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Efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy to portal vein tumor thrombus in the main trunk or first branch in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) in the main trunk or the first branch is very poor.

Methods

Radiotherapy (RT) to PVTT was followed by hepatectomy within 2 weeks. The dose used was 30–36 Gy, in 10–12 fractions, for 15–20 days. The efficacy of preoperative RT to PVTT in the main trunk or first branch was evaluated by comparing results in patients who underwent hepatectomy (group R; n = 15) with preoperative RT and those without preoperative RT (group N; n = 28).

Results

The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in group R were 86.2%, 43.5%, and 34.8%, respectively, while these values in group N were 39.0%, 13.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. The survival curve of group R was significantly better than that of group N (P = 0.0359). In group R, five (83.3%) of six patients whose tumor thrombus was completely necrosed (based on pathological examination) and whose follow-up period was over 2 years survived for more than 2 years. Female sex (P = 0.0066), multiple tumors (P = 0.0369), and absence of preoperative RT (P = 0.0359) were ranked as significant factors for a poor prognosis by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed absence of preoperative RT and female sex to be significant factors for a poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Preoperative RT to PVTT in the main trunk or first branch improved the prognosis of patients with HCC with PVTT, and could be a promising new modality in the treatment of these patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, North 5, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Toshiya Kamiyama, Kazuaki Nakanishi, Hideki Yokoo, Munenori Tahara, Takahito Nakagawa & Satoru Todo

  2. Department of Organ Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Hirofumi Kamachi

  3. Department of Radiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Hiroshi Taguchi & Hiroki Shirato

  4. Health and Science, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Michiaki Matsushita

Authors
  1. Toshiya Kamiyama
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  2. Kazuaki Nakanishi
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Correspondence to Toshiya Kamiyama.

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Kamiyama, T., Nakanishi, K., Yokoo, H. et al. 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 12, 363–368 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-007-0701-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-007-0701-y

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