Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Investigating Immune Cell Dynamics in the Tumor Microenvironment — Challenges and Innovations in Cancer Prognosis
Published on: April 12, 2024
Prognostic Factors for Patients With a Large Number of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Nodules
Yutaro Abe1, Kazuyoshi Ohkawa1, Mitsuru Sakakibara1
1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-8567, Japan.
Insights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with numerous tumor nodules have a poor prognosis. Initial transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib therapy may improve survival in these advanced HCC cases.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary cancers
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Prognostic factors and treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with numerous tumor nodules remain unclear.
- This study investigates clinical factors influencing prognosis in HCC patients with 30 or more tumor nodules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify prognostic factors for HCC patients with a high tumor burden (≥30 nodules).
- To evaluate the efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib in this patient subgroup.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 46 HCC patients with 30 or more tumor nodules, excluding vascular invasion and extrahepatic metastasis.
- Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard modeling were employed.
Main Results:
- Median survival was ≤15 months, indicating a poorer prognosis for this group.
- Multivariate analysis identified 30-59 tumor nodules, male gender, lower total bilirubin, initial TACE, and higher prothrombin time as independent factors for better survival.
- Sorafenib therapy after TACE improved overall survival, particularly in patients requiring repeated transarterial treatments.
Conclusions:
- Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as an initial therapy may be associated with improved prognosis in HCC patients with numerous nodules.
- Sorafenib administration following transarterial treatment could enhance antitumor efficacy.
Background:
The prognostic factors and treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with a large number of tumor nodules have not been fully elucidated. Clinical factors influencing prognosis were investigated in HCC patients with 30 or more tumor nodules.
Methods:
Forty-six HCC patients with 30 or more tumor nodules participated in this study. None of them had vascular invasion and extrahepatic metastasis. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional hazard model were used for analysis.
Results:
The median survival time of our patients was no more than 15 months, suggesting that patients with 30 or more tumor nodules may be regarded as a progressive subgroup showing poorer prognosis. In multivariate analysis, presence of between 30 and 59 tumor nodules (P = 0.002), male gender (P = 0.002), lower total bilirubin (total bilirubin < 1.0 mg/dL) (P = 0.011), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as an initial therapy (P = 0.027) and higher prothrombin time (P = 0.049) were significant independent factors for better overall survival. Among 39 patients who underwent TACE as an initial therapy, patients who received sorafenib therapy during follow-up showed better overall survival than those who did not (P = 0.026). Efficacy of sorafenib appeared to be more evident in patients who needed repeated transarterial treatment.
Conclusions:
In HCC patients with 30 or more tumor nodules, TACE as an initial therapy may be correlated with better prognosis. Sorafenib administration after the prior transarterial treatment may improve antitumor efficacy.
More Related Videos
12:24A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: September 30, 2021
06:46Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024