bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of external beam radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients previously treated with yttrium-90 radioembolization.
Authors: Thonglert Kanokphorn , Tsai Joseph , Anderson August C , Nyflot Matthew J. , Bowen Stephen R. , Grassberger Clemens , Zaki Peter , He Yulun , Johnson Guy E. , Monsky Wayne L , Apisarnthanarax Smith 
Published: January 2024

523 Background: Data on the safety and efficacy of external beam radiation (EBRT) after Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited. We report our experience using EBRT to treat HCC patients who were previously treated with Y-90. Methods: We analyzed 31 HCC patients who received EBRT following Y-90 treatment. Eighteen were treated with photon therapy (40-50 Gy in 5 fractions), and thirteen with proton therapy (42-67.5 Gy in 15 fractions). Twenty-four patients underwent Y-90 segmentectomies, while seven received Y-90 lobar treatment. The median administered Y-90 activity was 44.4 mCi (range 8.3-114.4). Results: Patients had received 1 (n=14), 2 (n=7), or ≥3 (n=10) prior Y-90 treatments. EBRT was administered for various reasons: poor Y-90 response in two patients, technical limitations in 25 patients, and other reasons in four patients. Ten patients had previously received Y-90 within the EBRT area, thirteen outside the EBRT area, and eight in both regions. The median tumor size was 3.8 cm (range 1.6-19.4). Twenty-seven patients had Child-Pugh (CP)-A score, three had CP-B, and one had CP-C baseline liver function. With a median follow-up of 21 months, the 2-year progression-free survival, and overall survival rates were 28%, and 43%, respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidence of local failure was 7%. CP+2 progression was observed in five patients (16%): three had Y-90 delivered outside the EBRT area and two within the EBRT area. Three patients had possible RILD-related deaths. Grade 3+ biliary complications occurred in three patients (10%): one biloma, one liver abscess, and one biliary stricture which resulted in a possible treatment-related death. All three patients had received at least two prior Y-90 treatment overlapping with the area treated with EBRT and had tumors located near the porta hepatis. Conclusions: EBRT for HCC patients previously treated with Y-90 is feasible and offers excellent local control. Hepatic function and biliary toxicities are potential complications and should be weighed against the clinical benefits.
Real-world treatment patterns and unmet need in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer that is not MSI-H or dMMR.
Authors: Desai Kaushal , Sura Sneha , Liu Zhimei , Amonkar Mayur , Jain Rishi , Niehoff Nicole , Wilson Thomas W , Patton Gregory A. , Cosgrove David 
Published: January 2024

53 Background: Regorafenib and trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) are standard of care (SoC) systemic anticancer treatments (SACT) for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients perviously treated with fluoropyrimidine (5-FU), irinotecan, & oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. However, evidence is limited on post-chemotherapy & later SACT for patients with mCRC that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR). This study assessed real-world patient characteristics and treatment patterns in community oncology practices among previously treated, not MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized The US Oncology Network (iKnowMed) electronic health record database, supplemented by chart review. The study cohort comprised adult, not MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients treated with chemotherapy (5-FU/capecitabine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) who initiated subsequent SACT or received best supportive care (BSC) between 1/1/2016 & 12/31/2021. Index date for SACT users was the regimen start date. For patients on BSC and no subsequent SACT/BSC, index date was last chemotherapy administration date. Patients were followed from index date through 8/31/2022, date of death or last contact date, whichever occurred first. Descriptive statistics were used to report patient and treatment characteristics. Results: The study consisted of 292 mCRC patients, with a median age of 57 (range: 49, 68) years. The predominant histology was adenocarcinoma (n = 237, 81.2%) with 1.7% other histology and rest missing, 198 (67.8%) patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1 and 206 (70.5%) had primary tumors located in the colon. Liver (n = 207, 70.9%) and lung (n = 78, 26.7%) were the most common metastasis sites. Diabetes (n = 33, 11.3%) and peripheral vascular disease (n = 18, 6.2%) were the most common comorbidities. Eighty-seven (29.8%) patients received at least one chemotherapy in the adjuvant/neo-adjuvant setting, while majority (70.2%) patients received chemotherapies in the metastatic setting. Overall, 203 (69.5%) received SACT post-chemotherapy, 84 (28.8%) received BSC and 5 (1.7%) did not receive SACT/BSC. Among the SACT post-chemotherapy users, 30 (14.8%) received regorafenib, 25 (12.3%) received TAS-102 and 148 (72.9%) received other SACT. Other SACT included irinotecan-based (n = 76, 37.4%), oxaliplatin-based (n = 30, 14.8%), irinotecan and oxaliplatin-based (n = 6, 3.0%) chemotherapy, and anti-EGFR (n = 15, 7.4%) or anti-VEGF (n = 8, 3.0%) targeted therapies. Conclusions: Overall, only 27.1% of previously treated mCRC patients with tumors that were not MSI-H or dMMR received SoC. The real-world variability in choice of treatments and the high percentage of patients rechallenged with chemotherapy in subsequent lines, highlights an unmet need in this population.
