Hepatocellular Carcinoma GI Practice Guideline Michael Sanatani, MD, FRCPC (Medical Oncologist) Walter Kocha, MD, FRCPC (Medical Oncologist) Approval Date: October 2006 This guideline is a statement of consensus of the GI Disease Site Team regarding their views of currently accepted approaches to treatment. It is not intended to replace the independent medical judgement of the physician in the context of individual clinical circumstances to determine any patient s care or treatment.
Table of Contents Background... 3 TNM Staging... 4 Overall Pathway Hepatocellular Carcinoma... 5 Investigations Required Work-up... 6 AASLD (2005) Diagnostic Approach... 7 Investigations Surgical Assessment... 8 Barcelona/AASLD Approach to surgical Assessment... 9 Prognosis in U.S. Population by Surgical/Interventional... 10 Treatment Received Treatment Curative Intent... 11 Palliative Intent (localized)... 12 Palliative Intent (systemic)... 13 Overall Pathway... 14 References... 15 Authors and Contact... 16 2
Hepatocellular Carcinoma GI Practice Guideline Background Most common in subsahara Africa, Orient. Risk factors: Infection Hep B, C esp. genotype 1b Cirrhosis Environmental - Androgenss - aflatoxins - EtOH - tobacco - N-nitrosylated compounds - algae toxins - Thorotrast contrast medium - pyrrolizidine alkaloids -?betel nuts? Presentation - abdominal pain - anorexia - bone pain - intraperitoneal bleed - paraneoplastic hypoglycemia/erythrocytosis - hypercalcemia - diarrhea. 3
TNM Staging Primary Tumor (T) TX Primary tumor cannot be assessed T0 No evidence of primary tumor T1 Solitary tumor without vascular invasion T2 Solitary tumor with vascular invasion, or multiple tumors none more than 5 cm T3 Multiple tumors more than 5 cm or tumor involving a major branch of the portal or hepatic vein(s) T4 Tumors with direct invasion of adjacent organs other than the gallbladder or with perforation of the visceral peritoneum Regional lymph nodes (N) NX Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed N0 No regional lymph node metastasis N1 Regional lymph node metastasis Distant metastasis (M) MX Distant metastasis cannot be assessed M0 No distant metastasis M1 Distant metastasis Fibrosis Score (F) F0 Fibrosis score 0-4 (none to moderate fibrosis) F1 Fibrosis score 5-6 (severe fibrosis or cirrhosis) Stage grouping Stage I T1 Stage II T2 Stage IIIA T3 Stage IIIB T4 Stage IIIC Any T Stage IV Any T N0 M0 N0 M0 N0 M0 N0 M0 N1 M0 Any N M1 Criteria Positive Negative Tumor size* >50 percent <50 percent Ascites Clinically detectable Clinically absent Albumin <3 mg/dl >3 mg/dl Bilirubin >3mg/dl <3 mg/dl Stage I No positive II One or two positives III Three of four positives * Largest cross-sectional area of tumor to largest cross-sectional area of the liver Okuda Staging System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma The okuda system is commonly used for staging hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival correlates with the Okuda stage in untreated patients (8.3, 2.0 and 0.7 for stages I, II, and III, respectively). Adapted from Okuda, K. Ohtuiki, T, Obata, H, et al., Cancer 1985; 56:918 4
Overall Pathway Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presentation Required Work-up Surgical Assessment LRCP Referral MO + RO Potentially Curative Rx Palliative Rx 5
Investigations Required Work-up CNCCN guidelines - H&P - Hepatitis panel - Bilirubin - transaminases - alkaline phosphatase - LDH, PT or INR - albumin - protein - BUN - creatinine - CBC - platelets - Hepatitis B surface antigen - CT/MRI - Chest x-ray - AFP - Hepatitis C antibodies Biopsy if AFP < 400 ng/ml (HepB SAg-) / < 4000 ng/ml (HepB SAg+) American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) See next page. More emphasis on imaging characteristics and size (>1 cm) AFP cutoff for biopsy <200 ng/ml Biopsy risks controversial Seeding of needle tract reported in 0 5% of patients in series. 6
AASLD (2005) Diagnostic Approach Mass on surveillance ultrasound in a cirrhotic liver < 1 cm 1-2 cm >2 cm Repeat US at 3-4 month intervals Two dynamic imaging studies One dynamic imaging technique Coincidental typical vascular pattern on dynamic imaging Typical vascular pattern with one technique Atypical vascular pattern with both techniques Atypical vascular pattern Typical vascular pattern on dynamic imaging or AFP > 200 Stable over 18-24 months Enlarging Biopsy Diagnostic of HCC Non diagnostic Other diagnosis Return to standard surveillance protocol (6-12 months) Proceed according to lesion size Positive Repeat biopsy or imaging follow-up Change in size/profile Repeat imaging and/or biopsy Negative Treat as hepatocellular carcinoma Fig. 1 A suggested algorithm for investigation of a nodule found on ultrasound during screening or surveillance. Note that nodules smaller than 1 cm initially which enlarge over time should be investigated using one of the other two algorithms shown depending on the size of the nodule. The typical vascular pattern referred to means that the lesion is hypervascular in the arterial phase, and washes out in the portal/venous phase. All other patterns are considered atypical. 7
