Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 6/2009

01-06-2009 | Original Article

Surgical Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Based on Prognostic Factors

Authors: Kazuhiro Kondo, Kazuo Chijiiwa, Masahiro Kai, Kazuhiro Otani, Koki Nagaike, Jiro Ohuchida, Masahide Hiyoshi, Motoaki Nagano

Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery | Issue 6/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

Rationale

Surgical strategy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) remains to be established.

Methods

From 1990 to 2008, 48 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with PVTT detected by preoperative imaging underwent hepatic resection, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Possible prognostic factors for survival were analyzed with postoperative survival curves, and significant factors were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. The frequency of postoperative severe complications was investigated for each prognostic factor.

Results

Significant prognostic factors included patient age <60 years, serum total bilirubin (T-Bil) >0.8 mg/dl, serum aspartate aminotransferase >30 IU/L, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) >300 IU/L, tumor size >4 cm, PVTT in the main trunk (Vp4), and a surgical margin <1 mm by univariate analysis, and independent prognostic factors were serum T-Bil, ALP, and Vp4. No patient with Vp4 survived for more than 400 days after surgery, and frequency of postoperative severe complications in these Vp4 patients was significantly higher than in other Vp1–3 patients.

Conclusion

Hepatic resection as a first-choice treatment should be carefully selected in patients with Vp4 unless emergent removal of the PVTT is required.
Literature
2.
go back to reference Minagawa M, Makuuchi M. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombus. World J Gastroenterol 2006;12:7561–7567.PubMed Minagawa M, Makuuchi M. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by portal vein tumor thrombus. World J Gastroenterol 2006;12:7561–7567.PubMed
4.
go back to reference Fukuda S, Okuda K, Imamura M, Imamura I, Eriguchi N, Aoyagi S. Surgical resection combined with chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus: report of 19 cases. Surgery 2002;131:300–310. doi:10.1067/msy.2002.120668.PubMedCrossRef Fukuda S, Okuda K, Imamura M, Imamura I, Eriguchi N, Aoyagi S. Surgical resection combined with chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus: report of 19 cases. Surgery 2002;131:300–310. doi:10.​1067/​msy.​2002.​120668.PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Okamoto E, Kyo A, Yamanaka N, Tanaka N, Kuwata K. Prediction of the safe limits of hepatectomy by combined volumetric and functional measurements in patients with impaired hepatic function. Surgery 1984;95:586–592.PubMed Okamoto E, Kyo A, Yamanaka N, Tanaka N, Kuwata K. Prediction of the safe limits of hepatectomy by combined volumetric and functional measurements in patients with impaired hepatic function. Surgery 1984;95:586–592.PubMed
6.
go back to reference Takasaki T, Kobayashi S, Suzuki S, Muto H, Marada M, Yamana Y, Nagaoka T. Predetermining postoperative hepatic function for hepatectomies. Int Surg 1980;65:309–313.PubMed Takasaki T, Kobayashi S, Suzuki S, Muto H, Marada M, Yamana Y, Nagaoka T. Predetermining postoperative hepatic function for hepatectomies. Int Surg 1980;65:309–313.PubMed
8.
go back to reference Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan. General rules for the clinical and pathological study of primary liver cancer. 2nd English ed. Tokyo: Kanehara, 2003. Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan. General rules for the clinical and pathological study of primary liver cancer. 2nd English ed. Tokyo: Kanehara, 2003.
9.
