Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Liver transplant remains the goal of curative treatment, but limited supply of organs decreases accessibility and prolongs waiting time to transplantation. Therefore, interventional oncology therapies have been used to treat the majority of HCC patients, including those awaiting transplant. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification is the most widely used staging system in management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that helps allocate treatments. Since its inception in 1999 it was updated for the fifth time in November 2021 and for the first time shaped by expert opinions outside the core BCLC group. The most recent version includes additional options for early-stage disease, sub stratifies intermediate disease into three groups, and lists alternates to Sorafenib that can double the expected survival of advanced-stage disease. The group also proposed a new BCLC staging schema for disease progression, and endorsed treatment stage migration directly into the main staging and treatment algorithm. This article reviews the recent developments underlying the current BCLC guidelines, and highlights ongoing research, particularly involving radioembolization, that will shape future best practice.
Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia is correlated with age. Men seeking treatment options with a low side effect profile often turn to prostate artery embolization (PAE). PAE continues to be refined with advanced tools and optimized techniques. Nonetheless, there exist controversies in terms of best practices for the management of lower urinary track symptoms (LUTS) with PAE. These controversies are essential for medical progress. Herein we suggest best practices moving forward based on currently available data. Given extensive safety data, we recommend PAE be considered alongside medical management and as a precursor to surgery. Given demonstrated efficacy across gland sizes, PAE can be performed in a single session, ideally in a hybrid angio-CT suite, without preoperative cross-sectional imaging. PAE should be initially performed with 300- to 500-μm size particles, and instead consider exploring other particles and sizes for repeat PAE. Finally, PAE can also be considered as first-line option for recurrent disease given the efficacy and excellent safety profile. This article is not meant to purport a dogma, but rather to serve as a guide to the experienced practitioner in challenging his or her own biases when performing PAE.
BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor that virtually always recurs with no established standard therapy at recurrence. Median survival after recurrence is 7-12 months. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with Yttrium-90 (Y90) glass microspheres (TheraSphere™, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA) is an FDA approved standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, and represents a novel strategy to treat regionally localized brain tumors. We are conducting a first-in-human clinical trial (under IDE) using Y90 microspheres modified to treat tumors in the brain. The goal of selectively delivering Y90 intra-arterially is to achieve higher tumoral absorbed doses while limiting non-target exposure. DESIGN: The primary objective is to evaluate the safety of Y90 microspheres treatment. Target enrollment is 12 patients at 5 participating medical centers. Key inclusion criteria include: 1st or 2nd recurrence of GBM , size 1-5cm, located in the non-dominant hemisphere in a non-eloquent region, accessible neurovascular anatomy for single intra-arterial treatment based on a diagnostic cerebral angiogram. After consent, patients will undergo screening angiography and imaging that be reviewed by the trial steering committee to determine treatment suitability. Treatment consists of Y90 microspheres administered intra-arterially to deliver 40Gy ± 10% to the treatment volume. Post-administration Y90 PET and MRI images allow assessment of dose distribution and acute safety. Following overnight admission, patients will be followed as outpatients weekly x 4, and then monthly up to month 6. Primary endpoints include treatment-related limiting toxicities, dose limiting toxicity defined as non-hematological toxicities ≥ grade 3, CNS toxicity ≥ grade 3 (eg. symptomatic ischemia or edema) related to non-target embolization, occurring through 30 days post procedure. Secondary endpoints include: treatment-related serious adverse events, change in post-treatment neurological function, technical success, objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. The study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov, number: NCT05303467.
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