Clinical characteristics of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who received long-term treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab for more than one year.
Authors: Kim Youngun , Kang Beodeul , Kim Jung Sun , Kim Il-Hwan , Kim Hyeyeong , Lee Won Suk , Sang Yun Beom , Jung Sanghoon , Kim Chan , Chon Hong Jae 
Published: January 2024

532 Background: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Ate/Bev) has become the standard of care since 2020 as a first-line systemic therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, studies on patients receiving long-term treatment with Ate/Bev are still lacking. In this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and impacts on patients receiving Ate/Bev treatment for more than one year. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 246 patients with unresectable HCC who received Ate/Bev treatment at three tertiary cancer centers in Korea between May 2020 and April 2022. Comparative analyses were performed between patients treated with Ate/Bev for more than one year and those treated for less than one year. Additionally, treatment-related adverse events (AEs), and changes in liver function were evaluated. Results: Of the 246 patients, 69 (28.0%) were treated with Ate/Bev for more than one year. The long-term treatment group showed better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, liver function, and lower residual hepatic tumor burden at baseline, compared to the group treated for less than one year. Furthermore, the long-term treatment group had a higher incidence of atezolizumab-related thyroid dysfunction (30.4% vs. 10.7%, p ‹ 0.001), dermatologic toxicity (30.4% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.006), and bevacizumab-related hypertension (43.5% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.002) and proteinuria (68.1% vs. 39.0%, p ‹ 0.001), compared to the less than one-year treatment group. The median time to onset of thyroid dysfunction and dermatologic toxicity after Ate/Bev treatment was 2.8 months and 3.3 months, respectively, while the median time to onset of hypertension and proteinuria was 4.2 months and 6.8 months, respectively. In the long-term treatment group, 30 patients (43.5%) showed an increase in Child-Pugh score, 20 (29.0%) had an increase in Child-Pugh grade during Ate/Bev treatment. Conclusions: The Ate/Bev long-term treatment group had better performance status, liver function, and a lower residual hepatic tumor burden at baseline. Atezolizumab-related immunologic adverse events occurred mostly early in the course of treatment, whereas bevacizumab-related adverse events occurred relatively later. In addition, a fraction of patients experienced deterioration of liver function during long-term Ate/Bev treatment.
Prognostic effects of co-occurring TP53 and KRAS aberrations in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.
