Bruno C. Odisio

Transarterial hepatic chemoembolization with 70-150 µm drug-eluting beads: assessment of clinical safety and liver toxicity profile.

PURPOSE To assess the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) in the form of clinical symptoms and liver/biliary injuries (LBI) in patients with hepatic malignancies treated with transarterial chemoembolization using 70-150 μm drug-eluting beads (DEBs). MATERIALS AND METHODS A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed in 37 patients (25 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 12 patients with metastatic disease) who underwent 43 sessions of segmental/subsegmental 70-150 μm DEB transarterial chemoembolization with doxorubicin (38 sessions) or irinotecan (5 sessions). Patient inclusion criteria included the presence of the following lesion features: small diameter (≤ 3 cm), hypovascular, or with areas of residual disease after other locoregional therapies. Mean tumor diameter was 3.4 cm. Mean imaging and clinical follow-up periods were 171 days and 373 days, respectively. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were used to identify and classify clinically symptomatic AEs per session and LBI per patient according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.03. Predictors for the occurrence of LBI were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS No grade 4 or 5 AEs were recorded. Clinically symptomatic AEs occurred in 29 (67.4%) sessions (grade 1-2, 28 sessions; grade 3, 1 session), all constituting postembolization syndrome. Asymptomatic LBI occurred in 11 (29.7%) patients (grade 1, 8 patients; grade 2, 3 patients). The mean time between 70-150 μm DEB transarterial chemoembolization session and appearance of LBI was 71 days (range, 21-223 d). No predictive factors for the development of LBI were identified. CONCLUSIONS Transarterial chemoembolization with 70-150 μm DEBs was considered safe in the present study population given the acceptably low incidence and severity of AEs.

Image-Guided Interventions in Oncology

Interventional oncology, a term commonly used to indicate the minimally invasive procedures performed by interventional radiologists to diagnose and manage cancer, encompasses a broad spectrum of techniques unique to interventional radiology that have been established as a vital part of the multidisciplinary oncologic cancer care team. This article provides an updated overview of the variety of applications of image-guided procedures to distinct clinical scenarios, such as the diagnosis, treatment, and management of complications of malignancies.

Minimally invasive treatment of hepatic adenoma in special cases

ABSTRACT Hepatocellular adenoma is a rare benign tumor that was increasingly diagnosed in the 1980s and 1990s. This increase has been attributed to the widespread use of oral hormonal contraceptives and the broader availability and advances of radiological tests. We report two cases of patients with large hepatic adenomas who were subjected to minimally invasive treatment using arterial embolization. One case underwent elective embolization due to the presence of multiple adenomas and recent bleeding in one of the nodules. The second case was a victim of blunt abdominal trauma with rupture of a hepatic adenoma and clinical signs of hemodynamic shock secondary to intra-abdominal hemorrhage, which required urgent treatment. The development of minimally invasive locoregional treatments, such as arterial embolization, introduced novel approaches for the treatment of individuals with hepatic adenoma. The mortality rate of emergency resection of ruptured hepatic adenomas varies from 5 to 10%, but this rate decreases to 1% when resection is elective. Arterial embolization of hepatic adenomas in the presence of bleeding is a subject of debate. This observation suggests a role for transarterial embolization in the treatment of ruptured and non-ruptured adenomas, which might reduce the indication for surgery in selected cases and decrease morbidity and mortality. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a reduction of the embolized lesions and significant avascular component 30 days after treatment in the two cases in this report. No novel lesions were observed, and a reduction in the embolized lesions was demonstrated upon radiological assessment at a 12-month follow-up examination.

Management of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: how do we decide among the various liver-directed treatments?

