Cancer Treatment Reviews
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 157-163 , April 2010

Approach to radiation therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

  • Shumei Ma

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Benzheng Jiao

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Xin Liu

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Heqing Yi

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Dejuan Kong

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Lin Gao

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Guangtong Zhao

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • ,
  • Yu Yang

      Affiliations

    • Dept. of Oncology, 2nd Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding authors. Address: Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Tel.: +86 431 85619418; fax: +86 431 85619431 (X. Liu).
    • ,
  • Xiaodong Liu

      Affiliations

    • Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
    • Dept. of Radiation Oncology, China–Japan Union Hospital, Changchun 130021, China
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding authors. Address: Key Laboratory of Radiobiology (Ministry of Health), School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China. Tel.: +86 431 85619418; fax: +86 431 85619431 (X. Liu).

Received 28 July 2009 ,Revised 16 November 2009 ,Accepted 29 November 2009.

References 

  1. Lau WY, Lai ECH. Hepatocellular carcinoma: current management and recent advances. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2008;7:237–257
  2. Hawkins MA, Dawson LA. Radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma from palliation to cure. Cancer. 2006;106:1653–1661
  3. Blum HE, Spangenberg HC. Hepatocellular carcinoma: an update. Arch Iranian Med. 2007;10:361–371
  4. Yamamoto J, Kosuge T, Saiura A, et al. Effectiveness of hepatic resection for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients: subgroup analysis according to Milan criteria. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2007;37:287–295
  5. Yamamoto M, Takasaki K, Otsubo T, et al. Favorable surgical outcomes in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Surg. 2004;239(3):395–399
  6. Mazzaferro V, Regalia E, Doci R, et al. Liver transplantation for the treatment of small epatocellular carcinomas in patients with cirrhosis. N Engl J Med. 1996;334(11):693–699
  7. Lin NC, Hsia CY, Loong CC, et al. Liver transplantation at a small-volume procedure center—preliminary results from Taipei Veterans general hospital. J Chin Med Assoc. 2008;4:186–190
  8. Schafer DF, Sorrell MF. Hepatocellular carcinoma. Lancet. 1999;353:1253–1257
  9. Llovet JM, Fuster J, Bruix J. Intention-to-treat analysis of surgical treatment for early hepatocellular carcinoma: resection versus transplantation. Hepatology. 1999;30:1434–1440
  10. Kennedy JE. High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of solid tumours. Nat Rev Cancer. 2005;5(4):321–327
  11. Lau WY, Leung TW, Yu SC, et al. Percutaneous local ablative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a review and look into the future. Ann Surg. 2003;237(2):171–179
  12. Huang GT, Lee PH, Tsang YM, et al. Percutaneous ethanol injection versus surgical resection for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study. Ann Surg. 2005;242(1):36–42
  13. Chen MS, Li JQ, Zheng Y, et al. A prospective randomized trial comparing percutaneous local ablative therapy and partial hepatectomy for small hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Surg. 2006;243(3):321–328
  14. Llovet JM, Bruix J. Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology. 2003;37(2):429–442
  15. Lo CM, Ngan H, Tso WK, et al. Randomized controlled trial of transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2002;35(5):1164–1171
  16. Camma C, Schepis F, Orlando A, et al. Transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Radiology. 2002;224:47–54
  17. Llovet JM, Real MI, Montana X, et al. Arterial embolisation or chemoembolisation versus symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;359:1734–1739
  18. Doval DC, Pande SB, Sharma JB, et al. Prometheus’ spirit: quality survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after gemcitabine and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Singapore Med J. 2008;49(10):293–295
  19. Hsieh CH, Jeng KS, Lin CC, et al. Combination of sorafenib and intensity modulated radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Drug Investig. 2009;29(1):65–71
  20. Emami B, Lyman J, Brown A, et al. Tolerance of normal tissue to therapeutic irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1991;21(1):109–122
  21. Lawrence TS, Robertson JM, Anscher MS, et al. Hepatic toxicity resulting from cancer treatment. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1995;31:1237–1248
  22. Choi BO, Jang HS, Kang KM, et al. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2006;36(3):154–158
  23. Guo WJ, Yu EX, Liu LM, et al. Comparison between chemoembolization combined with radiotherapy and chemoembolization alone for large hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2003;9:1697–1701
  24. Park HC, Seong J, Han KH, et al. Dose–response relationship in local radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;54(1):150–155
  25. Mornex F, Girard N, Beziat C, Kubas A, Khodri M, Trepo C, et al. Feasibility and efficacy of high-dose three-dimensional-conformal radiotherapy in cirrhotic patients with small-size hepatocellular carcinoma non-eligible for curative therapies--mature results of the French Phase II RTF-1 trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006;66(4):1152–11528
