→Pathogenesis: Common genetic mutations leading to HCC included
|
Villanueva: HCC can be diagnosed in the setting of cirrhosis using imaging alone (CT or MRI) biopsy not always required. Cited. Technical and uncited information regarding cryosurgery was removed. The "ongoing" clinical trials regarding proton therapy in HCC were from 2020. Deleted. General fixes
|
||
Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
<!-- Cause --> |
<!-- Cause --> |
||
HCC most commonly occurs in those with chronic liver disease especially those with cirrhosis or fibrosis, which occur in the setting of chronic liver injury and inflammation. HCC is rare in those without chronic liver disease. Chronic liver diseases which greatly increase the risk of HCC include [[hepatitis]] infection such as ([[hepatitis B]], [[hepatitis C|C]] |
HCC most commonly occurs in those with chronic liver disease especially those with cirrhosis or fibrosis, which occur in the setting of chronic liver injury and inflammation. HCC is rare in those without chronic liver disease. Chronic liver diseases which greatly increase the risk of HCC include [[hepatitis]] infection such as ([[hepatitis B]], [[hepatitis C|C]] or [[hepatitis D|D]]), [[non-alcoholic steatohepatitis]] (NASH), [[alcoholic liver disease]], or exposure to toxins such as [[aflatoxin]], or [[pyrrolizidine alkaloids]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tan DJ, Wong C, Ng CH, Poh CW, Jain SR, Huang DQ, Muthiah MD | title = A Meta-Analysis on the Rate of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence after Liver Transplant and Associations to Etiology, Alpha-Fetoprotein, Income and Ethnicity | journal = Journal of Clinical Medicine | volume = 10 | issue = 2 | pages = 238 | date = January 2021 | pmid = 33440759 | pmc = 7828059 | doi = 10.3390/jcm10020238 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Robbins_Cotran_2015">{{Cite book |veditors=Kumar V, Fausto N, Abbas A |year=2015 |title=Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease |edition=9th |publisher=Saunders |isbn=978-1-4557-2613-4 }}</ref>{{rp|870–873}} Certain diseases, such as [[HFE hereditary haemochromatosis|hemochromatosis]] and [[alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency]], markedly increase the risk of developing HCC. The 5 year survival in those with HCC is 18%.<ref name="Villanueva 2019">{{cite journal |last1=Villanueva |first1=Augusto |title=Hepatocellular Carcinoma |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=11 April 2019 |volume=380 |issue=15 |pages=1450–1462 |doi=10.1056/NEJMra1713263}}</ref> |
||
<!-- Treatment --> |
<!-- Treatment --> |
||
As with any cancer, the treatment and prognosis of HCC |
As with any cancer, the treatment and prognosis of HCC varies depending on tumor histology, size, [[metastasis|how far the cancer has spread]], and overall health of the person. |
||
<!-- Epidemiology --> |
<!-- Epidemiology --> |
||
The vast majority of HCC cases and the lowest survival rates after treatment occur in [[Asia]] and [[sub-Saharan Africa]], in countries where [[Hepatitis B|hepatitis B infection]] is endemic and many are infected from birth. The incidence of HCC in the [[United States]] and other higher income countries is increasing due to an increase in hepatitis C virus infections. It is more than three times as common in males as in females, for unknown reasons.<ref name="Robbins_Cotran_2015" />{{rp|870–873}} |
The vast majority of HCC cases and the lowest survival rates after treatment occur in [[Asia]] and [[sub-Saharan Africa]], in countries where [[Hepatitis B|hepatitis B infection]] is endemic and many are infected from birth. The incidence of HCC in the [[United States]] and other higher income countries is increasing due to an increase in hepatitis C virus infections. The incidence of HCC due to NASH has also risen sharply in the past 20 years, with NASH being the fastest growing cause of HCC.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /><ref name="Huang 2022">{{cite journal |last1=Huang |first1=Daniel Q. |last2=Singal |first2=Amit G. |last3=Kono |first3=Yuko |last4=Tan |first4=Darren J.H. |last5=El-Serag |first5=Hashem B. |last6=Loomba |first6=Rohit |title=Changing global epidemiology of liver cancer from 2010 to 2019: NASH is the fastest growing cause of liver cancer |journal=Cell Metabolism |date=July 2022 |volume=34 |issue=7 |pages=969–977.e2 |doi=10.1016/j.cmet.2022.05.003}}</ref> This is thought to be due to an increased prevalence of NASH, as well as its risk factors of diabetes and obesity, in higher income countries.<ref name="Dyson 2014">{{cite journal |last1=Dyson |first1=Jessica |last2=Jaques |first2=Bryan |last3=Chattopadyhay |first3=Dipankar |last4=Lochan |first4=Rajiv |last5=Graham |first5=Janine |last6=Das |first6=Debasish |last7=Aslam |first7=Tahira |last8=Patanwala |first8=Imran |last9=Gaggar |first9=Sameer |last10=Cole |first10=Michael |last11=Sumpter |first11=Kate |last12=Stewart |first12=Stephen |last13=Rose |first13=John |last14=Hudson |first14=Mark |last15=Manas |first15=Derek |last16=Reeves |first16=Helen L. |title=Hepatocellular cancer: The impact of obesity, type 2 diabetes and a multidisciplinary team |journal=Journal of Hepatology |date=January 2014 |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=110–117 |doi=10.1016/j.jhep.2013.08.011}}</ref> It is more than three times as common in males as in females, for unknown reasons.<ref name="Robbins_Cotran_2015" />{{rp|870–873}} |
||
==Signs and symptoms== |
==Signs and symptoms== |
||
Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
==Risk factors== |
==Risk factors== |
||
Since HCC mostly occurs in people with [[Cirrhosis|cirrhosis of the liver]], risk factors generally include factors which cause chronic liver disease that may lead to cirrhosis. |
Since HCC mostly occurs in people with [[Cirrhosis|cirrhosis of the liver]], risk factors generally include factors which cause chronic liver disease that may lead to cirrhosis. Certain risk factors are more highly associated with HCC than others. For example, while heavy alcohol consumption is estimated to cause 60–70% of cirrhosis, the vast majority of HCC occurs in cirrhosis attributed to viral hepatitis (although there may be overlap).<ref name=":2">{{cite journal | vauthors = Heidelbaugh JJ, Bruderly M | title = Cirrhosis and chronic liver failure: part I. Diagnosis and evaluation | journal = American Family Physician | volume = 74 | issue = 5 | pages = 756–762 | date = September 2006 | pmid = 16970019 }}</ref> Recognized risk factors include: |
||
* Chronic viral hepatitis (estimated cause of 80% cases globally) |
* Chronic viral hepatitis (estimated cause of 80% cases globally) |
||
** [[Hepatitis B|Chronic hepatitis B]] (about 50% cases) |
** [[Hepatitis B|Chronic hepatitis B]] (about 50% cases) |
||
Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
==Diagnosis== |
==Diagnosis== |
||
Methods of diagnosis in HCC have evolved with the improvement in medical imaging. The evaluation of both asymptomatic patients and those with symptoms of liver disease involves blood testing and imaging evaluation. Historically, a [[biopsy]] of a tumor was required to prove an HCC diagnosis. However, imaging (especially MRI) findings may be conclusive enough without [[Histopathology|histopathologic]] confirmation.<ref name="auto"/> |
Methods of diagnosis in HCC have evolved with the improvement in medical imaging. The evaluation of both asymptomatic patients and those with symptoms of liver disease involves blood testing and imaging evaluation. Historically, a [[biopsy]] of a tumor was required to prove an HCC diagnosis. However, imaging (especially MRI) findings may be conclusive enough without [[Histopathology|histopathologic]] confirmation.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> |
||
===Screening=== |
===Screening=== |
||
HCC remains associated with a high mortality rate, in part because initial diagnosis commonly occurs at an advanced stage of disease. As with other cancers, outcomes are significantly improved if treatment is initiated earlier in the disease process. Since the vast majority of HCC cases occur in people with certain chronic liver diseases, especially those with cirrhosis, liver screening is |
HCC remains associated with a high mortality rate, in part because initial diagnosis commonly occurs at an advanced stage of disease. As with other cancers, outcomes are significantly improved if treatment is initiated earlier in the disease process. Since the vast majority of HCC cases occur in people with certain chronic liver diseases, especially those with cirrhosis, liver cancer screening is recommended in this population.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> In the United States, the [[American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases]](AASLD) recommends ultrasound screenings every six months for people with cirrhosis, with or without measurement of blood levels of the tumor marker [[alpha-fetoprotein]] (AFP).<ref name=":4">{{cite journal | vauthors = Heimbach JK, Kulik LM, Finn RS, Sirlin CB, Abecassis MM, Roberts LR, Zhu AX, Murad MH, Marrero JA | display-authors = 6 | title = AASLD guidelines for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Hepatology | volume = 67 | issue = 1 | pages = 358–380 | date = January 2018 | pmid = 28130846 | doi = 10.1002/hep.29086 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> Elevated levels of AFP are associated with active HCC disease, though their reliability can be inconsistent. At levels >20, sensitivity is 41–65% and specificity is 80–94%. However, at levels >200, sensitivity is 31 and specificity is 99%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clinical features and diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma |url=http://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-and-diagnosis-of-primary-hepatocellular-carcinoma?source=see_link |publisher=UptoDate |access-date=4 February 2014}}</ref> |
||
On ultrasound, HCC often appears as a small hypoechoic lesion with poorly defined margins and coarse, irregular internal echoes. When the tumor grows, it can sometimes appear heterogeneous with fibrosis, fatty change, and calcifications. This heterogeneity can look similar to cirrhosis and the surrounding liver parenchyma. A systematic review found that the sensitivity was 60% |