Investigations Surgical Assessment Needed in regards to resectability (tumor and patient characteristics) Will be to some extent determined by individual surgeon For example: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer approach/aasld guideline) see next page Chemical and Biochemical Parameters Child-Pugh Score Scores (Points) for Increasing Abnormality 1 2 3 Encephalopathy (grade) None 1-2 3-4 Ascites None Slight Moderate Albumin (g/dl) > 3.5 2.8 3.5 < 2.8 Prothrombin time prolonged (sec) 1 4 4 6 > 6 Bilirubin (mg/dl) 1 2 For primary biliary cirrhosis 1 4 Original Class A= 5 6 points; Class B = 7 9 points; Class C= 10 15 points. Class A: Good operative risk Class B: Moderate operative risk Class C: Poor operative risk 2 3 > 3 4 10 > 10 Alternative: Class A: 5 6 points; Good operative risk Class B: 7 9 points; Moderate operative risk Class C: 10 15 points; Poor operative risk 8
Barcelona / AASLD Approach to Surgical Assessment HCC PST 0, Child-Pugh A PST 0-2, Child-Pugh A-B PST >2, Child-Pugh C Very early stage Early stage Intermediate stage Advanced stage Terminal stage Single < 2cm Single or 3 nodules <3cm, PS 0 Multinodular, PS 0 Portal invasion, N1, M1, PS 1-2 Single 3 nodules <3cm Portal pressure/ bilirubin Increased Associated diseases Portal invasion, N1, M1 Normal No Yes No Yes Resection Liver Transplantation (CLT / LDLT PEI/R F Chemoembolization New Agents Curative Treatments Randomized controlled trials Symptomatic Fig. 2 Strategy for staging and treatment assignment in patients diagnosed with HCC according to the BCLC proposal 9
Prognosis in US. Population by Surgical/Interventional Treatment Received Curative Palliative N.B. Not always deemed appropriate for stage, by external review. J. Hepat 1/2006, p. 158 10
Treatment Curative Intent Treatment in addition to surgery curative intent Neoadjuvant 131-I Lipiodol intra-arterial treatment case series 19/34 pts objective response Intra-arterial chemotherapy conflicting series. Most show reduction in size but no large survival difference One controlled trial of resectable tumours demonstrated worse survival in Rx group, presumably because of delay to surgery (Br J Surg 1995 Jan;82(1):122-6) Not recommended by AASLD guidelines Should be reserved for tumours of borderline resectability only Adjuvant Adjuvant therapy: most positive study is Lau et al (Lancet 1999) with I-131 Lipiodol 85 vs 46% 3YS. Current (Oct 2006) Phase III trial at NCI ongoing and open to accrual (NCT00027768) Bland or chemoembolization data less positive (Izumi et al., Hepatology 1994 Aug;20(2):295-301). Polyprenoic acid may reduce new HCC's (Muto et al, N Engl J Med 1996; 334:1561-1568). 11
Treatment Palliative-intent therapy (localized) Radiofrequency ablation / Percutaneous ethanol ablation neither of these has directly been compared to BSC alone, however, survivals and local control rates are generally better than what would be expected; > 75-80 % at 2 years. Some consider this curative. Studies limited by short f/u (2-5 years) External beam radiation research protocol Transarterial embolisation with 131Iodine lipiodol One randomized trial with benefit in pts with portal vein thrombosis. 6 month survival 48% vs 0% (27 pts total), 9 month survival 7% vs 0%. (Nucl Med 1994 Nov;35(11):1782-7) Transarterial chemotherapy/embolisation ( HACE or TACE ) Benefit very dependent on patient selection. Recommended by AASLD A prognostic index of the survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Cancer 2000 Jan 1;88(1):50-7 Transarterial chemotherapy/embolisation + lipiodol ( HALCE ) Two randomized trials with survival benefit e.g. Hepatology 2002 May;35(5):1164-71, HR 0.49. Transarterial chemotherapy/embolisation + 131I- lipiodol Unique to LRCP? 12
Treatment Palliative-intent therapy (systemic) Tamoxifen negative RCTs Octreotide negative RCTs however follow-up too short. Ongoing HECTOR trial in Europe pending final analysis Chemotherapy Doxorubicin vs. BSC 10.6 vs 7.5 weeks OS (Lai et al, Cancer 1988;62(3):479-83) Resp rate around 20%, higher than 5FU or etoposide, but no OS difference Gemcitabine, Capecitabine [11% RR] also in series only Combination therapy: cisplatin/5fu, cisplatin/doxorubicin, gemcitabine/cisplatin etc. RR around 10-45% in series ECF: 15% RR in 21 pts (1/21 pcr) Boucher et al Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2002 Oct;50(4):305-8 Little if any QOL data Adding interferon inc RR? but not survival A randomized phase III study of doxorubicin versus cisplatin/interferon alpha- 2b/doxorubicin/fluorouracil (PIAF) combination chemotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 2005 Oct 19;97(20):1532-8 Trials preferable over 50 active trials at clinicaltrials.gov as of Oct 2006 13
