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Background/Objectives: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely accepted and minimally invasive treatment for primary and metastatic liver cancer. Performing TACE with drug-eluting beads helps obtain a greater drug concentration in the target lesion, significantly reducing systemic drug leakage, liver toxicity, and adverse events. The aim of this study is to describe the safety and feasibility of TACE performed with BioPearlTM, the first biodegradable drug-eluting microspheres. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study on 13 consecutive patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with doxorubicin-loaded-BioPearlTM-TACE. Data on safety, feasibility, and tumor response were collected. Results: One intra-procedural catheter blockage was registered, as well as two post-treatment bilomas that required additional treatment. No severe general drug-related side effects were detected at the follow-up. The 1-month overall disease control was 90.9%, with six complete responses. Conclusions: Data suggest that chemoembolization with BioPearlTM is feasible and safe for the treatment of HCC as indicated by good tolerability.

ObjectivesResults after trans-arterial radioembolisation (TARE) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) depend on the architecture of the tumour. This latter can be quantified through computed tomography (CT) texture analysis. The aims of the present study were to analyse relationships between CT textural features prior to TARE and objective response (OR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).MethodsTexture analysis was retrospectively applied to 55 pre-TARE CT scans of iCCs, focusing attention on the histogram-based features and the grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Texture features were harmonised using the ComBat procedure. Objective response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours 1.1. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was applied to select the most useful textural features related to OR.ResultsOf the 55 patients, 53 had post-TARE imaging available, showing OR in 56.6% of cases. Texture analysis showed that iCCs showing OR after TARE had a higher uptake of iodine contrast in the arterial phase (higher mean histogram values, p < 0.001) and more homogeneous distribution (lower kurtosis, p = 0.043; GLCM contrast, p = 0.004; GLCM dissimilarity, p = 0.005, and higher GLCM homogeneity, p = 0.005; and GLCM correlation p = 0.030) at the pre-TARE CT scan. A favourable radiomic signature was calculated and observed in 15 of the 55 patients. The median PFS of these 15 patients was 12.1 months and that of the remaining 40 patients was 5.1 months (p = 0.008).ConclusionsTexture analysis of pre-TARE CT scans can quantify vascularisation and homogeneity of iCC architecture, providing clinical information useful in identifying ideal TARE candidates.Key Points• Hypervascular tumours with a more homogeneous uptake of iodine contrast in the arterial phase were those most likely to be effectively treated by TARE.• The arterial phase was observed to be the best acquisition phase for providing information regarding the “sensitivity” of the tumour to TARE.• Patients with favourable radiomic signature showed a median progression-free survival of 12.1 months versus 5.1 months of patients with an unfavourable signature (p = 0.008).

Radioembolization is a valuable therapeutic option in patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The essential implementation of the absorbed dose calculation methods should take into account also the specific tumor radiosensitivity, expressed by the α parameter. Purpose of this study was to retrospectively calculate it in a series of patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma submitted to radioembolization. Twenty-one therapeutic procedures in 15 patients were analysed. Tumor absorbed doses were calculated processing the post-therapeutic 90 Y-PET/CT images and the pre-treatment contrast-enhanced CT scans. Tumor absorbed dose and pre- and post-treatment tumor volumes were used to calculate α and α 3D parameters (dividing targeted liver in n voxels of the same volume with specific voxel absorbed dose). A tumor volume reduction was observed after treatment. The median of tumor average absorbed dose was 93 Gy (95% CI 81–119) and its correlation with the residual tumor mass was statistically significant. The median of α and α 3D parameters was 0.005 Gy −1 (95% CI 0.004–0.008) and 0.007 Gy −1 (95% CI 0.005–0.015), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed tumor volume and tumor absorbed dose as significant predictors of the time to tumor progression. The knowledge of radiobiological parameters gives the possibility to decide the administered activity in order to improve the outcome of the treatment.

BackgroundY90 transarterial radioembolization (Y90-RE) may improve clinical outcomes of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC); however, the optimal timing for Y90-RE is still debated. The purpose of this multicenter study was to retrospectively evaluate clinical outcomes of RE in patients with unresectable ICC, comparing three different settings: chemotherapy naïve patients (group A), patients with disease control after first-line chemotherapy (group B) and patients with progression after first-line chemotherapy (group C).Materials and MethodsThe study included 81 consecutive patients (49 male, mean age 62.4 ± 11.8 years): 35 (43.2%) patients were in group A, 19 (23.5%) in group B, and 27 (33.3%) in group C. Preprocedural clinical variables, tumour response according to RECIST 1.1 and overall survival (OS) were analysed and compared.ResultsBaseline demographic and clinical features did not differ significantly among groups, with the exception of prior surgical procedures that were significantly higher in group C patients, and macrovascular invasion that was more frequent in group B. Radiological response was available in 79 patients; objective response and disease control rates were 41.8% and 83.6%, respectively, without significant differences among groups. Median OS was 14.5 months (95% CI: 11.1–16.9) and was not significantly different among treatment groups. At multivariate analysis, tumour burden > 50%, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio ≥ 3 and radiological progression as best response resulted to be significant (P < 0.05) independent factors, negatively associated with OS.ConclusionY90-RE is a valuable treatment option in unresectable ICC, irrespectively from the timing of treatment. Tumour extension, N/L ratio and radiological response affect post-treatment survival.