On ultrasound, HCC often appears as a small hypoechoic lesion with poorly defined margins and coarse, irregular internal echoes. When the tumor grows, it can sometimes appear heterogeneous with fibrosis, fatty change, and calcifications. This heterogeneity can look similar to cirrhosis and the surrounding liver parenchyma. A systematic review found that the sensitivity was 60% and specificity was 97% as compared with pathologic examination of an explanted or resected liver as the reference standard. The sensitivity increases to 79% with AFP correlation.<ref name="Colli A et al.">{{cite journal | vauthors = Colli A, Fraquelli M, Casazza G, Massironi S, Colucci A, Conte D, Duca P | title = Accuracy of ultrasonography, spiral CT, magnetic resonance, and alpha-fetoprotein in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review | journal = The American Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 101 | issue = 3 | pages = 513–523 | date = March 2006 | pmid = 16542288 | doi = 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00467.x | s2cid = 9563077 }}</ref> Hepatic nodules that are less than 1 centimeter in size on surveillance ultrasound require serial imaging to ensure stability and to monitor for potential transformation to HCC.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> |
||
Controversy remains as to the most effective screening protocols. For example, while some data support decreased mortality related to screening people with hepatitis B infection, the AASLD notes, “There are no randomized trials [for screening] in Western populations with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C or fatty liver disease, and thus there is some controversy surrounding whether surveillance truly leads to a reduction in mortality in this population of patients with cirrhosis.”<ref name=":4" /> |
Controversy remains as to the most effective screening protocols. For example, while some data support decreased mortality related to screening people with hepatitis B infection, the AASLD notes, “There are no randomized trials [for screening] in Western populations with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C or fatty liver disease, and thus there is some controversy surrounding whether surveillance truly leads to a reduction in mortality in this population of patients with cirrhosis.”<ref name=":4" /> |
||
===Higher risk people=== |
===Higher risk people=== |
||
In a person where a higher suspicion of HCC exists, such as a person with symptoms or abnormal blood tests (i.e. [[alpha-fetoprotein]] and [[des-gamma carboxyprothrombin]] levels),<ref name="AFP_DCP">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ertle JM, Heider D, Wichert M, Keller B, Kueper R, Hilgard P, Gerken G, Schlaak JF | display-authors = 6 | title = A combination of α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin is superior in detection of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Digestion | volume = 87 | issue = 2 | pages = 121–131 | date = 2013 | pmid = 23406785 | doi = 10.1159/000346080 | s2cid = 25266129 }}</ref> evaluation requires imaging of the liver by [[CT scan|CT]] or [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] scans. Optimally, these scans are performed with [[radiocontrast|intravenous contrast]] in multiple phases of hepatic perfusion to improve detection and accurate classification of any liver lesions |
In a person where a higher suspicion of HCC exists, such as a person with symptoms or abnormal blood tests (i.e. [[alpha-fetoprotein]] and [[des-gamma carboxyprothrombin]] levels),<ref name="AFP_DCP">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ertle JM, Heider D, Wichert M, Keller B, Kueper R, Hilgard P, Gerken G, Schlaak JF | display-authors = 6 | title = A combination of α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin is superior in detection of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Digestion | volume = 87 | issue = 2 | pages = 121–131 | date = 2013 | pmid = 23406785 | doi = 10.1159/000346080 | s2cid = 25266129 }}</ref> evaluation requires imaging of the liver by [[CT scan|CT]] or [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] scans. Optimally, these scans are performed with [[radiocontrast|intravenous contrast]] in multiple phases of hepatic perfusion to improve detection and accurate classification of any liver lesions. Due to the characteristic blood flow pattern of HCC tumors, a specific perfusion pattern of any detected liver lesion may conclusively detect an HCC tumor. Alternatively, the scan may detect an indeterminate lesion and further evaluation may be performed by obtaining a [[biopsy]] of the lesion.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/benign-liver-tumors/ | title= Benign Liver Tumors | website= The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date= 4 July 2021}}</ref> |
||
===Imaging=== |
===Imaging=== |
||
Line 120: | Line 120: | ||
'''Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Staging System''' |
'''Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Staging System''' |
||
The prognosis of HCC is affected by the staging of the tumor |
The prognosis of HCC is affected by the staging of the tumor, the liver's function due to the effects of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis as well as the person's physical performance status.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Duseja A | title = Staging of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology | volume = 4 | issue = Suppl 3 | pages = S74–S79 | date = August 2014 | pmid = 25755615 | pmc = 4284240 | doi = 10.1016/j.jceh.2014.03.045 }}</ref> |
||
A number of staging classifications for HCC are available. However, due to the unique nature of the carcinoma to fully encompass all the features that affect the categorization of the HCC, a classification system should incorporate tumor size and number, presence of vascular invasion and extrahepatic spread, liver function (levels of serum bilirubin and albumin, presence of ascites, and portal hypertension) and general health status of the patient (defined by the [[Performance status|ECOG classification]] and the presence of symptoms |
A number of staging classifications for HCC are available. However, due to the unique nature of the carcinoma to fully encompass all the features that affect the categorization of the HCC, a classification system should incorporate tumor size and number, presence of vascular invasion and extrahepatic spread, liver function (levels of serum bilirubin and albumin, presence of ascites, and portal hypertension) and general health status of the patient (defined by the [[Performance status|ECOG classification]]) and the presence of symptoms.<ref name=":0" /> |
||
Of all the staging classification systems available, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging classification encompasses all of the above characteristics. This staging classification can be used to |
Of all the staging classification systems available, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging classification encompasses all of the above characteristics. This staging classification can be used to guide treatment decisions.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Llovet JM, Brú C, Bruix J | title = Prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: the BCLC staging classification | journal = Seminars in Liver Disease | volume = 19 | issue = 3 | pages = 329–338 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10518312 | doi = 10.1055/s-2007-1007122 | s2cid = 23889399 }}</ref> |
||
{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
||
Line 151: | Line 151: | ||
* presence of daughter nodules |
* presence of daughter nodules |
||
* vascularity of the tumor |
* vascularity of the tumor |
||
MRI is the best imaging method to detect the presence of a tumor capsule. |
|||
The most common sites of metastasis are the lung, abdominal lymph nodes, and bone.<ref name="KatyalOliver2000">{{cite journal | vauthors = Katyal S, Oliver JH, Peterson MS, Ferris JV, Carr BS, Baron RL | title = Extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Radiology | volume = 216 | issue = 3 | pages = 698–703 | date = September 2000 | pmid = 10966697 | doi = 10.1148/radiology.216.3.r00se24698 }}</ref> |
The most common sites of metastasis are the lung, abdominal lymph nodes, and bone.<ref name="KatyalOliver2000">{{cite journal | vauthors = Katyal S, Oliver JH, Peterson MS, Ferris JV, Carr BS, Baron RL | title = Extrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Radiology | volume = 216 | issue = 3 | pages = 698–703 | date = September 2000 | pmid = 10966697 | doi = 10.1148/radiology.216.3.r00se24698 }}</ref> |
||
Line 162: | Line 160: | ||
== Treatment == |
== Treatment == |
||
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma varies by the stage of disease, a person's likelihood to tolerate surgery, and availability of liver |
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma varies by the stage of disease, a person's likelihood to tolerate surgery, and availability of liver transplantation: |
||
# Curative intention: for limited disease, when the cancer is limited to one or more areas of within the liver, surgically removing the malignant cells may be curative. This may be accomplished by resection the affected portion of the liver (partial hepatectomy) or in some cases by orthotopic liver transplantation of the entire organ.{{cn|date=November 2022}} |
# Curative intention: for limited disease, when the cancer is limited to one or more areas of within the liver, surgically removing the malignant cells may be curative. This may be accomplished by resection the affected portion of the liver (partial hepatectomy) or in some cases by orthotopic liver transplantation of the entire organ.{{cn|date=November 2022}} |
||
# "Bridging" intention: for limited disease which qualifies for potential liver transplantation, the person may undergo targeted treatment of some or all of the known tumor while waiting for a donor organ to become available.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal | vauthors = Pompili M, Francica G, Ponziani FR, Iezzi R, Avolio AW | title = Bridging and downstaging treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation | journal = World Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 19 | issue = 43 | pages = 7515–7530 | date = November 2013 | pmid = 24282343 | pmc = 3837250 | doi = 10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7515 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
# "Bridging" intention: for limited disease which qualifies for potential liver transplantation, the person may undergo targeted treatment of some or all of the known tumor while waiting for a donor organ to become available.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal | vauthors = Pompili M, Francica G, Ponziani FR, Iezzi R, Avolio AW | title = Bridging and downstaging treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation | journal = World Journal of Gastroenterology | volume = 19 | issue = 43 | pages = 7515–7530 | date = November 2013 | pmid = 24282343 | pmc = 3837250 | doi = 10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7515 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
||