Authors: Shibuki Taro , Nakamura Yoshiaki , Ueno Makoto , Furukawa Masayuki , Kawamoto Yasuyuki , Itoh Shinji , Umemoto Kumiko , Sudo Kentaro , Satoh Taroh , Mizuno Nobumasa , Asagi Akinori , Okano Naohiro , Shimizu Satoshi , Bekaii-Saab Tanios S. , Strickler John H , Fujisawa Takao , Bando Hideaki , Yoshino Takayuki , Morizane Chigusa , Ikeda Masafumi 
Published: January 2024

538 Background: In biliary tract cancer (BTC), TP53 is the most commonly altered gene and may co-occur with KRAS alteration. The presence of a co-alterations in of TP53 and KRAS is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers. In patients (pts) with advanced BTC, the prognostic implications of such co-alterations have not been fully investigated. Methods: This is a pooled analysis of SCRUM-Japan GOZILA and MONSTAR-SCREEN-1 and -2 studies. Genomic profiling was conducted with Guardant360 for plasma in GOZILA, FoundationOne CDx for tissue and FoundationOne Liquid CDx for plasma in MONSTAR-SCREEN-1, and CARIS MI Profile for tissue in MONSTAR-SCREEN-2. Pts with advanced BTC receiving systemic therapy were included in this study. Results: Among 636 pts with advanced BTC, 85 had TP53/KRAS co-alteration, 293 had TP53, 44 had KRAS, and 214 had neither KRAS nor TP53 alteration (WT/WT). Tumors with TP53 alteration had significantly higher level of tumor mutation burden (TMB) compared to the other groups (3.8 mut/Mb for TP53/KRAS, 5.0 mut/Mb for TP53, 2.8 mut/Mb for KRAS, and 2.5 mut/Mb for WT/WT, respectively, P<0.001). In addition, the frequency of microsatellite instability-high (MSI-High) in the TP53/KRAS group (11.0%) was significantly higher compared to the TP53 group (3.1%, P<0.05), and the WT/WT group (0.6%, P<0.001), respectively. The objective response rate of first-line therapy in the TP53/KRAS group (8.2%) was significantly lower than in the other groups (20.8% for TP53, 23.3% for KRAS, and 19.7% for WT/WT groups, P=0.035). There was no pts treated with durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin. Two pts with TP53/KRAS alteration and MSI-High received pembrolizumab monotherapy, and partial response was achieved with a progression-free survival of 9.4 and 22.0 months. The median overall survival (OS) for pts treated with first-line therapy of the TP53/KRAS, KRAS, TP53, and WT/WT groups were 13.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5-15.5), 14.3 (95%CI, 9.7-25.9), 18.8 (95%CI, 16.9-20.6), and 22.7 months (95%CI, 20.4-25.9), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified TP53/KRAS alteration (hazard ratio [HR] 2.14, 95%CI 1.43-3.22, P<0.001), number of detected variants (≥2) (HR 1.50, 95%CI 1.04-2.16, P=0.029), locally advanced (HR 1.72, 95%CI 1.05-2.83, P=0.033), and metastatic status (HR 1.78, 95%CI 1.39-2.28, P<0.001) as independent prognostic factors for shorter OS. Conclusions: Patients with advanced BTC with co-occurring TP53/KRAS alterations have worse prognosis. Interestingly, the presence of these co-alterations was associated with a higher likelihood of MSI-High phenotype.
Peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma (phCCA): A comparative comprehensive genomic profiling study.
