Efficacy and safety of radiotherapy for primary liver cancer

Abstract

Primary liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 75-85%) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (10-15%). The vast majority of patients with primary HCC are not candidates for surgical treatment. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and percutaneous puncture are effective potentially curable treatments for patients with early stage liver cancer. Radiation therapy is a non-surgical alternative treatment that has generally been used to treat patients with advanced liver cancer, although it's use in the potentially curative setting is increasing. Radiotherapy is a non-invasive local treatment which works through ionizing radiation. This review summarizes the efficacy and safety of commonly used radiotherapy methods, and reviews three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and internal radiation therapies, for primary liver cancer (in particular for HCC).

Space-Making Particle Therapy for Unresectable Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

“…In addition, patients with resectable HC but not indicated for liver resection due to poor health status are also good candidates for SMPT. Recent advancements in radiation therapy, including three-dimensional radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, volume-modulated arc therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiotherapy, have suggested the effectiveness of radiation therapy for liver tumors [42, 43]; however, controversy still exists about the selection of radiation therapy. Future studies comparing these modalities will be warranted to select the best treatment for cholangiocarcinoma.…”

Lipid nanomaterials-based RNA therapy and cancer treatment

“…Patients with 5-year survival only ∼18% 84 . Primary liver cancer has been categorized into two main forms: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, which constitute 75%–85% and 10%–15% of all cases 100 . It is usually caused by chronic liver damage, and the common inducing factors include alcohol abuse, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatitis virus infection.…”

Evaluation of PRDM1 gene polymorphism with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a cohort of Egyptian patients

“…Despite significant advances in HCC treatment, for example, nonsurgical treatment and curative surgery, HCC still has a poor prognosis; most patients pass away within 6 to 20 months [8]. The effectiveness of treatment is dictated by a stage of HCC somewhere at the time of diagnosis.…”