Line 173: | Line 171: | ||
[[File:HepatoCellular Ca.JPG|thumb|Gross anatomy of hepatocellular carcinoma]] |
[[File:HepatoCellular Ca.JPG|thumb|Gross anatomy of hepatocellular carcinoma]] |
||
[[Segmental resection|Surgical removal]] of the tumor is associated with better cancer prognosis, but only 5–15% of patients are suitable for surgical resection due to the extent of disease or poor liver function.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Marrero JA, Kulik LM, Sirlin CB, Zhu AX, Finn RS, Abecassis MM, Roberts LR, Heimbach JK | display-authors = 6 | title = Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2018 Practice Guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases | journal = Hepatology | volume = 68 | issue = 2 | pages = 723–750 | date = August 2018 | pmid = 29624699 | doi = 10.1002/hep.29913 | s2cid = 4666537 | doi-access = free }}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Surgery is only considered if the entire tumor can be safely removed while preserving sufficient functional liver to maintain normal physiology. Thus, preoperative [[Medical imaging|imaging]] assessment is critical to determine both the extent of HCC and to estimate the amount of residual liver remaining after surgery. To maintain liver function, residual liver volume should exceed 25% of total liver volume in a noncirrhotic liver, greater than 40% in a cirrhotic liver.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ma KW, Cheung TT | title = Surgical resection of localized hepatocellular carcinoma: patient selection and special consideration | journal = Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma | volume = 4 | pages = 1–9 | date = December 2016 | pmid = 28097107 | pmc = 5207474 | doi = 10.2147/JHC.S96085 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Surgery on diseased or cirrhotic livers is generally associated with higher morbidity and mortality |
Surgical resection of HCC tumors is usually the preferred treatment for BCLC stage 0 or A disease.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> Surgical resection is associated with a greater than 60% survival rate at 5 years and a recurrence rate greater than 70%.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> [[Segmental resection|Surgical removal]] of the tumor is associated with better cancer prognosis, but only 5–15% of patients are suitable for surgical resection due to the extent of disease or poor liver function.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Marrero JA, Kulik LM, Sirlin CB, Zhu AX, Finn RS, Abecassis MM, Roberts LR, Heimbach JK | display-authors = 6 | title = Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2018 Practice Guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases | journal = Hepatology | volume = 68 | issue = 2 | pages = 723–750 | date = August 2018 | pmid = 29624699 | doi = 10.1002/hep.29913 | s2cid = 4666537 | doi-access = free }}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Surgery is only considered if the entire tumor can be safely removed while preserving sufficient functional liver to maintain normal physiology. Thus, preoperative [[Medical imaging|imaging]] assessment is critical to determine both the extent of HCC and to estimate the amount of residual liver remaining after surgery. To maintain liver function, residual liver volume should exceed 25% of total liver volume in a noncirrhotic liver, greater than 40% in a cirrhotic liver.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ma KW, Cheung TT | title = Surgical resection of localized hepatocellular carcinoma: patient selection and special consideration | journal = Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma | volume = 4 | pages = 1–9 | date = December 2016 | pmid = 28097107 | pmc = 5207474 | doi = 10.2147/JHC.S96085 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Surgery on diseased or cirrhotic livers is generally associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The Singapore Liver Cancer Recurrence score can be used to estimate risk of recurrence after surgery.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ang SF, Ng ES, Li H, Ong YH, Choo SP, Ngeow J, Toh HC, Lim KH, Yap HY, Tan CK, Ooi LL, Cheow PC, Chung AY, Chow PK, Foo KF, Tan MH | display-authors = 6 | title = The Singapore Liver Cancer Recurrence (SLICER) Score for relapse prediction in patients with surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 10 | issue = 4 | pages = e0118658 | year = 2015 | pmid = 25830231 | pmc = 4382157 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0118658 | bibcode = 2015PLoSO..1018658A | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
||
=== Liver transplantation === |
=== Liver transplantation === |
||
[[Liver transplantation]], replacing the diseased liver with a cadaveric or a living donor liver, plays an increasing role in treatment of HCC. Although outcomes following liver transplant were initially poor (20%–36% survival rate),<ref name="auto"/> outcomes have significantly improved with improvement in surgical techniques and adoption of the [[Milan criteria]] at |
[[Liver transplantation]], replacing the diseased liver with a cadaveric or a living donor liver, plays an increasing role in treatment of HCC. Although outcomes following liver transplant were initially poor (20%–36% survival rate),<ref name="auto"/> outcomes have significantly improved with improvement in surgical techniques and adoption of the [[Milan criteria]] at transplantation centers. Expanded Shanghai criteria in China have resulted in overall survival and disease-free survival rates similar to those achieved using the Milan criteria.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fan J, Yang GS, Fu ZR, Peng ZH, Xia Q, Peng CH, Qian JM, Zhou J, Xu Y, Qiu SJ, Zhong L, Zhou GW, Zhang JJ | display-authors = 6 | title = Liver transplantation outcomes in 1,078 hepatocellular carcinoma patients: a multi-center experience in Shanghai, China | journal = Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | volume = 135 | issue = 10 | pages = 1403–1412 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19381688 | doi = 10.1007/s00432-009-0584-6 | s2cid = 1216580 }}</ref> Studies from the late 2000s obtained higher survival rates ranging from 67% to 91%.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Vitale A, Gringeri E, Valmasoni M, D'Amico F, Carraro A, Pauletto A, D'Amico FJ, Polacco M, D'Amico DF, Cillo U | display-authors = 6 | title = Long-term results of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: an update of the University of Padova experience | journal = Transplantation Proceedings | volume = 39 | issue = 6 | pages = 1892–1894 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17692645 | doi = 10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.05.031 }}</ref> Other estimates of 5 year survival after liver transplantation range from 60-60% with a 50% survival rate at 10 years.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> The risk of HCC recurrence after liver transplantation is less than 15%.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> Macrovascular or extrahepatic spread (spread of the cancer to blood vessels or outside the liver, respectively) are contraindications to liver transplantation.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> |
||
The risks of liver transplantation extend beyond risk of the procedure itself. The immunosuppressive medication required after surgery to prevent rejection of the donor liver also impairs the body's natural ability to combat dysfunctional cells. If the tumor has spread undetected outside the liver before the transplant, the medication effectively increases the rate of disease progression and decreases survival. |
The risks of liver transplantation extend beyond risk of the procedure itself. The immunosuppressive medication required after surgery to prevent rejection of the donor liver also impairs the body's natural ability to combat dysfunctional cells. If the tumor has spread undetected outside the liver before the transplant, the medication effectively increases the rate of disease progression and decreases survival. Liver transplantation can be a curative approach for patients with advanced HCC without extrahepatic metastasis.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Obed A, Tsui TY, Schnitzbauer AA, Obed M, Schlitt HJ, Becker H, Lorf T | title = Liver transplantation as curative approach for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: is it justified? | journal = Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery | volume = 393 | issue = 2 | pages = 141–147 | date = March 2008 | pmid = 18043937 | pmc = 1356504 | doi = 10.1007/s00423-007-0250-x | doi-access = free }}</ref> Among patients with compensated cirrhosis, transplantation is not associated with improved survival compared to hepatectomy, but instead is significantly more expensive.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Michelakos T, Xourafas D, Qadan M, Pieretti-Vanmarcke R, Cai L, Patel MS, Adler JT, Fontan F, Basit U, Vagefi PA, Elias N, Tanabe KK, Berger D, Yeh H, Markmann JF, Chang DC, Ferrone CR | display-authors = 6 | title = Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Transplantable Child-Pugh A Cirrhotics: Should Cost Affect Resection vs Transplantation? | journal = Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery | volume = 23 | issue = 6 | pages = 1135–1142 | date = June 2019 | pmid = 30218342 | doi = 10.1007/s11605-018-3946-z | s2cid = 52275656 }}</ref> |
||
=== Ablation === |
=== Ablation === |
||
* [[Radiofrequency ablation]] (RFA) uses high-frequency radio waves to destroy |