Authors: Sampat Parth J , Pavlick Dean C. , Ross Jeffrey S. , Basnet Alina 
Published: January 2024

542 Background: CCA is a heterogenous group of malignancies that arise from epithelium of the biliary tree. The comparison of the genomic landscapes that can influence therapy selection of phCCA from other types of intra- and extra-hepatic CCA (ih/ehCCA) are not well-known. We queried differences in comprehensive genomic profiles (CGP) of CCAs and comparing genomic alterations (GA) in phCCA and other types of CCA. Methods: DNA extracted from 110 cases of phCCA, 743 cases of common bile duct CCA (cbdCCA) and 9178 cases of intrihCCA underwent hybrid capture-based CGP to evaluate GA, MSI status, TMB levels, genomic ancestry, genomic signature, HRD score and germline status. phCCA cases were confirmed at surgery and pathology as originating from either the left, right or common hepatic ducts. cbdCCA cases were confirmed either by CBD biopsies or Whipple procedures. PD-L1 expression was determined by IHC using the Dako 22C3 assay using the tumor proportional score (TPS) system. Results: Patient characteristics were similar (Table). The GA/tumor and frequencies of European ancestry were similar. Both phCCA and cbdCCA featured significantly greater frequency of ERBB2 GA than ihCCA (P=.002) and lower frequencies of FGFR2 GA (P=.001) and IDH1 GA (P=.006). ihCCA featured significantly higher frequencies of FGFR2 (11.7%) and IDH1 (13.9%; P=.006) GA than either phCCA or cbdCCA. cbdCCA had a significantly higher frequency of KRAS GA than phCCA (P=.015) and ihCCA (P<.001). The KRAS G12C frequency reached 5.9% of KRAS mutated ihCCA. GA in BRAF, PIK3CA, CDKN2A and MTAP were not significantly different. TP53 GA were higher in cbdCCA than phCCA (P=0.011) and combined phCCA and cbdCCA (ehCCA) were higher than ihCCA (P=.071). MSI status, TMB levels and PD-L1 expression was similarly low in all 3 groups. Positive homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scores based on %gLOH and high frequencies of MMR genomic signatures were similar in all 3 groups. Conclusions: phCCA appears to be a distinctive form of ehCCA featuring significantly higher frequencies of potentially targetable ERBB2 and lower frequencies of targetable FGFR2 and IDH1 mutations, when compared to ihCCA. Predictive IO markers were similarly low in both ihCCA and ehCCA.[Table: see text]
Integrated multi-omics profiling to dissect the spatiotemporal evolution of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.
Authors: Sun Yun-Fan , Zhang Zefan , Fan Jia 
Published: January 2024

556 Background: Comprehensive molecular analyses of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are lacking. Methods: Here, we generated genomic, transcriptomic, and T cell repertoire data coupled with digital pathology and digital spatial profiling of 257 primary, 28 relapsed, and 176 metastatic regions from 182 HCC patients. Results: Primary tumors rich in hypoxia signatures tended to give rise to polyclonal dissemination, which was associated with a poor clinical outcome. Genomic divergence between primary and metastatic HCC was high, and early dissemination was prevalent. The remarkable neoantigen intratumor heterogeneity observed in metastases was associated with decreased T cell reactivity, which may have resulted from disruptions to neoantigen presentation. We identified macroevolutionary somatic copy number alterations as highly selected events driving metastasis. Furthermore, we found that subclonal Wnt pathway mutations were not selected during spreading, whereas subclones without Wnt mutations showed a strong selective advantage for metastasis and were characterized by a reactive microenvironment rich in activated fibroblasts favoring an invasive tumor cell phenotype. Finally, metastases without Wnt mutations exhibited higher enrichment of immunosuppressive B cells that mediated terminal exhaustion of CD8+ T cells via HLA-E – NKG2A checkpoint axis. Conclusions: Collectively, our results provide a multi-dimensional dissection of the complex evolutionary process of metastasis.
Agrin as a prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Authors: Kapoor Ankita , Sonti Sahithi , Patel Riya Jayesh , George Anthony , Attwood Kristopher , Thanikachalam Kannan , Iyer Renuka V. , Chakraborty Sayan 
Published: January 2024