Overall pathway Hepatocellular Carcinoma (summary) Presentation Liver mass suspicious for helatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or histologically confirmed HCC Required Work-up H&P Hepatitis panel Hepatitis B surface antigen Hepatitis C antibodies Bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphoatase, LDH PT or INR, albumin, protein, BUN, creatinine CBC, platelets AFP CT/MRIb Chest x-ray Surgical Assessment Assess liver status Child-Pugh A/B vs C Biopsy? Partial hepatectomy 2 feasible? solitary HCC in liver, no inv of hepatic artery, no severe portal HTN, etc. Transplant candidate? unresectable HCC <5cm, or up to 3 lesions < 3 cm, no gross vascular inv, no nodal metastases, etc. Borderline resectability? LRCP referral MO + RO Potentially Curative Rx Partial hepatectomy Transplant Assessment at LRCP regarding?neoadjuvant embolisation with 131 l-lipiodol 4?Adjuvant embolisation with 131 l-lipiodol 3 Palliative Rx Localized therapy External beam radiation (experimental protocol/dr. M. Lock -?concurrent 5FU) Radiofrequency ablation/ Percutaneous ethanol ablation Transarterial embolisation with 131 I lipiodol/ cisplatin/ doxorubicin. 5 Systemic therapy: Clinical trial or best supportive care Selected patients : consider chemotherapy (doxorubicin or ECF [ECF = Epirubicin 60 mg/m 2 + Cisplatin 50 mg/m 2 q21d; 5FU daily 200mg/m 2 infusion] or PIAF [PIAF = Cisplatin 20mg/m 2 day 1-4, doxorubicin 40mg/m 2 day 5, 5FU 400mg/m 2 day 1-4, -IFN 5MU/ m 2, SC days 1-4, all q21 days] ); survival advantage not clearly demonstrated. Consider long-acting octreotide 6 14
References Re: biopsy Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis and management of liver tumours. Br J Surg 2002 Jun;89(6):757-62 (3% seeding rate); Assessment of the benefits and risks of percutaneous biopsy before surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2001 Aug;35(2):254-8 (1.6%); Comparison of liver biopsy and noninvasive methods for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Mar;4(3):361-8 (0%) 1. AFP (a fetoprotein) sensitivity 41-65%, spec 80-94%; + ve likelihood ratio 3.1-6.8; - ve LR 0.4-0.6 using cutoffs of 16-100 µg/l 2. Partial hepatectomy: 5YS 30-90%. Requires Child-Pugh A or B with good PS. Consider preoperative portal vein embolization to induce hypertrophy. 3. Adjuvant therapy: most positive study is Lau et al (Lancet 1999) with I-131 Lipiodol 85 vs 46% 3YS. Bland or chemoembolization data less positive (Izumi et al., Hepatology 1994 Aug;20(2):295-301). Polyprenoic acid may reduce new HCC's (Muto et al, N Engl J Med 1996; 334:1561-1568). 4. Neoadjuvant I-131 Lipiodol in development Br J Surg. 2003 Nov;90(11):1379-83. Case series, 25/34 pts objective response or histological necrosis, 19/34 obj. resp. 5. 50-60% RR. Need KPS>60-70, no severe weight loss. HALCE contraindications: PV thrombus, encephalopathy, biliary manipulation Hx/obstr; relative: bili>35, AST>100, >50% of liver replaced by tumour, CHF/CRF, ascites, variceal bleed, low plts. I-131 lipiodol/chemoembolisation at LRCP; other centres use only one modality/no radiolabelled oil evidence controversial for that (e.g. lipiodol alone insuff.: N Engl J Med 1995;332:1256-61.) 6. Evidence controversial. Hepatology 2002(3):687 negative but OS only 2 mos each arm and 60% no Rx or only 1 dose. HECTOR study ongoing. Kuroumalis et al. 1998; Gut 62 : positive but retrospective. 15
Authors, Contact Information Michael Sanatani, MD, FRCPC (Medical Oncologist) London Regional Cancer Program London Health Sciences Centre 790 Commissioners Road East London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4L6 Telephone: 519.685.8600 Ext. 58640 Barbara Fisher, MD, FRCPC (Radiation Oncologist) London Regional Cancer Program London Health Sciences Centre 790 Commissioners Road East London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4L6 Telephone: 519.685.8600 Ext. 58650 This guideline is a statement of consensus of the GI Disease Site Team regarding their views of currently accepted approaches to treatment. It is not intended to replace the independent medical judgement of the physician in the context of individual clinical circumstances to determine any patient s care or treatment. 16