Additional Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy to Sorafenib Was Cost-Effective for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Major Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis.

Purpose: The combination of sorafenib and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (SoHAIC) has shown to enhance overall survival rates in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and major portal vein tumor thrombosis (HCC-Vp3-4) compared to sorafenib alone. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SoHAIC versus sorafenib for the treatment of HCC-Vp3-4, taking into account the viewpoint of Chinese healthcare payers.

Methods: This pharmacoeconomic study employed a Markov model to assess the cost-effectiveness of treating HCC-Vp3-4 with SoHAIC in comparison to sorafenib.

Recommended 10-Year Follow-Up Strategy for Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation: A Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation.

Introduction: An optimal follow-up schedule for small (≤3-cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains unclear in clinical guidelines. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of follow-up strategies in patients with small HCC after RFA.

Methods: In total, 11,243 patients were collected from global institutions to calculate recurrence rates.

Hepatic arterial infusion therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after systemic treatment failure: Multicenter, real-world study.

Aim: The study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and safety profile of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin (HAIC-FOLFOX) as an alternative therapeutic choice for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is refractory to systemic treatment including immune checkpoint blockades or molecular targeting agents.

Methods: Two hundred and forty five consecutive patients with advanced HCC who received HAIC-FOLFOX treatment after systemic treatment failure were retrospectively reviewed in six institutions and their survival, tumor response, and tolerance were assessed.

Results: The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival of the 209 included participants were 10.

Cost-effectiveness and prognostic model of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with high tumor burden and/or Vp4 tumor thrombus compared with sorafenib: a post-hoc analysis of the FOHAIC-1 trial.

Objectives: The phase III FOHAIC-1 trial revealed that hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy (HAIC) improved overall survival compared to sorafenib in the high-risk hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study therefore set out to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and establish a prognostic clinico-radiological score of HAIC.

Materials And Methods: A total of 409 patients with high-risk HCC who received HAIC between 2014 and 2020 were included.

Transarterial Chemoembolization and Sorafenib Combined with Microwave Ablation for Advanced Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Preliminary Investigation of Safety and Efficacy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib (TACE-S) combined with microwave ablation (TACE-S-MWA) for the treatment of patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, 152 consecutive advanced HCC patients, who underwent TACE-S-MWA (MWA group, n=77) or TACE-S (Non-MWA group, n=75), were investigated. Overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP) and safety were compared between the two groups.

A nomogram to predict survival of patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma after transarterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation.

Objectives: To develop a prognostic nomogram based on the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade for prediction of the long-term survival of patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation (TACE-MWA).

Methods: We retrospectively studied 546 consecutive patients with intermediate-stage HCC according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer guidelines who underwent TACE-MWA between January 2000 and December 2016. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed.

Comparison of albumin-bilirubin grade, platelet-albumin-bilirubin grade and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class for prediction of survival in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma after transarterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation.

To compare the predictive value of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, platelet-ALBI (PALBI) grade and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation (TACE-MWA). A total of 349 consecutive HCC patients (89.1% male; mean [± SD] age 53.

Sequential and Simultaneous 4-Antenna Microwave Ablation in an Ex Vivo Bovine Liver Model.

Aims: To determine the sizes and shapes of ablation zones in 4-antenna microwave ablation in ex vivo bovine liver model under different conditions of power delivery patterns, antenna spacings, and ablation durations, for further using of multi-antenna MWA strategies in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: We tested protocols of eight ablations each on ex vivo bovine livers, involving simultaneous or sequential activation of four microwave antennas, spaced either 3 cm, 4 cm, or 5 cm apart, for either 10 or 15 min, at 60-W power. We determined the diameters, shapes, and temperatures of the ablation zones.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Gastrostomy without Preliminary Placement of a Nasogastric Tube.

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) requires preliminary gastric inflation through a nasogastric tube (NGT) to safely perform gastric puncture. However, in case of pharyngeal or esophageal obstruction, NGT placement may be impossible even with a hydrophilic angiography catheter and wire. This brief report describes percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided gastrostomy with a 2-stick approach without nasogastric insufflation in 13 patients.

Predictive value of the albumin-bilirubin grade on long-term outcomes of CT-guided percutaneous microwave ablation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade on assessing long-term outcomes of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (CT-PMWA) in the treatment of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Methods: Between April 2011 and March 2018, 78 patients who underwent CT-PMWA were enrolled in this study. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were compared in the groups stratified by the ALBI grade and Child-Pugh score.

Focused ultrasound for the treatment of bone metastases: effectiveness and feasibility.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of bone metastases.

Methods: A single-center prospective study was made involving 17 consecutive patients with symptomatic bone metastases. Patients were treated by Focused Ultrasound (FUs) performed with magnetic resonance (MR) guidance.

Effects of relaxing therapies on patient's pain during percutaneous interventional radiology procedures.

Background: Interventional radiology procedures in cancer patients cause stress and anxiety. Our objective was to relate our experience in the use of sophrology techniques during interventional radiology procedures and evaluate the effects on patient's pain and anxiety.

Methods: We present a prospective observational study on 60 consecutive patients who underwent interventional radiology procedures in a context of oncologic management from September 2017 to March 2018.

Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Therapy Versus Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma within the Milan Criteria: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To meta-analytically compare combined transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical resection (SR) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies comparing these two therapies that were published between January 2006 and August 2017. Overall survival rate (OS), recurrence-free survival rate (RFS), major complications and the average length of hospital stay were compared between these two therapies.

Increasing radiofrequency ablation volumes with the use of internally cooled electrodes and injected hydrochloric acid in ex vivo bovine livers.

Purpose: We used an impedance-controlled generator with an internally cooled electrode to perform radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in ex vivo bovine livers, with a single injection of either 38.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) or 10% hydrochloric acid (HCl), to determine the relative effects of these two solutions on tissue impedance, temperature and ablation volume.

Materials And Methods: We performed 10 ablations each with injections of NaCl (NaCl-RFA), HCl (HCl-RFA) or nothing (RFA-alone), with a power setting of 200 W for 15 minutes.

Safety and effect on ablation size of hydrochloric acid-perfused radiofrequency ablation in animal livers.

Purpose: Our objective was to determine the safety and ablation size of hydrochloric acid-perfused radiofrequency ablation (HCl-RFA) in liver tissues, prospectively using in vivo rabbit and ex vivo porcine liver models.

Materials And Methods: The livers in 30 rabbits were treated in vivo with perfusions of normal saline (controls) and HCl concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, during RFA at 103 °C and 30 W for 3 min. For each experimental setting, six ablations were created.

Prognostic Factors for Survival After Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Sorafenib in the Treatment of BCLC Stage B and C Hepatocellular Carcinomas.

Rationale And Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages B and C.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data of 198 patients with BCLC stage B and C HCCs who underwent TACE combined with sorafenib between June 2012 and January 2017 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Survival curves were detected using log-rank test.

Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization in the treatment for unresectable soft tissue sarcoma refractory to systemic chemotherapy: a preliminary evaluation of efficacy and safety.

Purpose: To preliminarily evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) for unresectable soft tissue sarcoma refractory to systemic chemotherapy.

Methods: Ten patients with refractory sarcoma who underwent DEB-TACE therapy between January 2015 and January 2017 were identified. Clinical information and radiological data were retrospectively collected to analyze tumor response, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival and adverse events (AEs).

The effect of lipiodol deposition in HCC after TACE on the necrosis range of PMCT.

Objective: To study the impact of lipiodol deposition in the lesion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the necrosis area of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT).

Materials And Methods: A total of 44 patients with HCC with 56 nodules, with a size ranging from 1.5 to 3.

Vicious circle of acute radiation toxicities and weight loss predicts poor prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients receiving intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Weight loss during radiotherapy has been known as a negative prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, but the factors related to weight loss during radiotherapy were not fully understood. A total of 322 newly diagnosed NPC patients receiving intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between June 2002 and August 2006 were enrolled. Kaplan-Meier methods and log-rank test were applied for survival analysis; a multiple regression was used to identify the factors related to weight loss during radiotherapy.

Hydrochloric acid-enhanced radiofrequency ablation for treating a large hepatocellular carcinoma with spontaneous rapture: a case report.

Background: A ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often fatal. In addition to surgery and transarterial embolization, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) might be another option for treating a ruptured HCC. Unfortunately, conventional RFA has a limited ablation zone; as such, it is rarely used to treat ruptured tumors.

Ex Vivo Liver Experiment of Hydrochloric Acid-Infused and Saline-Infused Monopolar Radiofrequency Ablation: Better Outcomes in Temperature, Energy, and Coagulation.

Objective: To compare temperature, energy, and coagulation between hydrochloric acid-infused radiofrequency ablation (HAIRFA) and normal saline-infused radiofrequency ablation (NSIRFA) in ex vivo porcine liver model.

Materials And Methods: 30 fresh porcine livers were excised in 60 lesions, 30 with HAIRFA and the other 30 with NSIRFA. Both modalities used monopolar perfusion electrode connected to a RF generator set at 103 °C and 30 W.

Interventional digital subtraction angiography for small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors with bleeding.

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of interventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for bleeding small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2013, small bowel tumors in 25 consecutive patients undergoing emergency interventional DSA were histopathologically confirmed as GIST after surgical resection. The medical records of these patients and the effects of interventional DSA and the presentation and management of the condition were retrospectively reviewed.

Prognostic factors for survival after transarterial chemoembolization combined with microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To analyze prognostic factors for survival after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation (MWA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Clinical data of 86 patients who underwent TACE combined with MWA between January 2006 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Survival curves were detected using log-rank test.

[Effects of intra-arterial infusion of 3-bromopyruvate on metastases and survival benefit of hepatic VX2 tumor in rabbits].

Objective: To evaluate the metastasis and survival of an intra-arterial infusion of 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) on hepatic VX2 tumor in rabbits.

Methods: VX2 tumor was implanted in left lateral lobe of liver of 18 white New Zealand rabbits. The animals were randomized into 3 groups (n = 6 each) and underwent an intra-arterial infusion of phosphate-buffered saline or 3-BrPA via hepatic artery at 14 days post-implantation.

[Interstitial implantation of ¹²⁵I seed therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer].

Objective: To explore the feasibility, short-term efficacies and complications of computed tomography (CT)-guided ¹²⁵I interstitial implant therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods: From October 2009 to November 2010, a total of 25 lesions for 12 patients were diagnosed as recurrent ovarian cancer by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Among 25 lesions, 21 underwent ¹²⁵I seed implantation.