559 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of hepatic cancer is associated with high mortality rates, both in the United States & globally. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) & Glypican-3 have been proposed as biomarkers for HCC, although they do not offer any prognostic benefit to model disease progression. Immunotherapy combinations increase patient survival to ~18 months but are not selected based on biomarkers. Agrin, a secreted proteoglycan is frequently overexpressed & secreted in HCC & plays a prominent role in liver tumor microenvironment to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. In this single center, retrospective study using banked materials, we assessed the role of agrin as a prognostic biomarker in HCC. Methods: With IRB approval, we studied 90 newly diagnosed unresectable hepatobiliary cancer patients, & compared them to healthy controls matched for age, gender, & BMI between February 2006 & September 2013. Serum concentration (conc.) of agrin was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We correlated the level of agrin with AFP, a known biomarker in hepatocellular cancer. Comparisons between groups were made using Mann-Whitney U & Kruskal Wallis tests. Survival analysis used both univariate & multivariate Cox regression models to investigate the relationship between survival outcomes & agrin concentration, in comparison to AFP. Results: Mean circulatory plasma agrin levels were higher in HCC patients (n=79) (7.97 ng/ml, SD 5.8) when compared to controls (4.27 ng/ml, SD 1.03). ECOG PS > 2 was linked to higher agrin conc. (mean: 10.5 ng/ml, p 0.007). While agrin levels in healthy individuals did not change with smoking history, the mean agrin levels were significantly higher in smokers (9.49 ng/ml) vs non-smokers (6.84 ng/ml) (p 0.0001) amongst HCC patients. Agrin displayed a strong positive correlation with AFP (correlation coefficient (r) 0.31944, p 0.0137). Multivariate cox regression models indicated that agrin conc. of > 9.3 ng/ml had greater predictable survival outcomes (Hazard ratio (HR) 8.51, p <0.001) when compared to elevated AFP levels (HR 1.55, p 0.25) (Table). HCC patients with lower agrin conc. (4.9 to 6.3 ng/ml) exhibited a one-year survival rate of 63% & a median survival time of 16 months, while those with higher agrin conc. exceeding 9.3 ng/ml had significantly lower one-year survival rate of 14% & significantly shorter median survival time of 3 months (p 0.002). Conclusions: Our results suggest that agrin levels as a prognostic indicator fare better than AFP levels. Thus, further studies should be done to explore this as a therapeutic target and as a biomarker of response to targeted therapies. [Table: see text]
The effect of obesity in hospitalized patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A nationwide analysis.
Authors: Turk Ekrem , Olafimihan Ayobami Gbenga , Ibrahim Muhammad Bilal , Nieto Dominguez Alejandro , Deenadayalan Vaishali 
Published: January 2024

569 Background: Obesity, a prominent issue in global health, is known to increase the risk factors associated with a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer. While existing research affirms the heightened risk of developing HCC in individuals with obesity, there remains a significant gap in understanding the specific influences of obesity on the outcomes of patients admitted with primary HCC diagnosis during their index hospital admission. This study explores the mortality rate, length of stay (LOS), and healthcare utilization in HCC patients with and without obesity. Methods: Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried to determine adult hospitalized patients with a primary diagnosis of HCC using ICD-10 codes. The primary outcome was defined as the effect of obesity on inpatient mortality in those patients. Secondary outcomes included LOS, total hospital charge, health care utilization, ICU admission. We evaluated the baseline characteristics using the t-test and chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of HCC with obesity and inpatient mortality adjusted by age, gender, race, Charlson index, insurance, and household income. Results: A total of 62,050 HCC patients were identified, and 10.9% of these patients had obesity. HCC patients with obesity were younger (64.7 vs. 65 years, p=0.220), more likely to be female (32.2% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), White (59.8% vs. 50.2% p < 0.001), and more likely to have no insurance (28.8% vs. 23.3%, p < 0.001) compared to HCC patients without obesity. HCC with obesity had higher mean Charlson Comorbidity index 5.9 vs. 5.5, p < 0.001). The overall inpatient mortality rate was 8.2% for all patients who are admitted for HCC; lower in HCC with obesity (5.6%) vs HCC without obesity (8.5%) (p < 0.001). Charlson index, Male gender, African–American race, Hospital teaching status, insurance status found to be associated with inpatient mortality among HCC hospitalizations. HCC with obesity had a lower odds ratio with decreased all-cause mortality of 25% compared to HCC without obesity (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.96, p = 0.023). In addition, HCC with obesity was associated with increased LOS mean 6.3 vs. 5.7 days (adjusted difference: 0.6 p < 0.001), and total hospital charges (mean $112,687 vs $88,481, adjusted difference: $21122 p < 0.0001). Also; ICU transfer rate and AKI development were found more in obese cohort and this different was statistically significant. Conclusions: Our study revealed that HCC patients with obesity had a lower inpatient mortality rate compared to those without obesity, despite longer hospital stays and higher costs. These findings hint at a complex interplay between obesity and HCC outcomes, necessitating further in-depth research.