Identification of transarterial chemoembolization candidates in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients classified solely by performance status 1: a multicenter retrospective study.

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) advanced stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes a heterogeneous population, and new patient-tailored therapeutic indications are needed. Emerging evidence suggest that patients in this stage with mild tumor-related symptoms may benefit from more aggressive treatments including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and obtain better outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TACE on HCC patients with mild tumor-related symptoms and risk-stratify them for selecting potential candidates for TACE.

Liver resection versus interventional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hypohepatia: a multicenter study.

Background: Hypohepatia limits the feasibility of therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), negatively affecting patient prognosis. Established guidelines for the treatment strategies of HCC patients with hypohepatia are lacking. This study was performed to evaluate therapeutic benefits between liver resection (LR) and interventional treatments using ablation or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in such population.

Tumor burden with AFP improves survival prediction for TACE-treated patients with HCC: An international observational study.

Background & Aims: Current prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are not extensively validated and widely accepted. We aimed to develop and validate a continuous model incorporating tumor burden and biology for individual survival prediction and risk stratification.

Methods: Overall, 4,377 treatment-naive candidates for whom TACE was recommended, from 39 centers in five countries, were enrolled and divided into training, internal validation, and two external validation datasets.

Potential candidates for liver resection in liver-confined advanced HCC: a Chinese multicenter observational study.

Background: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized as symptomatic tumors [performance status (PS) score of 1-2], vascular invasion and extrahepatic spread, but patients with PS1 alone may be eliminated from this stage. Although liver resection is used for liver-confined HCC, its role in patients with PS1 alone remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to explore its application in such patients and identify potential candidates.

Identify optimal HAP series scores for unresectable HCC patients undergoing TACE plus sorafenib: A Chinese multicenter observational study.

Background: Hepatoma arterial-embolization prognostic (HAP) series scores have been proposed for prognostic prediction in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, their prognostic value in TACE plus sorafenib (TACE-S) remains unknown. Here, we aim to evaluate their prognostic performance in such conditions and identify the best model for this combination therapy.

Lenvatinib with or without Concurrent Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Unresectable, Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World, Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Lenvatinib is the first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of lenvatinib plus drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) versus lenvatinib alone in real-world practice.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 142 consecutive patients who received lenvatinib plus DEB-TACE and 69 patients who received lenvatinib alone as first-line treatment from 15 Chinese academic centers from November 2018 to November 2019.

Clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A retrospective observational study in Wuhan, China.

Information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still lacking. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical course and the outcome of COVID-19 patients with comorbid COPD.This retrospective study was performed at Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital in China.

Optimal time point of response assessment for predicting survival is associated with tumor burden in hepatocellular carcinoma receiving repeated transarterial chemoembolization.

Objectives: Objective response rate (ORR) under mRECIST criteria after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-perceived surrogate endpoint of overall survival (OS). However, its optimal time point remains controversial and may be influenced by tumor burden. We aim to investigate the surrogacy of initial/best ORR in relation to tumor burden.

Implications of Laboratory Tests in Disease Grading and Death Risk Stratification of COVID-19: A Retrospective Study in Wuhan, China.

Although laboratory tests have become an indispensable part in clinical practice, its application in severity classification and death risk stratification of COVID-19 remains unvalidated. This study aims to explore the significance of laboratory tests in the management of COVID-19. In 3,342 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, those of mild or moderate subtype were categorized into the non-severe group, while those of severe or critical subtype were categorized into the severe group.

Epigenetic silencing of miR-144/451a cluster contributes to HCC progression via paracrine HGF/MIF-mediated TAM remodeling.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the malignancies with the highest mortality. The key regulators and their interactive network in HCC pathogenesis remain unclear. Along with genetic mutations, aberrant epigenetic paradigms, including deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs), exert profound impacts on hepatocyte transformation and tumor microenvironment remodeling; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely uncharacterized.

Anticoagulation and Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt for the Management of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis: A Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend anticoagulation as the mainstay of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) treatment in cirrhosis. However, because of the heterogeneity of PVT, anticoagulation alone does not always achieve satisfactory results. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate an individualized management algorithm using a wait-and-see strategy (i.

