Publications by authors named "Aline Lopes Chagas"

Purpose: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare primary liver malignancy often diagnosed at advanced stages. While there are limited data on the efficacy of specific agents, we aim to report outcomes of patients treated with systemic therapies and explore prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Medical records of patients treated between 2010 and 2022 were reviewed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) published in 2020 the updated recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. Since then, new data have emerged in the literature, including new drugs approved for the systemic treatment of HCC that were not available at the time.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • PBC and AIH/PBC are linked to an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extra-hepatic malignancy (EHM), prompting a study to identify cancer risk factors in these patients.
  • The study analyzed data from 752 PBC patients, finding 87 cancer cases, including 20 HCC and 67 EHM, with notable associations between HCC and factors like cirrhosis, smoking, and certain medications.
  • Cirrhosis, obesity, and past azathioprine therapy were identified as independent risk factors for HCC, while Sjogren syndrome and psoriasis correlated with EHM; overall, EHM prevalence was higher in PBC patients compared to HCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the prognostic significance of inflammatory indexes, particularly the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing treatment with sorafenib.
  • Variations in NLR over the first month of treatment were linked to survival rates, with patients maintaining a low NLR showing significantly better outcomes than those with consistently high NLR.
  • The findings highlight the potential of monitoring NLR dynamics as indicators of treatment response and patient prognosis in HCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical features, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) screening, treatment modalities, and Overall Survival (OS) in a series of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) Brazilian patients.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at the Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo, at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo with the approval of the local research ethics committee. NAFLD patients with HCC diagnosed, from May 2010 to May 2019, were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background & Aims: Good outcomes after liver transplantation (LT) have been reported after successfully downstaging to Milan criteria in more advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to compare post-LT outcomes in patients receiving locoregional therapies (LRT) before LT according to Milan criteria and University of California San Francisco downstaging (UCSF-DS) protocol and 'all-comers'.

Methods: This multicentre cohort study included patients who received any LRT before LT from Europe and Latin America (2000-2018).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To investigate whether quantitative textural features, extracted from pretreatment MRI, can predict sustained complete response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: In this IRB-approved study, patients were selected from a maintained six-year database of consecutive patients who underwent both pretreatment MRI imaging with a probable or definitive imaging diagnosis of HCC (LI-RADS 4 or 5) and loco-regional treatment with RFA. An experienced radiologist manually segmented the hepatic nodules in MRI arterial and equilibrium phases to obtain the volume of interest (VOI) for extraction of 107 quantitative textural features, including shape and first- and second-order features.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in Brazil. SBRT is an evolving treatment in HCC patients not candidates to other local therapies. Its adoption in clinical practice has been heterogeneous, with lack of data on its generalizability in the Brazilian population.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction And Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main indications for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In Brazil, selection criteria for HCC is an expanded version of the Milan Criteria (MC), the so-called "Brazilian Milan Criteria" (BMC). Our aims were to evaluate post-OLT outcomes in patients with HCC and analyze the BMC performance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

More than 18 million people in 188 countries have been diagnosed as having coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and COVID-19 has been responsible for more than 600,000 deaths worldwide. Brazil is now the second most affected country globally. Faced with this scenario, various public health measures and changes in the daily routines of hospitals were implemented to stop the pandemic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) published in 2015 its first recommendations about the management of HCC. Since then, new data have emerged in the literature, prompting the governing board of SBH to sponsor a single-topic meeting in August 2018 in São Paulo.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Over 38,000 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occur annually in Latin America, with many patients diagnosed late due to sociocultural and economic barriers.
  • The primary cause of HCC in the region is viral hepatitis, but there's a growing concern over fatty liver disease, similar to trends observed in Western countries.
  • Key challenges include increasing screening coverage, improving healthcare access, and providing ongoing medical training to better manage and prevent HCC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Liver and biliary tract diseases are common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Invasive procedures are usually performed in those patients with hepatobiliary diseases for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Defining proper indications and restraints of commonly used techniques is crucial for proper patient selection, maximizing positive results and limiting complications.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Before the targeted therapies era, cytotoxic chemotherapy (CCT) was an option for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even with the lack of supporting evidence. Since the last decade, sorafenib has been established as the first-line therapy. Although new agents are being incorporated, CCT is still considered in regions where new drugs are not available or for patients who progressed through the approved therapies and remain in good clinical condition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Currently, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the screening of hepatic nodules in patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure. The objectives of this study are to evaluate in this population the frequency of hepatic nodules at ultrasound (US), CT, and MRI; to measure liver stiffness using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography; and to investigate predictive factors for hepatic nodules.

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 49 patients who underwent the Fontan procedure were prospectively recruited from August 2014 through June 2016.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives:: This study sought to assess the adherence of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma patients to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer system treatment guidelines and to examine the impact of adherence on the survival of patients in different stages of the disease.

Methods:: This study included all patients referred for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma between 2010 and 2012. Patients (n=364) were classified according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often persistent and gradually advances from chronic hepatitis to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common neoplasm.

Method Of Study: the Interferon lambda (IFNL) polymorphisms genotypes (rs8099917, rs12979860 and rs12980275) and the presence of mutations in HCV core protein were analyzed in 59 patients with HCC, and also in 50 cirrhotic patients (without HCC).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Schistosomiasis is a major chronic disease of humans in endemic regions, and infected individuals may develop a spectrum of pathology, including hepatic fibrosis, hepatosplenomegaly, and portal hypertension. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the fifth most common cancer in the world, and there is limited and controversial evidence suggesting that Schistosoma mansoni infection may be a possible risk factor for HCC. The aim of this study was to report a case series of patients with HCC and S.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as late diagnosis is the main factor for the poor survival of patients. There is an urgent need for accurate biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC. The aim of the study was to explore the serum lipidome profiles of hepatitis B-related HCC to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare primary malignant liver tumor that differs from conventional hepatocellular carcinoma in several aspects. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, surgical and histopathological features of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma and to analyze the factors associated with survival.

Methods: We identified 21 patients with histopathologically diagnosed fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma over a 22-year period.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare disease with an indolent behavior. Its prognosis is better than that of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The authors present their experience with resection of FLHCC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF