BACKGROUND AND AIM: To assess the significance of adequate alpha-fetoprotein decrease in monitoring the treatment effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: A total of 72 RFA treatments in 54 HCC patients were analyzed. The favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease was defined as the alpha-fetoprotein half-life of less than 7 days. The efficacy of the ablation response is assessed by standard imaging modality, a computed tomography scan 1 month after RFA. We assessed the correlation between different alpha-fetoprotein decreases and treatment outcomes by standard imaging modality. RESULTS: Of the 72 therapies, 15 (21%) were favorable alpha-fetoprotein decreases. Fifty-one (71%) therapies showed concordant results through standard image modality and alpha-fetoprotein decrease, including 14 (27%) therapies with a complete radiological response and favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease, and the remaining 37 (73%) therapies with an incomplete radiological response and unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease. The accuracy was 70.8% by using alpha-fetoprotein decrease in the detection treatment response based on a complete radiological response. Among the 34 therapies with a complete radiological response, 14 therapies with a favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease had a better disease-free survival curve than 20 therapies with an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease (P = 0.003). Only one case had a favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease, but incomplete radiological response, with massive necrosis, with the exception of a small residual tumor. CONCLUSIONS: A favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease has better predictive power for disease-free survival than for an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease. HCC patients after RFA with an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease should be considered to have undergone incomplete treatment, despite the complete response by standard image modality post-RFA.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: To assess the significance of adequate alpha-fetoprotein decrease in monitoring the treatment effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. METHODS: A total of 72 RFA treatments in 54 HCC patients were analyzed. The favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease was defined as the alpha-fetoprotein half-life of less than 7 days. The efficacy of the ablation response is assessed by standard imaging modality, a computed tomography scan 1 month after RFA. We assessed the correlation between different alpha-fetoprotein decreases and treatment outcomes by standard imaging modality. RESULTS: Of the 72 therapies, 15 (21%) were favorable alpha-fetoprotein decreases. Fifty-one (71%) therapies showed concordant results through standard image modality and alpha-fetoprotein decrease, including 14 (27%) therapies with a complete radiological response and favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease, and the remaining 37 (73%) therapies with an incomplete radiological response and unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease. The accuracy was 70.8% by using alpha-fetoprotein decrease in the detection treatment response based on a complete radiological response. Among the 34 therapies with a complete radiological response, 14 therapies with a favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease had a better disease-free survival curve than 20 therapies with an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease (P = 0.003). Only one case had a favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease, but incomplete radiological response, with massive necrosis, with the exception of a small residual tumor. CONCLUSIONS: A favorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease has better predictive power for disease-free survival than for an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease. HCC patients after RFA with an unfavorable alpha-fetoprotein decrease should be considered to have undergone incomplete treatment, despite the complete response by standard image modality post-RFA.
Authors: Khairuddin Memon; Laura Kulik; Robert J Lewandowski; Edward Wang; Robert K Ryu; Ahsun Riaz; Paul Nikolaidis; Frank H Miller; Vahid Yaghmai; Talia Baker; Michael Abecassis; Al B Benson; Mary F Mulcahy; Reed A Omary; Riad Salem Journal: J Hepatol Date: 2012-01-13 Impact factor: 25.083
Authors: T F Greten; N P Malek; S Schmidt; J Arends; P Bartenstein; W Bechstein; T Bernatik; M Bitzer; A Chavan; M Dollinger; D Domagk; O Drognitz; M Düx; S Farkas; G Folprecht; P Galle; M Geißler; G Gerken; D Habermehl; T Helmberger; K Herfarth; R T Hoffmann; M Holtmann; P Huppert; T Jakobs; M Keller; J Klempnauer; F Kolligs; J Körber; H Lang; F Lehner; F Lordick; A Lubienski; M P Manns; A Mahnken; M Möhler; C Mönch; P Neuhaus; C Niederau; M Ocker; G Otto; P Pereira; G Pott; J Riemer; K Ringe; U Ritterbusch; E Rummeny; P Schirmacher; H J Schlitt; K Schlottmann; V Schmitz; A Schuler; H Schulze-Bergkamen; D von Schweinitz; D Seehofer; H Sitter; C P Straßburg; C Stroszczynski; D Strobel; A Tannapfel; J Trojan; I van Thiel; A Vogel; F Wacker; H Wedemeyer; H Wege; A Weinmann; C Wittekind; B Wörmann; C J Zech Journal: Z Gastroenterol Date: 2013-11-15 Impact factor: 2.000
Authors: Jinhong Jung; Sang Min Yoon; Seungbong Han; Ju Hyun Shim; Kang Mo Kim; Young-Suk Lim; Han Chu Lee; So Yeon Kim; Jin-Hong Park; Jong Hoon Kim Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2015-12-18 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: Quirino Lai; Fabio Melandro; Rafael S Pinheiro; Andrea Donfrancesco; Bashir A Fadel; Giovanni B Levi Sandri; Massimo Rossi; Pasquale B Berloco; Fabrizio M Frattaroli Journal: Int J Hepatol Date: 2012-06-27
Authors: Yuri Jeong; Sang Min Yoon; Seungbong Han; Ju Hyun Shim; Kang Mo Kim; Young-Suk Lim; Han Chu Lee; So Yeon Kim; Jin-hong Park; Sang-wook Lee; Seung Do Ahn; Eun Kyung Choi; Jong Hoon Kim Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-08-07 Impact factor: 3.240