Prolonged survival in women with hepatocellular carcinoma: A French observational study.

Background And Aim: Less than 25 % of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in women, in whom prognosis could be better. Due to the lack of date in Europe, this study aims to assess survival of patients with HCC according sex in a tertiary French liver center.

Patients And Methods: Every patient diagnosed with a first diagnosis of HCC presented at our weekly multidisciplinary tumor board between 2013 and 2017 were included.

Heterogeneity in adverse events related to atezolizumab-bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma reported in real-world studies.

Background & Aims: Safety data for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab in the real-world setting remain uncertain. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients with HCC treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab in the literature.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed for original studies reporting percentages of AEs in patients with HCC receiving atezolizumab-bevacizumab between 2020 to 2023, using the search terms "Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab", "HCC" and "Adverse events".

Upfront multi-bipolar radiofrequency ablation for HCC in transplant-eligible cirrhotic patients with salvage transplantation in case of recurrence.

Introduction: We aim to assess the long-term outcomes of percutaneous multi-bipolar radiofrequency (mbpRFA) as the first treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in transplant-eligible cirrhotic patients, followed by salvage transplantation for intrahepatic distant tumour recurrence or liver failure.

Materials And Methods: We included transplant-eligible patients with cirrhosis and a first diagnosis of HCC within Milan criteria treated by upfront mbp RFA. Transplantability was defined by age <70 years, social support, absence of significant comorbidities, no active alcohol use and no recent extrahepatic cancer.

Portal hypertension is associated with poorer outcome and clinical liver decompensation in patients with HCC treated with Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab.

Background: Portal hypertension (PHT) often complicates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment and prognosis. We aimed to assess PHT's impact on AtezoBev outcomes and identify predictors of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and clinical ascites occurrence.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 200 HCC patients treated with AtezoBev was studied alongside a retrospective cohort of 123 patients treated with Sorafenib.

No correlation between MASLD and poor outcome of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab therapy in patients with advanced HCC.

Introduction: It has been suggested that in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of metabolic aetiology, the efficacy of immunotherapy may be reduced. The aim was to investigate the impact of metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic risk factors (MRF) on the outcomes of Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab (AtezoBev).

Methods: We collected data from 295 AtezoBev-treated patients, starting in 2020.

The liver in sickle cell disease.

Liver involvement in SCD patients is frequent but often misdiagnosed or underestimated, except in case of advanced liver diseases. Because of so far poorly recognized forms of chronic SCD-related vascular injury that can silently evolved towards end stages or facilitate ACLF, any persisting liver function tests abnormalities should be carefully investigated, following the above proposed algorithm. Work up and management must be considered multidisciplinary in relationship with a Hepatologist.

Impact of radiological response and pattern of progression in patients with HCC treated by atezolizumab-bevacizumab.

Background And Aims: We aim to assess the role of radiological response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients with HCC to predict overall survival.

Approach And Results: We retrospectively included patients with HCC treated by atezolizumab-bevacizumab in 2 tertiary centers. A retrospective blinded analysis was performed by 2 radiologists to assess Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST 1.

Albumin infusion reduces ascite occurrence in Child-Pugh B patients treated by Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab for advanced HCC.

Background: Long-term albumin infusions have been associated with improved outcomes in decompensated cirrhotic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of albumin infusion on the prognosis of Child-Pugh B patients undergoing treatment with AtezoBev for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentric study that included all Child-Pugh B cirrhotic patients treated with AtezoBev since 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in a high-prevalence area: What's new 12 months later?

Introduction And Objectives: The lockdown policy introduced in 2020 to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affected the management and care of patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this follow-up study was to determine the 12 months impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cohort of patients affected by HCC during the lockdown, within six French academic referral centers in the metropolitan area of Paris.

Materials And Methods: We performed a 12 months follow-up of the cross-sectional study cohort included in 2020 on the management of patients affected by HCC during the first six weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic (exposed), compared to the same period in 2019 (unexposed).

Baveno VI and VII criteria are not suitable for screening for large varices or clinically significant portal hypertension in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Baveno VI and VII criteria are used in patients with cirrhosis to rule out large size oesophageal varices (EV) and rule in/out clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH).

Aim: To evaluate their diagnostic performance in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively included all patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis and HCC who had endoscopy, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and platelet count within 6 months.

Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after treatment failure with multikinase inhibitors.

Background And Aims: Data on the effectiveness of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo-bev) after failure of multikinase inhibitor (MKI) therapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma are scarce.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included all consecutive patients treated with atezo-bev after failing one or more MKI treatments in the setting of an early access program. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) by investigator assessment (using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.

Sulfatase 2 Along with Syndecan 1 and Glypican 3 Serum Levels are Associated with a Prognostic Value in Patients with Alcoholic Cirrhosis-Related Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Sulfatase 2 (SULF2) is an enzyme related to heparan sulfate modifications. Its expression, as for some heparan sulfate proteoglycans expression, has been linked to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at mRNA level and immunohistochemistry staining on biopsy samples. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of serum levels of SULF2 in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis with or without HCC.

Baseline ALBI score and early variation of serum AFP predicts outcomes in patients with HCC treated by atezolizumab-bevacizumab.

Background: The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is the current first-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) early response and its combination with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) in these patients.

Methods: Patients with HCC under AtezoBev with AFP > 20 ng/ml were included in three centres.

Imaging and histological features of tumor biopsy sample predict aggressive intrasegmental recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation.

Aggressive intrasegmental recurrence (AIR) is a form of local recurrence associated with a dismal prognosis and defined by multiple nodules or by an infiltrative mass with a tumor thrombus, occurring in the treated segment, after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to identify radiological and/or histological characteristics of tumor biopsy predictive of AIR. We retrospectively analyzed patients treated by No-Touch multi-bipolar RFA (mbpRFA) for a first HCC with a systematic per-procedural tumor biopsy positive for diagnosis of HCC.

A history of variceal bleeding is associated with further bleeding under atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients with HCC.

Background: Atezolizumab-bevacizumab is the new standard for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but its impact on portal hypertension (PHT) is unknown. We aimed to identify predictive factors of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and to monitor PHT parameters under treatment.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study including all cirrhotic patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab since 2020.

Impact of sarcopenia on tumor response and survival outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization.

Background: At the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), more than 90% of HCC patients present cirrhosis, a clinical condition often associated to malnutrition. Sarcopenia is an indirect marker of malnutrition assessable on computed tomography (CT).

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of sarcopenia in patients with HCC treated by trans-arterial (chemo)-embolization.

Body weight changes and duration of estrogen exposure modulate the evolution of hepatocellular adenomas after contraception discontinuation.

Background And Aims: The natural history of hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) remains to be better described, especially in nonresected patients. We aim to identify the predictive factors of HCA evolution after estrogen-based contraception discontinuation.

Approach And Results: We retrospectively included patients with a histological diagnosis of HCA from three centers.

Outcome of liver cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: An International, Multicentre, Cohort Study.

Background & Aims: Information about the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with liver cancer is lacking. This study characterizes the outcomes and mortality risk in this population.

Methods: Multicentre retrospective, cross-sectional, international study of liver cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection registered between February and December 2020.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma developed on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Long-term outcomes after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been poorly studied. We aim to determine the outcomes after multibipolar RFA in these patients compared to other aetiologies as well as the prognostic impact of metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods: Patients who underwent multibipolar RFA as the first treatment for HCC within Milan criteria (2008-2018) were enrolled in this multicentre retrospective cohort from four tertiary centres in France.

Percutaneous ablation for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor portal invasion.

Introduction: We aim to assess the outcomes of percutaneous ablation of locally advanced HCC in a tertiary center, which is usually not indicated. We compared to sorafenib or trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE).

Methods: We included 272 patients with HCC and tumor portal invasion treated by percutaneous ablation (n = 44) assessed retrospectively from one center compared to a control group from the SARAH trial including patients treated with sorafenib (n = 123) or TARE (n = 105).

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on liver cancer management (CERO-19).

Background & Aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems and it may have heavily impacted patients with liver cancer (LC). Herein, we evaluated whether the schedule of LC screening or procedures has been interrupted or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An international survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and clinical trials from March 2020 to June 2020, as the first phase of a multicentre, international, and observational project.

Liver Stiffness by Transient Elastography to Detect Porto-Sinusoidal Vascular Liver Disease With Portal Hypertension.

Background And Aims: Porto-sinusoidal vascular liver disease (PSVD) is a rare cause of portal hypertension. PSVD is still often misdiagnosed as cirrhosis, emphasizing the need to improve PSVD diagnosis strategies. Data on liver stiffness measurement using transient elastography (TE-LSM) in PSVD are limited.