* [[Radiofrequency ablation]] (RFA) uses high-frequency radio waves to destroy tumors by local heating. The electrodes are inserted into the liver tumor under ultrasound guidance using percutaneous, laparoscopic or open surgical approach. It is suitable for small tumors 2 centimeters or less.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> RFA may be used in those with stage 0 or A disease, especially in those who are not candidates for resection.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> RFA has the best outcomes in patients with a solitary tumor less than 4 cm.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tanabe KK, Curley SA, Dodd GD, Siperstein AE, Goldberg SN | title = Radiofrequency ablation: the experts weigh in | journal = Cancer | volume = 100 | issue = 3 | pages = 641–650 | date = February 2004 | pmid = 14745883 | doi = 10.1002/cncr.11919 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Since it is a local treatment and has minimal effect on normal healthy tissue, it can be repeated multiple times. Survival is better for those with smaller tumors. In one series of 302 patients, the three-year survival rates for lesions >5 cm, 2.1 to 5 cm, and ≤2 cm were 59, 74, and 91%, respectively.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tateishi R, Shiina S, Teratani T, Obi S, Sato S, Koike Y, Fujishima T, Yoshida H, Kawabe T, Omata M | display-authors = 6 | title = Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. An analysis of 1000 cases | journal = Cancer | volume = 103 | issue = 6 | pages = 1201–1209 | date = March 2005 | pmid = 15690326 | doi = 10.1002/cncr.20892 | s2cid = 37178385 }}</ref> A large randomized trial comparing surgical resection and RFA for small HCC showed similar four-year survival and less morbidities for patients treated with RFA.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen MS, Li JQ, Zheng Y, Guo RP, Liang HH, Zhang YQ, Lin XJ, Lau WY | display-authors = 6 | title = A prospective randomized trial comparing percutaneous local ablative therapy and partial hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 243 | issue = 3 | pages = 321–328 | date = March 2006 | pmid = 16495695 | pmc = 1448947 | doi = 10.1097/01.sla.0000201480.65519.b8 }}</ref> Ablation methods (usually RF ablation) or arterial based treatments may be used on those awaiting liver transplantation to lower tumor burden (Milan score) and improve treatment response. It may also be used to reduce tumor burden making one eligible for liver transplantation.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> |
||
* [[Cryoablation]] is a technique used to destroy |
* [[Cryoablation]] is a technique used to destroy the tumor using cold temperatures. The tumor is not removed and the destroyed cancer is left to be reabsorbed by the body. Initial results in properly selected patients with unresectable liver tumors are equivalent to those of resection.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} Cryosurgery involves the placement of a stainless steel probe into the center of the tumor and freezing the tumor using liquid nitrogen. Frequently, cryosurgery is used in conjunction with liver resection, as some of the tumors are removed while others are treated with cryosurgery.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} |
||
* [[Percutaneous ethanol injection]] is well tolerated |
* [[Percutaneous ethanol injection]] is well tolerated in small (<3 cm) solitary tumors. Local therapy can achieve a 5-year survival rate around 60% for patients with small HCC.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Yamamoto J, Okada S, Shimada K, Okusaka T, Yamasaki S, Ueno H, Kosuge T | title = Treatment strategy for small hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of long-term results after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy and surgical resection | journal = Hepatology | volume = 34 | issue = 4 Pt 1 | pages = 707–713 | date = October 2001 | pmid = 11584366 | doi = 10.1053/jhep.2001.27950 | doi-access = }}</ref> |
||
=== Arterial catheter-based treatment === |
=== Arterial catheter-based treatment === |
||
* [[Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization]] (TACE) |
* [[Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization]] (TACE) may be used in BCLC stage B disease and for un-resectable tumors or as a temporary treatment while waiting for liver transplant ("bridge to transplant").<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> TACE is done by injecting an antineoplastic drug (e.g. [[cisplatin]]) mixed with a radio-opaque contrast (e.g. Lipiodol) and an embolic agent (e.g. Gelfoam) into the right or left hepatic artery via the groin artery. The goal of the procedure is to restrict the tumor's vascular supply while supplying a targeted chemotherapeutic agent. TACE has been shown to increase survival and to downstage HCC in patients who exceed the Milan criteria for liver transplant. Patients who undergo the procedure are followed with CT scans and may need additional TACE procedures if the tumor persists.<ref name="SIR">{{cite web |title=Interventional Radiology Treatments for Liver Cancer |url=http://www.sirweb.org/patients/liver-cancer/. |publisher=Society of Interventional Radiology |access-date=4 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208230701/http://www.sirweb.org/patients/liver-cancer/ |archive-date=8 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The median surgival after TACE is 26-40 months with a tumor response rate of approximately 52%.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> Combining TACE with systemic therapy ([[sorafenib]] or [[brivanib]]) does not improve survival.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> The riskofdeath after after transarterial treatments, including TACE, is about 1%, usually due to liver failure.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> |
||
* [[Selective internal radiation therapy]] (SIRT) can be used to destroy the tumor |
* [[Selective internal radiation therapy]] (SIRT) can be used to destroy the tumor using selective injection of the artery or arteries supplying the tumor with a radioisotope agent. The agent is typically [[Yttrium-90]] (Y-90) incorporated into embolic microspheres that lodge in the tumor vasculature, causing ischemia and delivering their radiation dose directly to the lesion with the intentionofsparing the surrounding liver. Based on limited evidence, SIRT has similar efficacy to TACE.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kooby DA, Egnatashvili V, Srinivasan S, Chamsuddin A, Delman KA, Kauh J, Staley CA, Kim HS | display-authors = 6 | title = Comparison of yttrium-90 radioembolization and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology | volume = 21 | issue = 2 | pages = 224–230 | date = February 2010 | pmid = 20022765 | doi = 10.1016/j.jvir.2009.10.013 }}</ref> Two products are available, [[SIR-Spheres]] and [[TheraSphere]]. The latter is an FDA-approved treatment for primary liver cancer which has been shown in clinical trials to increase the survival rate of low-risk patients. SIR-Spheres are FDA-approved for the treatment of metastatic [[colorectal cancer]], but outside the US, SIR-Spheres are approved for the treatment of any nonresectable liver cancer including primary liver cancer.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.lecturio.com/concepts/hepatocellular-carcinoma-hcc-and-liver-metastases/ | title= Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and Liver Metastases | website=The Lecturio Medical Concept Library |access-date= 4 July 2021}}</ref> |
||
===External beam therapy=== |
===External beam therapy=== |
||
* The role of [[radiotherapy]] in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has evolved as technological advancements in treatment delivery and imaging have provided a means for safe and effective radiotherapy delivery in a wide spectrum of HCC patients. In metastatic cases, radiotherapy can be used for palliative care.<ref name= Klein>{{cite journal | vauthors = Klein J, Dawson LA | title = Hepatocellular carcinoma radiation therapy: review of evidence and future opportunities | journal = International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics | volume = 87 | issue = 1 | pages = 22–32 | date = September 2013 | pmid = 23219567 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.08.043 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name= Sayan1>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sayan M, Yegya-Raman N, Greco SH, Gui B, Zhang A, Chundury A, Grandhi MS, Hochster HS, Kennedy TJ, Langan RC, Malhotra U, Rustgi VK, Shah MM, Spencer KR, Carpizo DR, Nosher JL, Jabbour SK | display-authors = 6 | title = Rethinking the Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Data Driven Treatment Algorithm for Optimizing Outcomes | journal = Frontiers in Oncology | volume = 9 | pages = 345 | year = 2019 | pmid = 31275846 | pmc = 6591511 | doi = 10.3389/fonc.2019.00345 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
* The role of [[radiotherapy]] in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has evolved as technological advancements in treatment delivery and imaging have provided a means for safe and effective radiotherapy delivery in a wide spectrum of HCC patients. In metastatic cases, radiotherapy can be used for palliative care.<ref name= Klein>{{cite journal | vauthors = Klein J, Dawson LA | title = Hepatocellular carcinoma radiation therapy: review of evidence and future opportunities | journal = International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics | volume = 87 | issue = 1 | pages = 22–32 | date = September 2013 | pmid = 23219567 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.08.043 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name= Sayan1>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sayan M, Yegya-Raman N, Greco SH, Gui B, Zhang A, Chundury A, Grandhi MS, Hochster HS, Kennedy TJ, Langan RC, Malhotra U, Rustgi VK, Shah MM, Spencer KR, Carpizo DR, Nosher JL, Jabbour SK | display-authors = 6 | title = Rethinking the Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Data Driven Treatment Algorithm for Optimizing Outcomes | journal = Frontiers in Oncology | volume = 9 | pages = 345 | year = 2019 | pmid = 31275846 | pmc = 6591511 | doi = 10.3389/fonc.2019.00345 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
||
