (13.3 months vs 10.8 months; P = .043) and progression-free survival (7.8 months vs 4.0 months; P = .035) along with higher objective response (34.8% vs 11.8%; P = .001) and disease control (54.3% vs 36.8%; P = .028) rates.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective real-world study including 160 adult patients with large infiltrative HCCs who underwent either HAIC (n=92) or TACE (n=68) as initial treatment.

Disclosures: The authors declared receiving no financial assistance for the study and having no potential conflict of interests.

Source: An C et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Dec 16. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.747496.

Key clinical point: As initial treatment, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) effectuates a greater survival and radiological response than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) among patients with infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: HIAC vs TACE led to a longer median overall survival (13.3 months vs 10.8 months; P = .043) and progression-free survival (7.8 months vs 4.0 months; P = .035) along with higher objective response (34.8% vs 11.8%; P = .001) and disease control (54.3% vs 36.8%; P = .028) rates.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective real-world study including 160 adult patients with large infiltrative HCCs who underwent either HAIC (n=92) or TACE (n=68) as initial treatment.

Disclosures: The authors declared receiving no financial assistance for the study and having no potential conflict of interests.

Source: An C et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Dec 16. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.747496.

Key clinical point: As initial treatment, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) effectuates a greater survival and radiological response than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) among patients with infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Main finding: HIAC vs TACE led to a longer median overall survival (13.3 months vs 10.8 months; P = .043) and progression-free survival (7.8 months vs 4.0 months; P = .035) along with higher objective response (34.8% vs 11.8%; P = .001) and disease control (54.3% vs 36.8%; P = .028) rates.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective real-world study including 160 adult patients with large infiltrative HCCs who underwent either HAIC (n=92) or TACE (n=68) as initial treatment.

Disclosures: The authors declared receiving no financial assistance for the study and having no potential conflict of interests.

Source: An C et al. Front Oncol. 2021 Dec 16. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.747496.