SummaryAimsTo investigate the prognostic value of baseline imaging features for overall survival (OS) and liver decompensation (LD) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).DesignPatients with advanced HCC from the SORAMIC trial were evaluated in this post hoc analysis. Several radiological imaging features were collected from baseline computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging, besides clinical values. The prognostic value of these features for OS and LD (grade 2 bilirubin increase) was quantified with univariate Cox proportional hazard models and multivariate Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression.ResultsThree hundred and seventy-six patients were included in this study. The treatment arm was not correlated with OS. LASSO showed satellite lesions, atypical HCC, peritumoral arterial enhancement, larger tumour size, higher albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score, liver–spleen ratio <1.5, ascites, pleural effusion and higher bilirubin values were predictors of worse OS, and higher relative liver enhancement, smooth margin and capsule were associated with better OS. LASSO analysis for LD showed satellite lesions, peritumoral hypointensity in hepatobiliary phase, high ALBI score, higher bilirubin values and ascites were predictors of LD, while randomisation to sorafenib arm was associated with lower LD.ConclusionsImaging features showing aggressive tumour biology and poor liver function, in addition to clinical parameters, can serve as imaging biomarkers for OS and LD in patients receiving sorafenib and selective internal radiation therapy for HCC.

Objectives To retrospectively compare long-term outcomes of first-line drug-eluting particle (DEB)- transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lipiodol-TACE, in patients with unresectable hepatocellular (HCC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed our database to identify adult patients with treatment-naïve unresectable HCC, who underwent TACE from 2006 to 2013. Patients were excluded in the absence of complete medical records relative to first TACE, 1-month follow-up, and/or sufficient follow-up data. Periprocedural complications, duration of hospitalization, 1-month tumor response by mRECIST, time to tumor progression (TTP) and target tumor progression (TTTP), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results Out of an initial series of 656 patients, 329 patients were excluded for unavailability of sufficient baseline and/or follow-up data. The remaining 327 patients underwent either lipiodol-TACE ( n = 160) or DEB-TACE ( n = 167). Patients treated with lipiodol-TACE had a significantly higher tumor burden. By propensity score, patients were matched according to baseline differences (BCLC stage, uninodular or multinodular HCC, and unilobar or bilobar HCC), resulting in 101 patients in each treatment group. Lipiodol-TACE was associated with a significantly higher incidence of adverse events ( p = 0.03), and longer hospitalization (mean, 2.5 days vs 1.9 days; p = 0.03), while tumor response, TTP, and OS were comparable. In patients achieving 1-month complete response (CR) of target tumor, TTTP was significantly ( p = 0.009) longer after DEB-TACE compared to lipiodol-TACE (median, 835 vs 353 days), resulting in a lower number of re-treatments during the entire follow-up (0.75 vs 1.6, p = 0.01). Conclusion Compared to lipiodol-TACE, DEB-TACE offers higher tolerability, reduced hospitalization, and more durable target tumor response after CR. Key Points • Compared to lipiodol-TACE, DEB-TACE is better tolerated and has reduced side effects, which translates into shorter hospitalization. • When complete radiological response according to the mRECIST is obtained 1 month after the procedure, DEB-TACE offers a more durable local tumor control compared to lipiodol-TACE. • In these patients, the longer duration of response after DEB-TACE translates into a lower number of re-interventions.

Background: Adjuvant sorafenib may enhance the efficacy of transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of radioembolization plus sorafenib in comparison to radioembolization alone. Methods: Out of 175 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with radioembolization between 2011 and 2018, after propensity score matching, two groups were compared: a group of 45 patients that underwent radioembolization while being on sorafenib (Group 1) and a second group of 90 patients that underwent radioembolization alone (Group 2). Results: Baseline characteristics of the two groups were well balanced concerning liver function and tumor burden. No significant differences in survival outcomes were identified (median overall survival 10 vs. 10 months; p = 0.711), median progression-free survival 6 vs. 7 months (p = 0.992) in Group 1 and Group 2). The objective response rate in Group 1 vs. Group 2 was 45.5% vs. 42.8% (p = 1) according to mRECIST. No differences in toxicity nor in liver decompensation rates were registered. Conclusions: The association of sorafenib does not prolong survival nor delay progression in patients treated with radioembolization. Liver toxicity does not differ among the two therapeutic schemes.