M Schulze-Hagen

IL-6 and IL-8 Serum Levels Predict Tumor Response and Overall Survival after TACE for Primary and Secondary Hepatic Malignancies

While surgical resection represents the standard potentially curative therapy for liver cancer, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has evolved as a standard therapy for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as liver metastases. However, it is still not fully understood which patients particularly benefit from TACE. Cytokines represent a broad category of signaling molecules that might reflect concomitant inflammation as an adverse prognostic factor. Here, we evaluated the role of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and CC-chemokine ligand (CCL)22 as biomarkers in the context of TACE treatment. Cytokine serum levels were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay in 54 patients (HCC: n = 44, liver metastases: n = 10) undergoing TACE as well as 51 healthy controls. Patients with primary and secondary liver cancer showed significantly elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 but not CCL22 compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, low pre-interventional levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were predictors for an objective response after TACE in binary logistic regression. In contrast, patients with high pre-interventional IL-6 and IL-8 serum levels not only poorly responded to TACE but had a significantly impaired overall survival. Serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 represent promising biomarkers for patients undergoing TACE and might help to pre-interventionally identify patients who particularly benefit from TACE regarding objective treatment response and overall survival.

Endovascular placement of an extraluminal arterial bypass graft - in vitro feasibility study

Abstract Purpose: A novel approach for arterial bypass grafting using exclusively endovascular techniques was established in-vitro in a phantom model. Material and methods: The experimental setting consisted of a gel-wax phantom with two embedded parallel fluid-filled silicon tubes simulating the superficial femoral vessels. Through an 8-French sheath, a re-entry catheter (OUTBACK®, Cordis) was placed in the simulated artery and used to puncture the vascular wall. Then a 0.014-inch guide wire was advanced into the extravascular space. With the curved needle of the re-entry catheter, the guide wire was steered on a course parallel to the vessel wall in the extravascular space for 5-10 cm. At the desired reentry site, the re-entry catheter was used to puncture the vascular wall again in order to regain access to the endovascular space. Once the tip of the guide wire had safely been placed in the vascular lumen, a self-expandable stent graft (VIABAHN® GORE®) was deployed to complete the extraluminal bypass. Results: Endovascular placement of an extraluminal bypass was successfully achieved in 20 attempts. The mean duration of the procedure amounted to 14:58 (minutes: seconds) (SD ± 3:56). Conclusions: This in-vitro study suggests that endovascular placement of an extraluminal arterial bypass graft is technically feasible.