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma often causes death due to obstruction of the biliary system or interruption of the vascular supply of the liver. This fact emphasizes the critical need for local tumor control in this disease. Successful local tumor control has traditionally been achievable through surgical resection for the small proportion of patients with operable tumors. Technological advances in radiation oncology and in interventional radiology have enabled the delivery of ablative radiation doses or other cytotoxic therapies for tumors in the liver. In some cases, this has translated into substantial prolongation of life for patients with this disease, but the indications for these different treatment options are still the subject of ongoing debate. Here, we review the technological advances and clinical studies that are changing the way intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is managed, and discuss ways to achieve individualized treatment of patients.

Ablation of colorectal liver metastasis: Interaction of ablation margins and RAS mutation profiling on local tumour progression-free survival.

ObjectivesTo investigate effects of ablation margins on local tumour progression-free survival (LTPFS) according to RAS status in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM).MethodsThis two-institution retrospective study from 2005–2016 included 136 patients (91 male, median age 60 years) with 218 ablated CLM. LTPFS was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Uni/multivariate analyses were performed using Cox-regression models.ResultsThree-year LTPFS rates for CLM with minimal ablation margin ≤10 mm were significantly worse than those with >10 mm in both mutant-RAS (29% vs. 48%, p=0.038) and wild-type RAS (70% vs. 94%, p=0.039) subgroups. Three-year LTPFS rates of mutant-RAS were significantly worse than wild-type RAS in both CLM subgroups with minimal ablation margin ≤10 mm (29% vs. 70%, p<0.001) and >10 mm (48% vs. 94%, p=0.006). Predictors of worse LTPFS were ablation margins ≤10 mm (HR: 2.17, 95% CI 1.2–4.1, p=0.007), CLM size ≥2 cm (1.80, 1.1–2.8, p=0.017) and mutant-RAS (2.85, 1.7–4.6, p<0.001).ConclusionsMinimal ablation margin and RAS status interact as independent predictors of LTPFS following CLM ablation. While minimal ablation margins >10 mm should be always the procedural goal, this becomes especially critical for mutant-RAS CLM.Key Points• RAS and ablation margins are predictors of local tumour progression-free survival.• Ablation margin >10 mm, always desirable, is crucial for mutant RAS metastases.• Interventional radiologists should be aware of RAS status to optimize LTPFS.

Minimally invasive image-guided therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequently occurring cancer globally and predominantly develops in the setting of various grades of underlying chronic liver disease, which affects management decisions. Image-guided percutaneous ablative or transarterial therapies have acquired wide acceptance in HCC management as a single treatment modality or combined with other treatment options in patients who are not amenable for surgery. Recently, such treatment modalities have also been used for bridging or downsizing before definitive treatment (ie, surgical resection or liver transplantation). This review focuses on the use of minimally invasive image-guided locoregional therapies for HCC. Additionally, it highlights recent advancements in imaging and catheter technology, embolic materials, chemotherapeutic agents, and delivery techniques; all lead to improved patient outcomes, thereby increasing the interest in these invasive techniques.

Embryonic origin of primary colon cancer predicts survival in patients undergoing ablation for colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND In patients with primary colorectal cancer (CRC) or unresectable metastatic CRC, midgut embryonic origin is associated with worse prognosis. The impact of embryonic origin on survival after ablation of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) is unclear. METHODS We identified 74 patients with CLM who underwent percutaneous ablation during 2004-2015. Survival and recurrence after ablation of CLM from midgut origin (n = 18) and hindgut origin (n = 56) were analyzed. Prognostic value of embryonic origin was evaluated. RESULTS Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after percutaneous ablation were worse in patients from midgut origin (3-year RFS: 5.6% vs. 24%, P = 0.004; 3-year OS: 25% vs. 70%, P 0.001). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with worse OS were midgut origin (hazard ratio [HR] 4.87, 95% CI 2.14-10.9, P 0.001), multiple CLM (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.02-5.39, P = 0.044), and RAS mutation (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.25-6.36, P = 0.013). At a median follow-up of 25 months, 56 patients (76%) had developed recurrence, 16 (89%) with midgut origin and 40 (71%) with hindgut origin (P = 0.133). Recurrent disease was treated with local therapy in 20 patients (36%), 2 (13%) with midgut origin and 18 (45%) with hindgut origin (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION Compared to CLM from hindgut origin tumors, CLM from midgut origin tumors were associated with worse survival after ablation, which was partly attributable to the fact that patients with hindgut origin were more frequently candidates for local therapy at recurrence.