* [[Proton therapy]] for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with improved survival relative to photon-based radiation therapy which may be driven by decreased incidence of post-treatment liver decompensation<ref name= Sanford>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sanford NN, Pursley J, Noe B, Yeap BY, Goyal L, Clark JW, Allen JN, Blaszkowsky LS, Ryan DP, Ferrone CR, Tanabe KK, Qadan M, Crane CH, Koay EJ, Eyler C, DeLaney TF, Zhu AX, Wo JY, Grassberger C, Hong TS | display-authors = 6 | title = Protons versus Photons for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Liver Decompensation and Overall Survival | journal = International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics | volume = 105 | issue = 1 | pages = 64–72 | date = September 2019 | pmid = 30684667 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.01.076 | doi-access = free |
* [[Proton therapy]] for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma was associated with improved survival relative to photon-based radiation therapy which may be driven by decreased incidence of post-treatment liver decompensation.<ref name= Sanford>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sanford NN, Pursley J, Noe B, Yeap BY, Goyal L, Clark JW, Allen JN, Blaszkowsky LS, Ryan DP, Ferrone CR, Tanabe KK, Qadan M, Crane CH, Koay EJ, Eyler C, DeLaney TF, Zhu AX, Wo JY, Grassberger C, Hong TS | display-authors = 6 | title = Protons versus Photons for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Liver Decompensation and Overall Survival | journal = International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics | volume = 105 | issue = 1 | pages = 64–72 | date = September 2019 | pmid = 30684667 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.01.076 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
||
===Systemic=== |
===Systemic=== |
||
|
Systemic therapy for HCC is indicated in BCLC stage C disease, in which cancer has spread beyond the liver. It is also indicated in BCLC stage B disease with tumor progression after local treatments.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /> In 2007, [[sorafenib]], an oral multikinase inhibitor, was the first systemic agent approved for first-line treatment of advanced HCC.<ref name="Llovet 378–390">{{cite journal | vauthors = Llovet JM, Ricci S, Mazzaferro V, Hilgard P, Gane E, Blanc JF, de Oliveira AC, Santoro A, Raoul JL, Forner A, Schwartz M, Porta C, Zeuzem S, Bolondi L, Greten TF, Galle PR, Seitz JF, Borbath I, Häussinger D, Giannaris T, Shan M, Moscovici M, Voliotis D, Bruix J | display-authors = 6 | title = Sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 359 | issue = 4 | pages = 378–390 | date = July 2008 | pmid = 18650514 | doi = 10.1056/nejmoa0708857 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.531.1130 }}</ref> Trials have found modest improvement in overall survival: 10.7 months vs 7.9 months and 6.5 months vs 4.2 months.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cheng AL, Kang YK, Chen Z, Tsao CJ, Qin S, Kim JS, Luo R, Feng J, Ye S, Yang TS, Xu J, Sun Y, Liang H, Liu J, Wang J, Tak WY, Pan H, Burock K, Zou J, Voliotis D, Guan Z | display-authors = 6 | title = Efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients in the Asia-Pacific region with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | journal = The Lancet. Oncology | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 25–34 | date = January 2009 | pmid = 19095497 | doi = 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70285-7 }}</ref><ref name="Llovet 378–390"/> |
||
The most common side effects of Sorafenib include a hand-foot skin reaction and [[diarrhea]].<ref name=":5" /> Sorafenib is thought to work by blocking growth of both tumor cells and [[Angiogenesis|new blood vessels]]. Numerous other molecular targeted drugs are being tested as alternative first- and second-line treatments for advanced HCC, such as [[lenvatinib]] and [[regorafenib]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kudo M | title = Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2017 Update | journal = Oncology | volume = 93 | issue = 1 | pages = 135–146 | date = 2017 | pmid = 29258077 | doi = 10.1159/000481244 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Regorafenib increased survival from 7.8 to 10.6 months in those who had tumor progression while on sorafenib compared to placebo.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /><ref name="Bruix 2017">{{cite journal |last1=Bruix |first1=J |last2=Qin |first2=S |last3=Merle |first3=P |last4=Granito |first4=A |last5=Huang |first5=YH |last6=Bodoky |first6=G |last7=Pracht |first7=M |last8=Yokosuka |first8=O |last9=Rosmorduc |first9=O |last10=Breder |first10=V |last11=Gerolami |first11=R |last12=Masi |first12=G |last13=Ross |first13=PJ |last14=Song |first14=T |last15=Bronowicki |first15=JP |last16=Ollivier-Hourmand |first16=I |last17=Kudo |first17=M |last18=Cheng |first18=AL |last19=Llovet |first19=JM |last20=Finn |first20=RS |last21=LeBerre |first21=MA |last22=Baumhauer |first22=A |last23=Meinhardt |first23=G |last24=Han |first24=G |last25=RESORCE |first25=Investigators |title=Regorafenib for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib treatment (RESORCE): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. |journal=Lancet (London, England) |date=7 January 2017 |volume=389 |issue=10064 |pages=56-66 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32453-9 |pmid=27932229}}</ref> |
|||
[[Cabozantinib]], which is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases including [[VEGFR]], [[hepatocyte growth factor receptor]] (MET) and [[AXL receptor tyrosine kinase|AXL]] and [[ramucirumab]], an antibody directed against [[VEGF receptor|VEGF receptor 2]], are second line therapies which have been shown to reduce the risk of death compared to placebo.<ref name="Villanueva 2019" /><ref name="Abou-Alfa 2018">{{cite journal |last1=Abou-Alfa |first1=Ghassan K. |last2=Meyer |first2=Tim |last3=Cheng |first3=Ann-Lii |title=Cabozantinib in Patients with Advanced and Progressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=5 July 2018 |volume=379 |issue=1 |pages=54–63 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa1717002}}</ref><ref name="Finn 2022">{{cite journal |last1=Finn |first1=Richard S |last2=Yau |first2=Thomas |last3=Hsu |first3=Chih-Hung |title=Ramucirumab for Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Elevated Alpha Fetoprotein Following Non–Sorafenib Systemic Therapy: An Expansion Cohort of REACH-2 |journal=The Oncologist |date=9 December 2022 |volume=27 |issue=12 |pages=e938–e948 |doi=10.1093/oncolo/oyac183}}</ref> |
|||
The most common side effects of Sorafenib include a hand-foot skin reaction and [[diarrhea]].<ref name=":5" /> Sorafenib is thought to work by blocking growth of both tumor cells and [[Angiogenesis|new blood vessels]]. Numerous other molecular targeted drugs are being tested as alternative first- and second-line treatments for advanced HCC, such as, respectively, [[lenvatinib]] and [[regorafenib]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kudo M | title = Systemic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2017 Update | journal = Oncology | volume = 93 | issue = 1 | pages = 135–146 | date = 2017 | pmid = 29258077 | doi = 10.1159/000481244 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
|||
A host of additional targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been found to be effective against |
A host of additional targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been found to be effective against. For instance, in the recent phase III trial IMBrave 150, the combination of [[atezolizumab]] and [[bevacizumab]] was found to improve both overall and progression-free survival compared to sorafenib alone.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Finn RS, Qin S, Ikeda M, Galle PR, Ducreux M, Kim TY, Kudo M, Breder V, Merle P, Kaseb AO, Li D, Verret W, Xu DZ, Hernandez S, Liu J, Huang C, Mulla S, Wang Y, Lim HY, Zhu AX, Cheng AL | display-authors = 6 | title = Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 382 | issue = 20 | pages = 1894–1905 | date = May 2020 | pmid = 32402160 | doi = 10.1056/nejmoa1915745 | s2cid = 218633632 | doi-access = free }}</ref> |
||
[[Tremelimumab]] (Imjudo) was approved for medical use in the United States in October 2022.<ref name="Imjudo PR" /> It is [[indicated]], in combination with [[durvalumab]], for the treatment of adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.<ref name="Imjudo PR">{{cite press release | title=Imjudo (tremelimumab) in combination with Imfinzi approved in the US for patients with unresectable liver cancer | website=AstraZeneca | date=26 October 2022 | url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2022/imfinzi-and-imjudo-approved-in-advanced-liver-cancer.html | access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> |
[[Tremelimumab]] (Imjudo) was approved for medical use in the United States in October 2022.<ref name="Imjudo PR" /> It is [[indicated]], in combination with [[durvalumab]], for the treatment of adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.<ref name="Imjudo PR">{{cite press release | title=Imjudo (tremelimumab) in combination with Imfinzi approved in the US for patients with unresectable liver cancer | website=AstraZeneca | date=26 October 2022 | url=https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2022/imfinzi-and-imjudo-approved-in-advanced-liver-cancer.html | access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> |
Hepatocellular carcinoma | |
---|---|
Other names | Hepatoma |
![]() | |
Hepatocellular carcinoma in an individual who was hepatitis C positive. Autopsy specimen. | |
Specialty | Oncology |
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC[1]) is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis.[2] HCC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.[3]
HCC most commonly occurs in those with chronic liver disease especially those with cirrhosis or fibrosis, which occur in the setting of chronic liver injury and inflammation. HCC is rare in those without chronic liver disease. Chronic liver diseases which greatly increase the risk of HCC include hepatitis infection such as (hepatitis B, CorD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alcoholic liver disease, or exposure to toxins such as aflatoxin, or pyrrolizidine alkaloids.[4][5]: 870–873 Certain diseases, such as hemochromatosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, markedly increase the risk of developing HCC. The 5 year survival in those with HCC is 18%.[6]
As with any cancer, the treatment and prognosis of HCC varies depending on tumor histology, size, how far the cancer has spread, and overall health of the person.