go back to reference Kwon AH, Matsui Y, Ha-Kawa SK, Kamiyama Y. Functional hepatic volume measured by technetium-99 m-galactosyl-human serum albumin liver scintigraphy: comparison between hepatocyte volume and liver volume by computed tomography. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96:541–546. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03556.x.PubMedCrossRef Kwon AH, Matsui Y, Ha-Kawa SK, Kamiyama Y. Functional hepatic volume measured by technetium-99 m-galactosyl-human serum albumin liver scintigraphy: comparison between hepatocyte volume and liver volume by computed tomography. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96:541–546. doi:10.​1111/​j.​1572-0241.​2001.​03556.​x.PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Sorensen JB, Klee M, Palshof T, Hansen HH. Performance status assessment in cancer patients. An inter-observer variability study. Br J Cancer 1993;67:773–775.PubMed Sorensen JB, Klee M, Palshof T, Hansen HH. Performance status assessment in cancer patients. An inter-observer variability study. Br J Cancer 1993;67:773–775.PubMed
12.
go back to reference Clavien PA, Sanabria JR, Strasberg SM. Proposed classification of complications of surgery with examples of utility in cholecystectomy. Surgery 1992;111:518–526.PubMed Clavien PA, Sanabria JR, Strasberg SM. Proposed classification of complications of surgery with examples of utility in cholecystectomy. Surgery 1992;111:518–526.PubMed
14.
go back to reference Liang LJ, Hu WJ, Yin XY, Zhou Q, Peng BG, Li DM, Lu MD. Adjuvant intraportal venous chemotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombi following hepatectomy plus portal thrombectomy. World J Surg 2008;32:627–631. doi:10.1007/s00268-007-9364-0.PubMedCrossRef Liang LJ, Hu WJ, Yin XY, Zhou Q, Peng BG, Li DM, Lu MD. Adjuvant intraportal venous chemotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombi following hepatectomy plus portal thrombectomy. World J Surg 2008;32:627–631. doi:10.​1007/​s00268-007-9364-0.PubMedCrossRef
15.
go back to reference Zhou J, Tang ZY, Wu ZQ, Zhou XD, Ma ZC, Tan CJ, Shi YH, Yu Y, Qiu SJ, Fan J. Factors influencing survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with macroscopic portal vein tumor thrombosis after surgery, with special reference to time dependency: a single-center experience of 381 cases. Hepatogastroenterology 2006;53:275–280.PubMed Zhou J, Tang ZY, Wu ZQ, Zhou XD, Ma ZC, Tan CJ, Shi YH, Yu Y, Qiu SJ, Fan J. Factors influencing survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with macroscopic portal vein tumor thrombosis after surgery, with special reference to time dependency: a single-center experience of 381 cases. Hepatogastroenterology 2006;53:275–280.PubMed
17.
go back to reference Ershler WB. Why tumors grow more slowly in old people. J Natl Cancer Inst 1986;77:837–839.PubMed Ershler WB. Why tumors grow more slowly in old people. J Natl Cancer Inst 1986;77:837–839.PubMed
18.
go back to reference Nagano H, Miyamoto A, Wada H, Ota H, Marubashi S, Takeda Y, Dono K, Umeshita K, Sakon M, Monden M. Interferon-alpha and 5-fluorouracil combination therapy after palliative hepatic resection in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, portal venous tumor thrombus in the major trunk, and multiple nodules. Cancer 2007;110:2493–2501. doi:10.1002/cncr.23033.PubMedCrossRef Nagano H, Miyamoto A, Wada H, Ota H, Marubashi S, Takeda Y, Dono K, Umeshita K, Sakon M, Monden M. Interferon-alpha and 5-fluorouracil combination therapy after palliative hepatic resection in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, portal venous tumor thrombus in the major trunk, and multiple nodules. Cancer 2007;110:2493–2501. doi:10.​1002/​cncr.​23033.PubMedCrossRef
19.
go back to reference Nagano H, Sakon M, Eguchi H, Kondo M, Yamamoto T, Ota H, Nakamura M, Wada H, Damdinsuren B, Marubashi S, Miyamoto A, Takeda Y, Dono K, Umeshita K, Nakamori S, Monden M. Hepatic resection followed by IFN-alpha and 5-FU for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the major portal branch. Hepatogastroenterology 2007;54:172–179.PubMed Nagano H, Sakon M, Eguchi H, Kondo M, Yamamoto T, Ota H, Nakamura M, Wada H, Damdinsuren B, Marubashi S, Miyamoto A, Takeda Y, Dono K, Umeshita K, Nakamori S, Monden M. Hepatic resection followed by IFN-alpha and 5-FU for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the major portal branch. Hepatogastroenterology 2007;54:172–179.PubMed
