Definitive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Early-Stage Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Australian Multi-Institutional Review of Outcomes

H. Y.H. Liu, Y. Y.D. Lee, S. Sridharan, W. Wang, R. Khor, J. Chu, A. Oar, E. S. Choong, H. Le, M. Shanker, A. Wigg, K. Stuart, D. Pryor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: Standard curative options for early-stage, solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are often unsuitable due to liver dysfunction, comorbidities and/or tumour location. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has shown high rates of local control in HCC; however, limited data exist in the treatment-naïve, curative-intent setting. We report the outcomes of patients with solitary early-stage HCC treated with SBRT as first-line curative-intent therapy. 

Materials and methods: A multi-institutional retrospective study of treatment-naïve patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage 0/A, solitary ≤5 cm HCC, Child-Pugh score (CPS) A liver function who underwent SBRT between 2010 and 2019 as definitive therapy. The primary end point was freedom from local progression. Secondary end points were progression-free survival, overall survival, rate of treatment-related clinical toxicities and change in CPS >1. 

Results: In total, 68 patients were evaluated, with a median follow-up of 20 months (range 3–58). The median age was 68 years (range 50–86); 54 (79%) were men, 62 (91%) had cirrhosis and 50 (74%) were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0. The median HCC diameter was 2.5 cm (range 1.3–5) and the median prescription biologically effective dose with a tumour a/b ratio of 10 Gy (BED10) was 93 Gy (interquartile range 72–100 Gy). Two-year freedom from local progression, progression-free survival and overall survival were 94.3% (95% confidence interval 86.6–100%), 59.5% (95% confidence interval 46.3–76.4%) and 88% (95% confidence interval 79.2–97.6%), respectively. Nine patients (13.2%) experienced grade ≥2 treatment-related clinical toxicities. A rise >1 in CPS was observed in six cirrhotic patients (9.6%). 

Conclusion: SBRT is an effective and well-tolerated option to consider in patients with solitary, early-stage HCC. Prospective, randomised comparative studies are warranted to further refine its role as a first-line curative-intent therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)787-793
Number of pages7
JournalClinical Oncology
Volume35
Issue number12
Early online date5 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Curative intent
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy

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