The vast majority of HCC cases and the lowest survival rates after treatment occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, in countries where hepatitis B infection is endemic and many are infected from birth. The incidence of HCC in the United States and other higher income countries is increasing due to an increase in hepatitis C virus infections. The incidence of HCC due to NASH has also risen sharply in the past 20 years, with NASH being the fastest growing cause of HCC.[6][7] This is thought to be due to an increased prevalence of NASH, as well as its risk factors of diabetes and obesity, in higher income countries.[8] It is more than three times as common in males as in females, for unknown reasons.[5]: 870–873
Most cases of HCC occur in people who already have signs and symptoms of chronic liver disease. They may present with worsening symptoms or without symptoms at the time of cancer detection. HCC may present with non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or feeling tired.[9] Some symptoms that are more closely associated with liver disease include yellow skin (also called jaundice), abdominal swelling due to fluid in the abdominal cavity, easy bruising from blood clotting abnormalities, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or feeling tired.[9]
Since HCC mostly occurs in people with cirrhosis of the liver, risk factors generally include factors which cause chronic liver disease that may lead to cirrhosis. Certain risk factors are more highly associated with HCC than others. For example, while heavy alcohol consumption is estimated to cause 60–70% of cirrhosis, the vast majority of HCC occurs in cirrhosis attributed to viral hepatitis (although there may be overlap).[10] Recognized risk factors include:
The significance of these risk factors varies globally. In regions where hepatitis B infection is endemic, such as southeast China, hepatitis B is the predominant cause.[19] In populations largely protected by hepatitis B vaccination, such as the United States, HCC is most often linked to causes of cirrhosis such as chronic hepatitis C, obesity, and excessive alcohol use.[20]
Certain benign liver tumors, such as hepatocellular adenoma, may sometimes be associated with coexisting malignant HCC. Evidence is limited for the true incidence of malignancy associated with benign adenomas; however, the size of hepatic adenoma is considered to correspond to risk of malignancy and so larger tumors may be surgically removed. Certain subtypes of adenoma, particularly those with β-catenin activation mutation, are particularly associated with increased risk of HCC.[20]
Chronic liver disease is rare in children and adolescents; however, congenital liver disorders are associated with an increased the chance of developing HCC.[21] Specifically, children with biliary atresia, infantile cholestasis, glycogen-storage diseases, and other cirrhotic diseases of the liver are predisposed to developing HCC in childhood.[citation needed]
Young adults afflicted by the rare fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma may have none of the typical risk factors, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.[20]
The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in type 2 diabetics is greater (from 2.5[14] to 7.1[22] times the nondiabetic risk) depending on the duration of diabetes and treatment protocol.[23] A suspected contributor to this increased risk is circulating insulin concentration such that diabetics with poor insulin control or on treatments that elevate their insulin output (both states that contribute to a higher circulating insulin concentration) show far greater risk of hepatocellular carcinoma than diabetics on treatments that reduce circulating insulin concentration.[14][22][24][25] On this note, some diabetics who engage in tight insulin control (by keeping it from being elevated) show risk levels low enough to be indistinguishable from the general population.[22][24] This phenomenon is thus not isolated to diabetes mellitus type 2, since poor insulin regulation is also found in other conditions such as metabolic syndrome (specifically, when evidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD is present) and again evidence of greater risk exists here, too.[26][27] While there are claims that anabolic steroid abusers are at greater risk[28] (theorized to be due to insulin and IGF exacerbation[29][30]), the only evidence that has been confirmed is that anabolic steroid users are more likely to have the benign hepatocellular adenomas transform into the more dangerous hepatocellular carcinoma.[31][32]
Hepatocellular carcinoma, like any other cancer, develops when epigenetic alterations and mutations affecting the cellular machinery cause the cell to replicate at a higher rate and/or result in the cell avoiding apoptosis.[33] In particular, chronic infections of hepatitis B and/or C can aid the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by repeatedly causing the body's own immune system to attack the liver cells, some of which are infected by the virus, others merely bystanders.[34] Activated immune-system inflammatory cells release free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide reactive species, which in turn can cause DNA damage and lead to carcinogenic gene mutations.[35] Reactive oxygen species also cause epigenetic alterations at the sites of DNA repair.[36]
Many genes responsible for cell proliferation, apoptosis or cell senescence and differentiation are commonly mutated in HCC and are implicated in tumor formation. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter are seen in 47-60% of HCC cases.[6][37] The HBV genome commonly inserts into hepatocytes' TERT promoter site contributing to oncogenesis. These mutations in the promoter of TERT lead to a constitutively active telomerase which maintains telomere length and contributes to cell immortality. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are seen in about 30% of cases of HCC.[6] And mutations in Wnt signalling (which is responsible for embryogenesis and cell homeostasis) are also seen in HCC, specifically CTNNB1 mutations seen in 30% of cases and AXIN1 mutations seen in 10% of cases.[6] Mutations of genes involved in chromatin remodeling such as ARID1A and ARID2 are also seen in 10% and 5% of HCC cases respectively.
While this constant cycle of damage followed by repair can lead to mistakes during repair, which in turn lead to carcinogenesis, this hypothesis is more applicable, at present, to hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C causes HCC through the stage of cirrhosis. In chronic hepatitis B, however, the integration of the viral genome into infected cells can directly induce a noncirrhotic liver to develop HCC. Alternatively, repeated consumption of large amounts of ethanol can have a similar effect. The toxin aflatoxin from certain Aspergillus species of fungi is a carcinogen and aids carcinogenesis of hepatocellular cancer by building up in the liver. The combined high prevalence of rates of aflatoxin and hepatitis B in settings such as China and West Africa has led to relatively high rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in these regions. Other viral hepatitides such as hepatitis A have no potential to become a chronic infection, thus are not related to HCC.[20]
Methods of diagnosis in HCC have evolved with the improvement in medical imaging. The evaluation of both asymptomatic patients and those with symptoms of liver disease involves blood testing and imaging evaluation. Historically, a biopsy of a tumor was required to prove an HCC diagnosis. However, imaging (especially MRI) findings may be conclusive enough without histopathologic confirmation.[20][6]
HCC remains associated with a high mortality rate, in part because initial diagnosis commonly occurs at an advanced stage of disease. As with other cancers, outcomes are significantly improved if treatment is initiated earlier in the disease process. Since the vast majority of HCC cases occur in people with certain chronic liver diseases, especially those with cirrhosis, liver cancer screening is recommended in this population.[6] In the United States, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases(AASLD) recommends ultrasound screenings every six months for people with cirrhosis, with or without measurement of blood levels of the tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).[38][6] Elevated levels of AFP are associated with active HCC disease, though their reliability can be inconsistent. At levels >20, sensitivity is 41–65% and specificity is 80–94%. However, at levels >200, sensitivity is 31 and specificity is 99%.[39]
On ultrasound, HCC often appears as a small hypoechoic lesion with poorly defined margins and coarse, irregular internal echoes. When the tumor grows, it can sometimes appear heterogeneous with fibrosis, fatty change, and calcifications. This heterogeneity can look similar to cirrhosis and the surrounding liver parenchyma. A systematic review found that the sensitivity was 60% and specificity was 97% as compared with pathologic examination of an explanted or resected liver as the reference standard. The sensitivity increases to 79% with AFP correlation.[40] Hepatic nodules that are less than 1 centimeter in size on surveillance ultrasound require serial imaging to ensure stability and to monitor for potential transformation to HCC.[6]
Controversy remains as to the most effective screening protocols. For example, while some data support decreased mortality related to screening people with hepatitis B infection, the AASLD notes, “There are no randomized trials [for screening] in Western populations with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis C or fatty liver disease, and thus there is some controversy surrounding whether surveillance truly leads to a reduction in mortality in this population of patients with cirrhosis.”[38]
In a person where a higher suspicion of HCC exists, such as a person with symptoms or abnormal blood tests (i.e. alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma carboxyprothrombin levels),[41] evaluation requires imaging of the liver by CTorMRI scans. Optimally, these scans are performed with intravenous contrast in multiple phases of hepatic perfusion to improve detection and accurate classification of any liver lesions. Due to the characteristic blood flow pattern of HCC tumors, a specific perfusion pattern of any detected liver lesion may conclusively detect an HCC tumor. Alternatively, the scan may detect an indeterminate lesion and further evaluation may be performed by obtaining a biopsy of the lesion.[20][42]
Ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI may be used to evaluate the liver for HCC. On CT and MRI, HCC can have three distinct patterns of growth:[citation needed]
A systematic review of CT diagnosis found that the sensitivity was 68% (95% CI 55–80%) and specificity was 93% (95% CI 89–96%) compared with pathologic examination of an explanted or resected liver as the reference standard. With triple-phase helical CT, the sensitivity was 90% or higher, but these data have not been confirmed with autopsy studies.[40]
However, MRI has the advantage of delivering high-resolution images of the liver without ionizing radiation. HCC appears as a high-intensity pattern on T2-weighted images and a low-intensity pattern on T1-weighted images. The advantage of MRI is that it has improved sensitivity and specificity when compared to ultrasound and CT in cirrhotic patients with whom it can be difficult to differentiate HCC from regenerative nodules. A systematic review found that the sensitivity was 81% (95% CI 70–91%) and specificity was 85% (95% CI 77–93%) compared with pathologic examination of an explanted or resected liver as the reference standard.[40] The sensitivity is further increased if gadolinium contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted imaging are combined.
