Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy

Abstract Background Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies widely depending on the patient's condition. In recent years, combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has emerged as the treatment of choice due to its superior antitumor effects for unresectable HCC (uHCC). Co...

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Main Authors: Ryosuke Tsunemitsu, Motoyasu Tabuchi, Shinya Sakamoto, Kenta Ogi, Manabu Matsumoto, Jun Iwata, Takehiro Okabayashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2023-06-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01678-9
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author Ryosuke Tsunemitsu
Motoyasu Tabuchi
Shinya Sakamoto
Kenta Ogi
Manabu Matsumoto
Jun Iwata
Takehiro Okabayashi
author_facet Ryosuke Tsunemitsu
Motoyasu Tabuchi
Shinya Sakamoto
Kenta Ogi
Manabu Matsumoto
Jun Iwata
Takehiro Okabayashi
author_sort Ryosuke Tsunemitsu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies widely depending on the patient's condition. In recent years, combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has emerged as the treatment of choice due to its superior antitumor effects for unresectable HCC (uHCC). Conversion surgery (CS) after systemic chemotherapy is expected to be an effective treatment strategy for uHCC. Here, we report two cases of uHCC with bilateral porta hepatis invasion, in which atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy regressed the tumor invasion of the porta hepatis, followed by CS with R0 resection. Case presentation The first patient—a 71-year-old man with S4 HCC—developed porta hepatis, and the tumor compressed the right portal vein and bile duct. R0 resection with left trihepatectomy was impossible because of insufficient liver function, and combination therapy using atezolizumab and bevacizumab was initiated. After ten courses of treatment, the tumor shrunk with regression of the porta hepatis contact, and segmentectomy of S4 was performed with a sufficient surgical margin. Histopathological findings showed that the primary tumor was mostly necrotic with no residual viable tumor cells. The second patient was a 72-year-old man with an S4 HCC extending to the porta hepatis. The patient’s condition was almost similar to that in the first case and required left tri-segmentectomy with R0 resection; however, insufficient liver function made liver resection impossible. An atezolizumab plus bevacizumab regimen was administered, and after seven courses of treatment, porta hepatis compression regressed, following which left lobectomy was performed with adequate surgical margins. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated HCC, most of which was necrotic, and R0 resection was confirmed. Conclusions Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy has the potential to facilitate radical resection in patients with uHCC.
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spelling doaj-art-24d3bb221738401b81479942251d2b022025-08-20T03:29:31ZengJapan Surgical SocietySurgical Case Reports2198-77932023-06-019111110.1186/s40792-023-01678-9Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapyRyosuke Tsunemitsu0Motoyasu Tabuchi1Shinya Sakamoto2Kenta Ogi3Manabu Matsumoto4Jun Iwata5Takehiro Okabayashi6Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Radiology, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Diagnostic Pathology, Kochi Health Sciences CenterDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences CenterAbstract Background Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies widely depending on the patient's condition. In recent years, combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has emerged as the treatment of choice due to its superior antitumor effects for unresectable HCC (uHCC). Conversion surgery (CS) after systemic chemotherapy is expected to be an effective treatment strategy for uHCC. Here, we report two cases of uHCC with bilateral porta hepatis invasion, in which atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy regressed the tumor invasion of the porta hepatis, followed by CS with R0 resection. Case presentation The first patient—a 71-year-old man with S4 HCC—developed porta hepatis, and the tumor compressed the right portal vein and bile duct. R0 resection with left trihepatectomy was impossible because of insufficient liver function, and combination therapy using atezolizumab and bevacizumab was initiated. After ten courses of treatment, the tumor shrunk with regression of the porta hepatis contact, and segmentectomy of S4 was performed with a sufficient surgical margin. Histopathological findings showed that the primary tumor was mostly necrotic with no residual viable tumor cells. The second patient was a 72-year-old man with an S4 HCC extending to the porta hepatis. The patient’s condition was almost similar to that in the first case and required left tri-segmentectomy with R0 resection; however, insufficient liver function made liver resection impossible. An atezolizumab plus bevacizumab regimen was administered, and after seven courses of treatment, porta hepatis compression regressed, following which left lobectomy was performed with adequate surgical margins. The pathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated HCC, most of which was necrotic, and R0 resection was confirmed. Conclusions Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy has the potential to facilitate radical resection in patients with uHCC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01678-9Advanced hepatocellular carcinomaConversion surgeryAtezolizumab plus bevacizumab
spellingShingle Ryosuke Tsunemitsu
Motoyasu Tabuchi
Shinya Sakamoto
Kenta Ogi
Manabu Matsumoto
Jun Iwata
Takehiro Okabayashi
Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
Surgical Case Reports
Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Conversion surgery
Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab
title Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
title_full Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
title_fullStr Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
title_full_unstemmed Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
title_short Two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
title_sort two cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated via atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy
topic Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Conversion surgery
Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-023-01678-9
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