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SUMMARY BackgroundPortal vein tumour thrombosis is a negative prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Background CRTC1-MAML2 fusion is often detected in low- or intermediate-grade salivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and it is associated with a favorable clinical course. Primary MEC of the liver is an extremely rare, aggressive tumor, and no study has investigated CRTC1-MAML2 fusion. Case presentation A 79-year-old Japanese female presented with an approx. 5-cm hepatic mass lesion. We surgically resected the lesion under the clinical diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The histological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with high-grade MEC, consisting of squamoid, mucin-producing, and intermediate tumor cells. Our RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of CRTC1-MAML2 fusion. This fusion gene was further confirmed by direct sequencing. The patient is still alive almost 10 years after the surgery. Conclusion This is the first case report of primary MEC of the liver with CRTC1-MAML2 fusion, with long survival. The present case has significant implications for the entity of primary MEC of the liver which should be distinguished from adenosquamous carcinoma.

Group B and C patients had better tumor reduction than those in group A. Fewer hematologic complications occurred in group C patients compared with group B.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) on the survival of patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Between January 2003 and January 2014, 80 patients underwent hepatic resection for HCC. Of these patients, we evaluated 49 patients who met the following inclusion criteria: (1) preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A); (2) resectable HCC (≤ 3 nodules, regardless of the size); and (3) HCC with high-grade malignant potential. Among them, 13 patients underwent neoadjuvant HAIC and curative hepatectomy (treatment group). The remaining 36 patients underwent curative hepatic resection without neoadjuvant therapy (control group). Survival after hepatic resection was compared retrospectively between the groups. Results: During follow-up, 2 (15.4%) patients in the treatment group and 25 (69.4%) patients in the control group developed recurrence. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free rates (100%, 78.6%, and 78.6%, respectively vs. 65.8%, 33.7%, and 26.6%, respectively; P = 0.003) and overall survival rates (100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively vs. 91.7%, 77.8%, and 55.3%, respectively; P = 0.037) were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant HAIC decreased the risk of recurrence and improved survival in patients with HCC with high malignant potential.