BACKROUND: Not all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) benefit from treatment with molecular targeted agents such as sorafenib. We investigated whether New-FP (fine-powder cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil), a hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy regimen, is more favorable than sorafenib as an initial treatment for locally progressed HCC. METHODS: To avoid selection bias, we corrected the data from different facilities that did or did not perform New-FP therapy. In total, 1709 consecutive patients with HCC initially treated with New-FP or sorafenib; 1624 (New-FP, n = 644; sorafenib n = 980) were assessed. After propensity score matching (PSM), overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were assessed (n = 344 each). Additionally, the patients were categorized into four groups: cohort-1 [(without macrovascular invasion (MVI) and extrahepatic spread (EHS)], cohort-2 (with MVI), cohort-3 (with EHS), and cohort-4 (with MVI and EHS) to clarify the efficacy of each treatment. RESULTS: New-FP prolonged OS than sorafenib after PSM (New-FP, 12 months; sorafenib, 7.9 months; p < 0.001). Sorafenib treatment, and severe MVI and EHS were poor prognostic factors. In the subgroup analyses, the OS was significantly longer the New-FP group in cohort-2. CONCLUSIONS: Local treatment using New-FP is a potentially superior initial treatment compared with sorafenib as a multidisciplinary treatment in locally progressed HCC without EHS.

Three-dimensional registration of pre- and postablation CT or MRI more accurately assesses the ablative margin than the conventional method. It can predict a proclivity for local recurrence after RFA according to margin grade. It also indicated that residuals and sites of no margin proximate to blood vessels that are more than 3 mm in diameter are high-risk locations for local recurrence after ablation.

Aim Ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported worldwide, mainly in Europe, since 2016. In Japan, there has been an increase in the number of notified hepatitis A cases since January 2018, most of which were suspected to have been transmitted through homosexual contact. In this paper, we describe the current outbreak situation of hepatitis A among MSM. Methods Between March and July 2018, 13 cases of hepatitis A were identified in our hospital. All cases were identified as MSM. Data on clinical and laboratory findings and therapies were collected from medical records. Serum or stool samples were obtained from 13 patients and subjected to sequence analysis. Results Of all patients, 12 reported to have male‐to‐male homosexual contact within 7 weeks prior to symptom onset, and 6 visited sex‐on‐premises venues in the same area. Furthermore, 12 patients were infected with HIV and consequently received antiretroviral therapy with sustained viral suppression. Ten patients received pulsed methylprednisolone therapy. Plasma exchange was additionally carried out in one patient. All patients received inpatient hospital care and were discharged alive. Sequence information, which was available in all cases, showed that the hepatitis A virus strain was identical to the EuroPride strain (RIVM‐HAV16–090). Conclusions Results of sequence analysis suggest that the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak among MSM in Japan is linked to the 2016 European outbreaks. A vaccination program is urgently required for high‐risk populations to control this ongoing outbreak.

143 Background: Recently, the proportion of elderly patients (pts) with advanced gastric cancer has increased in Japan. Survival benefits of second-line chemotherapy (CTX) such as weekly paclitaxel (PTX)±Ramucirumab (RAM) or irinotecan (CPT) were shown in several phase 3 trials for metastatic gastric cancer (mGC). However, efficacy and prognostic factors in the second line CTX for elderly pts are not well studied. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed for mGC pts aged ≥ 70 years who underwent PTX+RAM, PTX or CPT as second-line CTX. Eligibility criteria were as follows: PS 0-2, refractory to an S-1containing CTX. Response rate (RR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors of survival. Results: There were 250 pts with mGC treated at our institution between April 2007 and March 2017. Of all, total of 85 pts were eligible. Median age was 75 years (71-85). The RR was 28.0% in the PTX+RAM group (n=28), 17.2% in the PTX group (n=29) and 18.5% in the CPT group (n=28). Median PFS was 5.1 months(M) and MST was 12.2 M in the PTX+RAM group, compared with 4.1 M and 9.7 M in the PTX group, or 3.3M and 9.8M in the CPT group. The ORR, PFS and OS were better in the PTX+RAM group though differences between groups were not statistically significant. Grade 3 or higher non-hematological AEs such as fatigue or diarrhea were more frequent in the CPT group on the other hand, hematological AEs were more frequent in the PTX+RAM group. On multivariate analysis, PS (HR,3.13; 95%CI, 1.60-5.77), LDH (HR,3.19; 95%CI, 1.80-5.57), and CEA (HR,2.35; 95%CI, 1.30-4.16) were found to be significant prognostic factors for elderly pts with mGC who underwent second-line CTX. Conclusions: PTX+RAM therapy seemed to be more effective than the other regimens. Furthermore, this analysis for prognostic factors may help clinicians to better select elderly pts who may benefit from a second-line CTX.

82 Background: Recently, the proportion of elderly patients (pts) with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) has increased in Japan. Survival benefits of salvage treatment after second-line chemotherapy (CTX) for mGC were shown in several prospective studies. However, the role of salvage treatment in elderly pts remains controversial. Methods: We reviewed 185 pts with mGC who received palliative CTX aged ≥ 70 years at our institution between April 2007 and March 2018. Eligibility criteria were as follows: PS 0-2, refractory to first-line and second-line CTX. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic factors that affected overall survival for elderly pts with mGC, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on the baseline factors at the beginning of third-line CTX. Results: Of all, 71 pts were eligible. Median age was 75 years (71-85). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for third-line CTX were 3.2 and 7.5 months, respectively and an overall response rate and disease control rate were 4.2% and 43.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, the following four factors were identified to have prognostic significance: performance status (PS) (ECOG 0–1 or 2), serum albumin level (< 3.5 or ≥ 3.5 g/dl), serum LDH level (≤ 240 or > 240 IU/l), PFS under second-line CTX (< 3 or ≥ 3 months). Multivariate analysis found three prognostic factors affecting poor survival following third-line CTX: PS of 2 (hazard ratio (HR) 8.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.99–20.2; P = 0.001), serum LDH level > 240 IU/l (HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.48–5.05; P = 0.002) and median PFS under second-line CTX of < 3 months (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.01–3.43; P = 0.045). A prognostic index was constructed, dividing pts into low- (0 factor), intermediate- (1-2 risk factors), or high- (3 risk factors) risk groups. Median OS for each group were 12.6, 6.0 and 3.0 months, respectively ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: This analysis suggests that some clinicopathologic factors might be helpful in identifying the subgroup of elderly pts most likely to benefit from third-line CTX for metastatic gastric cancer.