MRI is more sensitive and specific than CT.[43]
Liver image reporting and data system (LI-RADS) is a classification system for the reporting of liver lesions detected on CT and MRI. Radiologists use this standardized system to report on suspicious lesions and to provide an estimated likelihood of malignancy. Categories range from LI-RADS (LR) 1 to 5, in order of concern for cancer.[44] A biopsy is not needed to confirm the diagnosis of HCC if certain imaging criteria are met.[20]
Macroscopically, liver cancer appears as a nodular or infiltrative tumor. The nodular type may be solitary (large mass) or multiple (when developed as a complication of cirrhosis). Tumor nodules are round to oval, gray or green (if the tumor produces bile), well circumscribed but not encapsulated. The diffuse type is poorly circumscribed and infiltrates the portal veins, or the hepatic veins (rarely).[20]
Microscopically, the four architectural and cytological types (patterns) of hepatocellular carcinoma are: fibrolamellar, pseudoglandular (adenoid), pleomorphic (giant cell), and clear cell. In well-differentiated forms, tumor cells resemble hepatocytes, form trabeculae, cords, and nests, and may contain bile pigment in the cytoplasm. In poorly differentiated forms, malignant epithelial cells are discohesive, pleomorphic, anaplastic, and giant. The tumor has a scant stroma and central necrosis because of the poor vascularization.[45] A fifth form – lymphoepithelioma like hepatocellular carcinoma – has also been described.[46][47]
Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Staging System
The prognosis of HCC is affected by the staging of the tumor, the liver's function due to the effects of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis as well as the person's physical performance status.[48]
A number of staging classifications for HCC are available. However, due to the unique nature of the carcinoma to fully encompass all the features that affect the categorization of the HCC, a classification system should incorporate tumor size and number, presence of vascular invasion and extrahepatic spread, liver function (levels of serum bilirubin and albumin, presence of ascites, and portal hypertension) and general health status of the patient (defined by the ECOG classification) and the presence of symptoms.[48]
Of all the staging classification systems available, the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging classification encompasses all of the above characteristics. This staging classification can be used to guide treatment decisions.[49]
Stage | Description | Child-Pugh class | ECOG performance status |
---|---|---|---|
0 (very early stage) | Single nodule, < 3 cm | A | 0 |
A (early stage) | 1–3 nodule, all < 3 cm | A or B | |
B (intermediate stage) | Multi-nodular tumor | ||
C (advanced stage) | Portal invasion and extra-hepatic spread | 1 or 2 | |
D (terminal stage) | Severe liver damage | C | 3 or 4 |
Important features that guide treatment include:
The most common sites of metastasis are the lung, abdominal lymph nodes, and bone.[53]
Since hepatitis B and C are some of the main causes of hepatocellular carcinoma, prevention of infection is key to then prevent HCC. Thus, childhood vaccination against hepatitis B may reduce the risk of liver cancer in the future.[54] In those with chronic hepatitis C infection, treatment of the hepatitis C using medications reduces the risk of developing HCC.[6]
In the case of patients with cirrhosis, alcohol consumption is to be avoided. Also, screening for hemochromatosis may be beneficial for some patients.[55] HCC surveillance in those with chronic liver disease with cirrhosis is indicated and generally consists of a twice-yearly ultrasound with or without Alpha-fetoprotein lab testing.[6] The utility of HCC surveillance or screening in those with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis is less well established.[6]
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma varies by the stage of disease, a person's likelihood to tolerate surgery, and availability of liver transplantation:
Loco-regional therapy (also referred to as liver-directed therapy) refers to any one of several minimally-invasive treatment techniques to focally target HCC within the liver. These procedures are alternatives to surgery, and may be considered in combination with other strategies, such as a later liver transplantation.[57] Generally, these treatment procedures are performed by interventional radiologists or surgeons, in coordination with a medical oncologist. Loco-regional therapy may refer to either percutaneous therapies (e.g. cryoablation), or arterial catheter-based therapies (chemoembolization or radioembolization).[citation needed]
Surgical resection of HCC tumors is usually the preferred treatment for BCLC stage 0 or A disease.[6] Surgical resection is associated with a greater than 60% survival rate at 5 years and a recurrence rate greater than 70%.[6] Surgical removal of the tumor is associated with better cancer prognosis, but only 5–15% of patients are suitable for surgical resection due to the extent of disease or poor liver function.[58] Surgery is only considered if the entire tumor can be safely removed while preserving sufficient functional liver to maintain normal physiology. Thus, preoperative imaging assessment is critical to determine both the extent of HCC and to estimate the amount of residual liver remaining after surgery. To maintain liver function, residual liver volume should exceed 25% of total liver volume in a noncirrhotic liver, greater than 40% in a cirrhotic liver.[59] Surgery on diseased or cirrhotic livers is generally associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The Singapore Liver Cancer Recurrence score can be used to estimate risk of recurrence after surgery.[60]
Liver transplantation, replacing the diseased liver with a cadaveric or a living donor liver, plays an increasing role in treatment of HCC. Although outcomes following liver transplant were initially poor (20%–36% survival rate),[20] outcomes have significantly improved with improvement in surgical techniques and adoption of the Milan criteria at transplantation centers. Expanded Shanghai criteria in China have resulted in overall survival and disease-free survival rates similar to those achieved using the Milan criteria.[61] Studies from the late 2000s obtained higher survival rates ranging from 67% to 91%.[62] Other estimates of 5 year survival after liver transplantation range from 60-60% with a 50% survival rate at 10 years.[6] The risk of HCC recurrence after liver transplantation is less than 15%.[6] Macrovascular or extrahepatic spread (spread of the cancer to blood vessels or outside the liver, respectively) are contraindications to liver transplantation.[6]
The risks of liver transplantation extend beyond risk of the procedure itself. The immunosuppressive medication required after surgery to prevent rejection of the donor liver also impairs the body's natural ability to combat dysfunctional cells. If the tumor has spread undetected outside the liver before the transplant, the medication effectively increases the rate of disease progression and decreases survival. Liver transplantation can be a curative approach for patients with advanced HCC without extrahepatic metastasis.[63] Among patients with compensated cirrhosis, transplantation is not associated with improved survival compared to hepatectomy, but instead is significantly more expensive.[64]
Systemic therapy for HCC is indicated in BCLC stage C disease, in which cancer has spread beyond the liver. It is also indicated in BCLC stage B disease with tumor progression after local treatments.[6] In 2007, sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, was the first systemic agent approved for first-line treatment of advanced HCC.[75] Trials have found modest improvement in overall survival: 10.7 months vs 7.9 months and 6.5 months vs 4.2 months.[76][75]
The most common side effects of Sorafenib include a hand-foot skin reaction and diarrhea.[76] Sorafenib is thought to work by blocking growth of both tumor cells and new blood vessels. Numerous other molecular targeted drugs are being tested as alternative first- and second-line treatments for advanced HCC, such as lenvatinib and regorafenib.[77] Regorafenib increased survival from 7.8 to 10.6 months in those who had tumor progression while on sorafenib compared to placebo.[6][78]
Cabozantinib, which is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases including VEGFR, hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) and AXL and ramucirumab, an antibody directed against VEGF receptor 2, are second line therapies which have been shown to reduce the risk of death compared to placebo.[6][79][80]
A host of additional targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been found to be effective against. For instance, in the recent phase III trial IMBrave 150, the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab was found to improve both overall and progression-free survival compared to sorafenib alone.[81]
Tremelimumab (Imjudo) was approved for medical use in the United States in October 2022.[82] It is indicated, in combination with durvalumab, for the treatment of adults with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.[82]
The usual outcome is poor because only 10–20% of hepatocellular carcinomas can be removed completely using surgery. If the cancer cannot be completely removed, the disease is usually deadly within 3 to 6 months.[85] [failed verification] This is partially due to late presentation with tumors, but also the lack of medical expertise and facilities in the regions with high HCC prevalence. However, survival can vary, and occasionally people survive much longer than 6 months. The prognosis for metastatic or unresectable HCC has improved due to the approval of Sorafenib (Nexavar®) for advanced HCC.[citation needed]
HCC is one of the most common tumors worldwide. The epidemiology of HCC exhibits two main patterns, one in North America and Western Europe and another in non-Western countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and the Amazon basin. Males are affected more than females usually, and it is most common between the ages of 30 and 50,[5]: 821–881 Hepatocellular carcinoma causes 662,000 deaths worldwide per year[88] about half of them in China.
