Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma and review of literature

Abstract

A 68-year-old man presented with multiple hepatocellular carcinoma, which was considered to be unresectable at the first admission in January 1994. Pathological diagnosis was made by biopsy of the one lesion among them. From January 1994 to December 1997, 10 transarterial chemoembolizations and six percutaneous ethanol injection therapies were performed on the tumours in the cirrhotic liver. In February 1998 the tumour situated in the right lobe began to increase in size. The maximum tumour diameter was 6.3 cm measured by computed tomography (CT). In the beginning of May 1998 moderate ascites was present and mild hepatic encephalopathy was noticed. The patient was in the terminal stage of hepatocellular carcinoma and no further treatment was possible at that time. However, serum alpha-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II dramatically decreased in June 1998. The CT scan also showed that the tumour had completely regressed without specific treatment. In February 1999 a new biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma, 2 cm in diameter, developed in the lateral segment of the liver. It was well treated by percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. The patient was alive in good condition without any symptoms or tumour recurrence in June 1999. It was concluded that a rare case of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma had occurred.

Fever: Views in Anthroposophic Medicine and Their Scientific Validity

“…In fact, about 80% of the reported spontaneous remissions from cancer are found to be related to infections [99] and the connection between febrile infection and spontaneous tumor regression is the most frequent association found in literature [86, 100–105]. This suggests that more than just increased heat is needed to fight cancer [102, 106, 107]: immunologic events that accompany some forms of fever may play a role in overcoming immunological escape mechanisms of tumor development. “Febrile reactions to injecting mistletoe products in cancer may improve treatment outcome” [19, 20, 20–22, 24, 30]. …”

Spontaneous Regression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Report of a Case

“…8,9 Five of the 40 cases reviewed showed recurrence after spontaneous regression. [10][11][12] One case also revealed the same tumor to again relapse after spontaneous regression. 6 We therefore propose that HCC tumors that show spontaneous regression should be treated the same as in our case, if the tumor remains to some degree and the patient's liver function is acceptable.…”

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Biological factors that have been suggested in attempts to explain SR include hormonal influences, the withdrawal of agents required for tumor growth, deprivation of oxygen and nutrients, and the activation of immunological variations. 5-7 SR of HCC has also been reported to develop after the withdrawal of androgen, 8 withdrawal of alcohol, 9,10 Taking of herbal medicine, 11,13 blood transfusion, 14 massive bleeding, [14][15][16] rapid tumor growth, 17,18 fever, 14,[19][20] angiography, 21,22 and surgical trauma. 15 All patients in the present report were A B Fig.…”