The CB index predicts prognosis of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19 is a significant threat to public health. Among COVID-19 cases, critically ill patients account for most in-hospital deaths. Given the pressing clinical needs, identification of potential prognostic factors that would assist clinicians to determine appropriate therapeutic interventions is urgently needed.

Myocardium injury biomarkers predict prognosis of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a once-in-century crisis to public health. Although the pathogen for COVID-19, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been identified, the pandemic is still ongoing. The critically ill COVID-19 patients account for most disease-associated death; thus, there is an urgent need to identify prognostic factors that would help determine therapeutic approaches.

Long-term survival prediction for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in severe cirrhotic ascites: assessment of ten prognostic models.

Objectives: Patients with severe cirrhotic ascites have poor prognosis, yet individual patient survival varies greatly. Therefore, suitable prognostic models can be helpful in clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the performance of 10 scores in predicting transplant-free survival (TFS) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in severe cirrhotic ascites.

Exploratory Analysis to Identify Candidates Benefitting from Combination Therapy of Transarterial Chemoembolization and Sorafenib for First-Line Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: The benefits of combining transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib (TACE-S) over TACE alone for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. Yet, such populations are heterogeneous in terms of baseline characteristics.

Objective: To investigate the predictors of survival benefits from added sorafenib and identify the potential candidates for TACE-S.

A comparison of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization used with and without apatinib for intermediate- to advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer worldwide and prognosis for patients with the disease remains poor. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and are only eligible for palliative therapy. As a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR2-TKI), apatinib has a certain antitumor effect for a variety of solid tumors.

Comparison between Child-Pugh Score and albumin-bilirubin grade in patients treated with the combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization and sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade has been proposed for the evaluation of liver function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib is widely used for HCC patients with preserved liver function; our study aimed to investigate and compare the discriminating values of ALBI grade and Child-Pugh score in overall survival (OS).

Methods: A total of 173 HCC patients with preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A) were enrolled.

Validation of the six-and-twelve criteria among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and performance score 1 receiving transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) according to treatment guidelines. However, a large number of patients with advanced HCC also receive TACE in clinical practice, especially for those with liver-confined HCC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score (ECOG) 1. In view of previous studies, such patients have different prognoses from advanced HCC patients with macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic spread; therefore, patients with ECOG 1 alone might be classified into the intermediate stage and benefit from TACE treatment, but a study particularly focusing on such patients and exploring the effectiveness of TACE therapy is lacking.

Validation and evaluation of clinical prediction systems for first and repeated transarterial chemoembolization in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A Chinese multicenter retrospective study.

Background: The treatment outcome of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies greatly due to the clinical heterogeneity of the patients. Therefore, several prognostic systems have been proposed for risk stratification and candidate identification for first TACE and repeated TACE (re-TACE).

Aim: To investigate the correlations between prognostic systems and radiological response, compare the predictive abilities, and integrate them in sequence for outcome prediction.

Sorafenib may enhance antitumour efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients by modulating the proportions and functions of natural killer cells.

Dysfunction of natural killer (NK) cells is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored the phenotypic and functional characteristics of peripheral blood NK cells in HCC patients following sorafenib treatment.Peripheral blood samples were collected from 60 HCC patients in a single centre (2015~2017) and 45 healthy donors.

As Clinical Markers, Hand-Foot-Skin Reaction and Diarrhea Can Predict Better Outcomes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Receiving Transarterial Chemoembolization plus Sorafenib.

Background: Combination therapy of transarterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib (TACE-S) has been proven to be safe and effective for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, this combination therapy is associated with a high incidence of adverse events (AEs). Our study focused on the relationships between AEs and treatment outcomes and aimed to discover AE-based clinical markers that can predict the survival benefits of combination treatment.

Methods: From January 2010 to June 2014, a total of 235 HCC patients treated with TACE-S were retrospectively enrolled.

Early TIPS with covered stents versus standard treatment for acute variceal bleeding in patients with advanced cirrhosis: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The survival benefit of early placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding is controversial. We aimed to assess whether early TIPS improves survival in patients with advanced cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding.

Methods: We did an investigator-initiated, open-label, randomised controlled trial at an academic hospital in China.