Spontaneous Regression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Review of Reports in the Published English Literature

Abstract

Background. Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare event, although it has been described by numerous groups. The long-term fate of individuals experiencing an SR is not well described, and the underlying mechanism(s) of SR are unknown.Case Presentation: A 79-year-old Asian female with metastatic HCC taking only valsartan for hypertension had a marked reduction in tumor dimension in the primary tumor and the pulmonary metastases. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) decreased from 17,833 μg/L to 26 μg/L. Her disease progressed after 71 months, and she died shortly after. In a review of 66 patients with SR reported in the English literature, median survival was 83 months. Median survival in 37 cases that underwent resection after SR was 108 months.Conclusions. The case and a review of the literature illustrate that SR is often durable and associated with an excellent prognosis. Understanding the underlying mechanism of SR may point to novel therapeutic strategies.

Spontaneous Immune-Mediated Regression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With High Tumor Mutational Burden

“…The assembled case series that document such regression have often invoked inflammatory stimuli or other systemic or physiologic perturbations to explain the antitumor effect. 9 Our patient had no changes to his medications, took no additional conventional or complementary medications, had received no vaccinations within the preceding year, and had no other obvious hemodynamic precipitants to the tumor regression.…”

Occurrence–regression–recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma without any intervention: A case report

“…Spontaneous regression of HCC was first reported by Cole and Everson ( 1 ) in 1956. Since then, complete spontaneous regression of HCC has rarely been reported ( 13 ). The clinical diagnosis criteria for HCC include the presence of elevated AFP levels and the typical imaging characteristics of primary liver cancer including hepatitis and liver cirrhosis ( 12 ).…”

“…The course of spontaneous regression of HCC is difficult to predict. Pathological evidence was obtained only in a few previous cases of spontaneous regression of primary liver cancer, and most cases only met the clinical diagnosis criteria ( 13 ). The current patient met the clinical diagnostic criteria for HCC.…”

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a pure palliative care setting

“…Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very rare 1 . It is estimated to occur in 1 in 140,000 cases worldwide 1 .…”