20.
go back to reference Ikenaga N, Chijiiwa K, Otani K, Ohuchida J, Uchiyama S, Kondo K. Clinicopathologic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion. J Gastrointest Surg 2009;13:492–497.PubMedCrossRef Ikenaga N, Chijiiwa K, Otani K, Ohuchida J, Uchiyama S, Kondo K. Clinicopathologic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion. J Gastrointest Surg 2009;13:492–497.PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Kumada K, Ozawa K, Okamoto R, Takayasu T, Yamaguchi M, Yamamoto Y, Higashiyama H, Morikawa S, Sasaki H, Shimahara Y, Yamaoka Y, Takeuchi E. Hepatic resection for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with removal of portal vein tumor thrombi. Surgery 1990;108:821–827.PubMed Kumada K, Ozawa K, Okamoto R, Takayasu T, Yamaguchi M, Yamamoto Y, Higashiyama H, Morikawa S, Sasaki H, Shimahara Y, Yamaoka Y, Takeuchi E. Hepatic resection for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with removal of portal vein tumor thrombi. Surgery 1990;108:821–827.PubMed
22.
go back to reference Ishikawa T, Imai M, Kamimura H, Tsuchiya A, Togashi T, Watanabe K, Seki K, Ohta H, Yoshida T, Kamimura T. Improved survival for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis treated by intra-arterial chemotherapy combining etoposide, carboplatin, epirubicin and pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy by 5-FU and enteric-coated tegafur/uracil: a pilot study. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:5465–5470.PubMed Ishikawa T, Imai M, Kamimura H, Tsuchiya A, Togashi T, Watanabe K, Seki K, Ohta H, Yoshida T, Kamimura T. Improved survival for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis treated by intra-arterial chemotherapy combining etoposide, carboplatin, epirubicin and pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy by 5-FU and enteric-coated tegafur/uracil: a pilot study. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:5465–5470.PubMed
23.
go back to reference Kamiyama T, Nakanishi K, Yokoo H, Tahara M, Nakagawa T, Kamachi H, Taguchi H, Shirato H, Matsushita M, Todo S. Efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy to portal vein tumor thrombus in the main trunk or first branch in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Clin Oncol 2007;12:363–368. doi:10.1007/s10147-007-0701-y.PubMedCrossRef Kamiyama T, Nakanishi K, Yokoo H, Tahara M, Nakagawa T, Kamachi H, Taguchi H, Shirato H, Matsushita M, Todo S. Efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy to portal vein tumor thrombus in the main trunk or first branch in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Clin Oncol 2007;12:363–368. doi:10.​1007/​s10147-007-0701-y.PubMedCrossRef
24.
go back to reference Ochiai T, Takayama T, Inoue K, Yamamoto J, Shimada K, Kosuge T, Yamazaki S, Makuuchi M. Hepatic resection with and without surgical margins for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with impaired liver function. Hepatogastroenterology 1999;46:1885–1889.PubMed Ochiai T, Takayama T, Inoue K, Yamamoto J, Shimada K, Kosuge T, Yamazaki S, Makuuchi M. Hepatic resection with and without surgical margins for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with impaired liver function. Hepatogastroenterology 1999;46:1885–1889.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Surgical Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Based on Prognostic Factors
Authors
Kazuhiro Kondo
Kazuo Chijiiwa
Masahiro Kai
Kazuhiro Otani
Koki Nagaike
Jiro Ohuchida
Masahide Hiyoshi
Motoaki Nagano
Publication date
01-06-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery / Issue 6/2009
Print ISSN: 1091-255X
Electronic ISSN: 1873-4626
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-009-0854-2

Other articles of this Issue 6/2009

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 6/2009 Go to the issue