  26. Cheng JC, Wu JK, Huang CM, et al. Dosimetric analysis and comparison of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and radiation-induced liver disease. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003;56:229–234
  27. Guo WJ, Yu EX, Liu LM, et al. Comparison between chemoembolization combined with radiotherapy and chemoembolization alone for large hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2003;9:1697–1701
  28. Yamada K, Izaki K, Sugimoto K, et al. Prospective trial of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for portal vein tumor thrombus in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003;57:113–119
  29. Wu DH, Liu L, Chen LH. Therapeutic effects and prognostic factors in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2004;10:2184–2189
  30. Li B, Yu J, Wang L, et al. Study of local three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for patients with Stage III hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Clin Oncol. 2003;26:e92–e99
  31. Liu MT, Li SH, Chu TC, et al. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients who had failed with or were unsuited for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2004;34(9):532–539
  32. Liang SX, Zhu XD, Lu HJ, et al. Hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for primary liver carcinoma. Cancer. 2005;103(10):2181–2188
  33. Seo YS, Kim JN, Keum B, et al. Radiotherapy for 65 patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2008;14(15):2394–2400
  34. Nakagawa K, Yamashita H, Shiraishi K, et al. Radiation therapy for portal venous invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11(46):7237–7241
  35. Kim DY, Park W, Lim DH, et al. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for portal vein thrombosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer. 2005;103(11):2419–2426
  36. Leksell L. The stereotaxic method and radiosurgery of the brain. Acta Chir Scand. 1951;102:316–319
  37. Lax I, Blomgren H, Naslund I, et al. Stereotactic radiotherapy of malignancies in the abdomen. Methodological aspects. Acta Oncol. 1994;33:677–683
  38. Rades D, Bohlen G, Pluemer A, et al. Stereotactic radiosurgery alone versus resection plus whole-brain radiotherapy for 1 or 2 brain metastases in recursive partitioning analysis class 1 and 2 patients. Cancer. 2007;109(12):2515–2521
  39. Lin CS, Jen YM, Chiu SY, et al. Treatment of portal vein tumor thrombosis of hepatoma patients with either stereotactic radiotherapy or three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2006;36(4):212–217
  40. WJ GUO, EX YU. Evaluation of combined therapy with chemoembolization and irradiation for large hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Radiol. 2000;73(874):1091–1097
  41. Llovet JM, Bruix J. Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology. 2003;37(2):429–442
  42. Tazawa J, Maeda M, Sakai Y, et al. Radiation therapy in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with extensive portal vein involvement. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2001;16:660–665
  43. Zeng ZC, Fan J, Tang ZY, et al. A comparison of treatment combinations with and without radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein and/or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2005;61:432–443
  44. Ishikura S, Ogino T, Furuse J, et al. Radiotherapy after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein tumor thrombus. Am J Clin Oncol. 2002;25:189–193
  45. Yoshikawa M, Ebara M, Ohto M, et al. A combination treatment of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and irradiation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): evaluation for therapeutic effcacy in comparison with TAE or irradiation alone. Jpn J Gastroenterol. 1990;87:225–234
  46. Wu DH, Liu L, Chen LH. Therapeutic effects and prognostic factors in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2004;10:2184–2189
  47. Tournoux C, Paoletti X, Barbare JC. Treatment outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma using chemoembolization in combination with other therapies. Cancer Treat Rev. 2007;33(8):762–763
  48. You CR, Jang JW, Kang SH, et al. Efficacy of transarterial chemolipiodolization with or without 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for huge HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis. Korean J Hepatol. 2007;13(3):378–386
  49. Zhou ZH, Liu LM, Chen WW, Men ZQ, et al. Combined therapy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Radiol. 2007;80(951):194–201
  50. Chiba T, Tokuuye K, Matsuzaki Y, et al. Proton beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective review of 162 patients. Clin Cancer Res. 2005;11:3799–3805
  51. Iwatsuki S, Starzl TE, Sheahan DG, et al. Hepatic resection versus transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Surg. 1991;214(3):221–228
  52. Carr BI, Selby R, Madariaga J, et al. Prolonged survival after liver transplantation and cancer chemotherapy for advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Transplant Proc. 1993;25:1128–1129
  53. Hashimoto T, Tokuuye K, Fukumitsu M, et al. Repeated proton beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006;65(1):196–202
  54. Mizumoto M, Tokuuye K, Sugahara S, et al. proton beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma adjacent to the porta hepatic. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008;71(2):462–467
  55. Hata M, Tokuuye K, Sugahara S, et al. Proton irradiation in a single fraction for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with uncontrollable ascites. Technical considerations and results. Strahlenther Onkol. 2007;183(8):411–416