In some parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, HCC is the most common cancer, generally affecting men more than women, and with an age of onset between the late teens and 30s.[20] This variability is in part due to the different patterns of hepatitis B and hepatitis C transmission in different populations – infection at or around birth predispose to earlier cancers than if people are infected later. The time between hepatitis B infection and development into HCC can be years, even decades, but from diagnosis of HCC to death, the average survival period is only 5.9 months according to one Chinese study during the 1970-80s, or 3 months (median survival time) in sub-Saharan Africa according to Manson's textbook of tropical diseases. HCC is one of the deadliest cancers in China, where chronic hepatitis B is found in 90% of cases. In Japan, chronic hepatitis C is associated with 90% of HCC cases. Foods infected with Aspergillus flavus (especially peanuts and corns stored during prolonged wet seasons) which produces aflatoxins pose another risk factor for HCC.[89]
The most common malignant tumors in the liver represent metastases (spread) from tumors which originate elsewhere in the body.[5] Among cancers that originate from liver tissue, HCC is the most common primary liver cancer. In the United States, the US surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database program, shows that HCC accounts for 65% of all cases of liver cancers.[90] As screening programs are in place for high-risk persons with chronic liver disease, HCC is often discovered much earlier in Western countries than in developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.[citation needed]
Acute and chronic hepatic porphyrias (acute intermittent porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda, hereditary coproporphyria, variegate porphyria) and tyrosinemia type I are risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of an acute hepatic porphyria (AIP, HCP, VP) should be sought in patients with HCC without typical risk factors of hepatitis B or C, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, or hemochromatosis. Both active and latent genetic carriers of acute hepatic porphyrias are at risk for this cancer, although latent genetic carriers have developed the cancer at a later age than those with classic symptoms. Patients with acute hepatic porphyrias should be monitored for HCC.[citation needed]
The incidence of HCC is relatively lower in the Western Hemisphere than in Eastern Asia. However, despite the statistics being low, the diagnosis of HCC has increased since the 1980s and it is continuing to increase, making it one of the rising causes of death due to cancer. The common risk factor for HCC is hepatitis C, along with other health issues.[91][92]
Mipsagargin (G-202), has orphan drug designation as a treatment during chemotherapy for HCC.[93] It is a thapsigargin-based prodrug with cytotoxic activity used to reduce blood flow to the tumor during treatment. Results from Phase 2 trial recommended G-202 as a first-in-class PSMA-targeted prodrug and that it move to clinical trials.[94]
Current research includes the search for the genes that are disregulated in HCC, antiheparanase antibodies,[95] protein markers,[96] non-coding RNAs[97] (such as TUC338)[98] and other predictive biomarkers.[99][100] As similar research is yielding results in various other malignant diseases, it is hoped that identifying the aberrant genes and the resultant proteins could lead to the identification of pharmacological interventions for HCC.[101]
The development of three-dimensional culture methods provides a new approach for preclinical studies of cancer therapy using patient-derived organoids. These miniaturized organoid 'avatars' of a patient's tumor recapitulate several features of the original tumor, rendering them an attractive model for drug-sensitivity testing and precision medicine for HCC and other types of primary liver cancer.[102]
Furthermore, HCC occurs in patients with liver disease. A biomarker named six-miRNA signature allows effective treatment of patients with HCC and is able to predict its recurrence in the liver.[103]
A prospective study found that increased hepatocellular cancer risk is associated with higher levels of major circulating bile acids that were measured in people several years prior to tumor diagnosis.[104] In another study using a mouse model, it was found that dysregulated hepatic bile acids collaboratively promote liver carcinogenesis.[105]
JX-594, an oncolytic virus, has orphan drug designation for this condition and is undergoing clinical trials.[106] Hepcortespenlisimut-L (Hepko-V5), an oral cancer vaccine, also has US FDA orphan drug designation for HCC.[107] Immunitor Inc. completed a Phase II trial, published in 2017.[108] A randomized trial of people with advanced HCC showed no benefit for the combination of everolimus and pasireotide.[109]
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for HCC. However, more research is required to examine issues related to the duration and treatment of diabetes, and confounding by diet and obesity
Recent studies in our laboratory have identified several potential factors that may contribute to the pathogenesis of HCC...For example, oxyradical overload diseases such as Wilson disease and hemochromatosis result in the generation of oxygen/nitrogen species that can cause mutations in the p53 tumour suppressor gene
The patient described here was the oldest and only the third female patient with hepatocellular carcinoma complicating Wilson's disease to be reported in the literature
As copper has been shown to protect against chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats, this may be the reason for the extreme rarity of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with Wilson's disease and possibly in other liver diseases with hepatic copper overload
Diabetes appears to increase the risk of HCC, and such risk is correlated with a long duration of diabetes. Relying on dietary control and treatment with sulfonylureas or insulin were found to confer the highest magnitude of HCC risk, whereas treatment with biguanides or thiazolidinediones was associated with a 70% HCC risk reduction among diabetics.
Our study confirms that type 2 diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for HCC and pre-exists in the majority of HCC patients. Moreover, in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, our data shows a direct association of HCC with insulin and sulphanylureas treatment and an inverse relationship with metformin therapy.
The majority of 'cryptogenic' HCC in the United States is attributed to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome... It is predicted that metabolic syndrome will lead to large increases in the incidence of HCC over the next decades. A better understanding of the relation between these two diseases ultimately should lead to improved screening and treatment options for patients with HCC.
Based on the known association of NAFLD with IR and MS, approximately two-thirds of the patients were obese and/or diabetic, 4 and a remarkable 25% of these patients had no cirrhosis... Therefore, it is particularly worrying that the most persuasive evidence for an association between NAFLD and HCC derives from studies on the risk of HCC in patients with metabolic syndrome
Inhibition of IGF-1R tyrosine kinase (IGF-1R-TK) by NVP-AEW541 induces growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human HCC cell lines without accompanying cytotoxicity. Thus, IGF-1R-TK inhibition may be a promising novel treatment approach in HCC.
Our data indicate that loss of autocrine/paracrine IGFBP-3 loops may lead to HCC tumor growth and suggest that modulating production of the IGFs, IGFBP-3, and IGF-IR may represent a novel approach in the treatment of HCC.
This is the first reported case of hepatic adenoma re-growth with recidivistic steroid abuse, complicated by life-threatening hemorrhage.
Malignant transformation to HCC from a pre-existing hepatic adenoma confirmed by immunohistochemical study has previously not been reported in athletes taking anabolic steroids. Further studies using screening programmes to identify high-risk individuals are recommended.
Classification |
|
---|---|
External resources |
|
Diseases of the human digestive system
| |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Upper GI tract |
| ||||||||||
Lower GI tract Enteropathy |
| ||||||||||
GI bleeding |
| ||||||||||
Accessory |
| ||||||||||
Other |
|
Glandular and epithelial cancer
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Epithelium |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Glands |
|
| |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oncovirus |
| ||||||||
Immune disorders |
| ||||||||
Central nervous system |
| ||||||||
Cardiovascular |
| ||||||||
Respiratory system/ acute viral nasopharyngitis/ viral pneumonia |
| ||||||||
Human digestive system |
| ||||||||
Urogenital |
|