Balloon-Assisted Flow Diversion and Selective Catheterization of Target Vessels for Hepatic Transarterial Embolization.

possible that these residents were more likely to complete the survey, introducing response bias, which may have been related to the subject of the email distributed or the title of the electronic survey. Also, a number of residents did not answer all the survey questions, which could contribute to inaccurate results. Another limitation of the study is that the survey respondents were asked to recall their thoughts and intentions from when they were medical students several years earlier. It is certainly possible that the recollections of the senior radiology residents are not entirely accurate. Currently, most medical students are not prepared to make the fellowship and career decision between DR and IR. Most have entered radiology residency considering IR and DR subspecialties and needed resident IR rotations to decide for or against IR as a subspecialty. Most medical students will soon have to decide between IR and DR specialization before participating in IR rotations, which risks applicants making uninformed choices. It is therefore important that medical students are exposed to IR as a career encompassing DR, imageguided procedures, and patient care. Medical school mentors, as well as IR and DR physicians, must improve efforts to educate medical students and create opportunities for extensive exposure to these newly distinct specialties and training programs. DR and IR residency programs should anticipate requests for transfers between these programs within the same institution.

Yttrium-90 resin microspheres as an adjunct to sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose The safety and efficacy of the combined use of sorafenib and yttrium-90 resin microspheres (Y90 RMS) to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well established. We determined the incidence of adverse events with this combination therapy in patients with advanced HCC at our institution and analyzed the treatment and survival outcomes. Materials and methods We reviewed the records of 19 patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer class B or C HCC who underwent treatment with Y90 RMS (for 21 sessions) while receiving full or reduced doses of sorafenib between January 2008 and May 2010. Therapy response was evaluated using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. We evaluated median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as well as hepatic and extrahepatic disease PFS and incidence of adverse events. Results The median patient age was 67 years, and portal or hepatic venous invasion was present in eight patients (42%). Ten patients received reduced doses of sorafenib. The median Y90 radiation activity delivered was 41.2 mCi. The partial response of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was observed in four patients (19%). The median hepatic disease PFS was 7.82 months, extrahepatic disease PFS was 8.94 months, OS was 19.52 months, and PFS was 6.63 months. Ninety days after treatment with Y90 RMS, five patients (26%) had grade II adverse events and four patients (21%) had grade III adverse events. Conclusion OS and PFS outcomes were superior to those observed in prior studies evaluating sorafenib alone in patients with a similar disease status, warranting further study of this treatment combination.

Improvement of liver ablation treatment for colorectal liver metastases

The purpose of this research is to improve treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) in the clinic. It has been previously shown that an ablation margin of 5 mm or more for CLM greatly increases 5 year local tumor progression free survival, however it is often difficult to ensure proper ablation using intraprocedural imaging. CT images of 30 patients with CLM treated with ablation were retrospectively obtained from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Contours defining the liver, ablation probes, CLM margins, and ablation margin were created from the pre-treatment contrast enhanced CTs and intra-interventional CT images. Using a biomechanical model-based deformable image registration these contours were deformed onto the contrast enhanced CT images obtained just after treatment. The propagated ablation region was then compared with the GTV, as defined before the procedure, to determine the ablation margin delivered. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) in the achieved ablation margin between patients who did and did not have local recurrence. Results showed that patients without local recurrence received on average 3.19 mm of minimum ablation margin around the gross tumor volume(GTV), while those with local recurrence received an average of 1.14 mm. The model presented can assist in the treatment of CLM by identifying the minimum distance to agreement between the GTV and the ablation region directly after treatment. This metric can help determine if sufficient ablation has been delivered to the treat the disease.