  56. McCormack L, Petrowsky H, Clavien PA. Surgical therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005;17:497–503
  57. Kato H, Tsujii H, Miyamoto T, et al. Results of the first prospective study of carbon ion radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2004;59(5):1468–1476
  58. Lau WY. Radiotherapy with emphasis on radioembolization for liver tumors. In:  Blumgart LH,  Fong Y editor. Surgery of the liver and biliary tract. 2nd ed., vol. II. London: W.B. Saunders; 2000;p. 1545–1564
  59. Ibrahim SM, Lewandowski RJ, Sato KT, et al. Radioembolization for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a clinical review. World J Gastroenterol. 2008;14:1664–1669
  60. Kumar A, Srivastava DN, Chau TTM, et al. Inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma: transarterial 188Re HDD-labeled iodized oil for treatment-prospective multicenter clinical trial. Radiology. 2007;243:509–519
  61. Liepe K, Brogsitter C, Leonhard J, et al. Feasibility of high activity rhenium-188-microsphere in hepatic radioembolization. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2007;37(12):942–950
  62. Goin JE, Salem R, Carr BI, et al. Treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with intrahepatic yttrium 90 microspheres: factors associated with liver toxicities. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2005;16:205–213
  63. Kennedy AS, Coldwell D, Nutting C, et al. Resin Y-90-microsphere brachytherapy for unresectable colorectal liver metastases: modern USA experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006;65:412–425
  64. Rivera L, Giap H, Miller W, et al. Hepatic intra-arterial infusion of yttrium-90 microspheres in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: a case report. World J Gastroenterol. 2006;12:5729–5732
  65. Novell JR, Green AJ, Hilson AJW, Dick R, Hobbs KEF, et al. Selective radionuclide localization in primary liver tumors. HPB Surg. 1994;7:185–200
  66. Nakakuma K, Tashiro S, Ucrnura K, et al. An attempt for increasing effects of hepatic artery ligation for advanced hepatoma (English abstract). Jap-Deutsche Med Beriehte. 1979;24:675–682
  67. Raoul J, Bourguet P, Bretagne J, et al. Hepatic artery injection of 1–131-1abelled lipiodol. Part I: biodistribution study results in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases. Radiology. 1988;168:541–545
  68. Raoul JL, Duvauferrier R, Bourguet P, et al. Angiography with 131-iodine-labelled iodized oil in malignant hepatoma. J Radiol. 1986;67:797–801
  69. Tsai C, Kusumoto Y, Harada R, et al. Effect of intrahepatic arterial infusion of 131I-labelled lipiodol on hepatocellular carcinoma of rat. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 1986;15:521–524
  70. Ho S, Lau WY, Leung TW, et al. Internal radiation therapy for patients with primary or metastatic hepatic cancer: a review. Cancer. 1998;83:1894–1907
  71. Jeune JL, Bourguet P, Victor G, et al. 131-lipiodol in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: results of a multicenter phase II study of fifty patients. Eur J Nucl Med. 1990;16(Suppl.):S143
  72. Leung WT, Lau WY, Ho S, et al. Selective internal radiation therapy with intraarterial iodine-131-lipiodol in inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. J Nucl Med. 1994;35:1313–1318
  73. Luo YQ, Wang Y, ChenHet M, et al. Influence of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on liver resection in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2002;1:523–526
  74. Yamasaki S, Hasegawa H, Kinoshita H, et al. A prospective randomized trial of the preventive effect of pre-operative transcatheter arterial embolization against recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1996;87:206–211
  75. Boucher E, Corbinais S, Rolland Y, et al. Adjuvant intra-arterial injection of iodine-131-labeled lipiodol after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2003;38:1237–1241
  76. Liu L, Jiang Z, Teng GJ, et al. Clinical and experimental study on regional administration of phosphorus 32 glass microspheres in treating hepatic carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 1999;5:492–505
  77. Zheng DX. Advance in apoptosis research. Chin J Pathol. 1996;25:50–53
  78. Wang YY, Wang DZ, Zheng GY, et al. Apoptosis induced by interstitial irradiation with 32P glass microspheres combination with hyperthermia in mouth solid tumor S180. Huaxi Kouqiang Yixue Zazhi. 2001;19:118–119
  79. Wang XM, Yin ZY, Yu RX, et al. Preventive effect of regional radiotherapy with phosphorus-32 glass microspheres in hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after hepatectomy. World J Gastroenterol. 2008;14:518–523
  80. Kim TH, Kim DY, Park JW, et al. Dose-volumetric parameters predicting radiation-induced hepatic toxicity in unrespectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007;67(1):225–231
  81. Cheng JC, Wu JK, Huang CM, et al. Radiation-induced liver disease after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: dosimetric analysis and implication. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002;54(1):156–162
  82. Xu ZY, Liang SX, Zhu J, et al. Prediction of radiation-induced liver disease by Lyman normal-tissue complication probability model in three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for primary liver carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006;65(1):189–195
  83. Shirai S, Sato M, Suwa K, et al. Single photon emission computed tomography-based three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009;73(3):824–831

PII: S0305-7372(09)00182-0

doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.11.008

Cancer Treatment Reviews
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 157-163 , April 2010

Article Tools