Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
- Recommendations
1. Primary prevention of HCC.
1a. Vaccination against hepatitis B reduces the risk of HCC and is recommended for all new-born and high-risk groups.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational study), (1)
1b. Governmental health agencies should implement policies to prevent HCV/HBV transmission and encourage lifestyles that prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(A systematic review ), (2)
1c. In general, chronic liver diseases should be treated to avoid their progression.
Strong recommendation,Moderate Quality Evidence(Narrative review), (3)
1d. In patients with chronic hepatitis, antiviral therapies leading to maintained HBV suppression in chronic hepatitis B and sustained viral response in hepatitis C are recommended, since they have been shown to prevent progression to cirrhosis and HCC development.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Narrative review), (3,4)
1e. Once cirrhosis is established, antiviral therapy is beneficial in preventing cirrhosis progression and decompensation. Furthermore, successful antiviral therapy reduces but does not eliminate the risk of HCC development.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort studies), (5,6)
1f. Patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis and HCC treated with curative intent, maintain a high rate of HCC recurrence even after subsequent DAA therapy resulting in sustained viral response. close surveillance is advised in these patients.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (7)
1g. Coffee consumption has been shown to decrease the risk of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. In these patients, coffee consumption should be encouraged.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence (Prospective cohort studies), (8,9)
2. Screening of HCC
2a. Implementation of screening programs to identify at-risk candidate populations should be improved. Such programs are a public health goal, aiming to decrease HCC-related and overall liver-related deaths.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Randomized controlled Trial), (10)
2b. Screening for HCC is warranted in all patients with cirrhosis irrespective of aetiology as long as liver function and co-morbidities allow curative or palliative treatment .
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis). (11)
2c. Screening for HCC is warranted for all patients with chronic HBV, regardless of the fibrosis.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Systematic review), (12)
2d. Screening for HCC is warranted in all patients with advanced fibrosis (F3 or F4) with HCV or NAFLD.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence( Meat-analysis and Systematic review), (13,14)
2e. Screening of patients at risk of HCC should be carried out by abdominal Us with AFP every 4 months.
Good practice statement
2f. Patients with liver nodule(s) < 1cm or 1-cm [LI- ADS 1or 2] on abdominal ultrasound should repeat short-interval ultrasound and AFP after 3 months.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort study), (15)
2g. In at-risk patients with any suspicious lesion ≥ 1cm on ultrasound should undergo diagnostic evaluation with multi-phasic contrast- enhanced CT or contrast-enhanced multi-phasic MRI.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence( A systematic review and meta-analysis), (16)
3. Diagnosis and staging of HCC.
3a.
All patients with HCC should be carefully discussed and
managed by an experienced multidisciplinary team(MDT) with the involvement of
hepatologists , diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, surgeons,
transplant surgeons ,medical oncologists ,radiation oncologists, pathologists
with hepatobiliary cancer expertise,clinical pharmacists
nutritionists and palliative care specialists.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort study), (17)
3b. The
noninvasive diagnosis of HCC should be based on either multiphasic contrast-
enhanced CT or dynamic contrast enhanced MRI for diagnosis and evaluation of tumor
extent(number and size of nodules,vascular invasion,extra-hepatic spread),they should could
be performed,interpreted, and reported through the CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data
System(CT/MRI LI-RADS).
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis), (18)
3c. The diagnosis of HCC can be established if the typical vascular hallmarks of HCC (hypervascularity in the arterial phase with washout in the portal venous or delayed phase) are identified in a nodule of >1 cm diameter using one of the two contrast
enhancing imaging techniques, either CT or MRI, in a cirrhotic patient.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Systematic review and meta-analysis), (19)
3d. The optimal diagnostic method is core biopsy.Indicators
for consideration of core needle biopsy include:
• .lesion> 1cm in cirrhotic patients but does not meet imaging criteria for HCC in multi-phasic CT and MRI.
• .lesion meets imaging criteria for HCC but patients is not considered at high risk for HCC development(In non-cirrhotic patients).
• .lesion meets imaging criteria for HCC but patient has elevated CA19-9 or CEA with suspicion of iCCA or cHCC-C
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Narrative review), (20)
3e. Repeated bioptic sampling is recommended in cases of inconclusive histological or discordant findings, or in cases of growth or change in enhancement pattern identified during follow-up, but with imaging still not diagnostic for HCC.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort study), (21)
3f. Staging of HCC is important to determine outcome and planning of optimal therapy and includes assessment of tumour extent, AFP level, liver function, portal pressure and clinical performance status.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis), (22)
3g. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC) is the commonly accepted staging system for prognostic prediction and treatment allocation.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(network meta-analysis of observational studies), (23,24)
3h. Multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT or MRI of the abdomen, CT of the chest, and CT/MRI of the pelvis are also used in the evaluation of the HCC tumor burden to detect the presence of metastatic disease.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence (Narrative review), (25)
3i.Initial workup for patients with suspected HCC is a multidisciplinary evaluation including careful review of medical history to identify any potential chronic liver diseases, investigations of the etiologic origin of liver disease, an assessment of the presence of comorbidity, imaging studies to detect the presence of metastatic disease, and an evaluation of hepatic function, including a determination of whether portal hypertension is present.
Conditional Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Meta analysis), (26)
3j.Laboratory evaluation of patients with newly diagnosed HCC include tinvestigations to detect Aetiology of liver disease: HBV (at least HBsAg and anti-HBc), HCV (at least antiHCV), iron status, autoimmune profile, HBA1C, as indicated.
Good practice statement
3k. Initial Workup for patient with HCC include an initial assessment of hepatic function involves liver function testing including measurement of serum levels of bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, measurement of PT expressed as INR, albumin, and platelet count (surrogate for portal hypertension). Other recommended tests include CBC, BUN, and creatinine to assess kidney function.
Conditional Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort study), (27)
3l.Endoscopic assessment of any HCC patient: Upper GIT endoscopy is advised before
receiving systemic therapy or surgery.
Conditional Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (28)
3m.FDG PET-scan is not recommended for early diagnosis of HCC because of the high rate of false negative cases and may be considered when there is an equivocal extrahepatic finding before liver transplant.
Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis), (29)
4.1.Management of early HCC
4.1.a. Partial hepatectomy should be offered to HCC patients without advanced fibrosis and is the treatment of choice as long as an R0-resection can be carried out.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence (Meta-analysis), (30)
4.1.b. In the case of cirrhosis, surgical treatment is recommended for localized HCC with a single lesion and intact liver function (Child-Pugh A), and in the absence of clinically significant portal hypertension with the evaluation of the extent of partial hepatectomy, future liver remnant and patient performance status.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence (Meta-analysis and Cohort study), (30,31)
4.1.c For
patients with chronic liver disease being considered for major resection,
preoperative portal vein embolization should be considered.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis), (32)
4.1.d. Patients meeting the UNOS criteria ([AFP level ≤1000 ng/mL and single lesion ≥2 cm and ≤5 cm, or 2 or 3 lesions ≥1 cm and ≤3 cm and no evidence of macro vascular involvement or extra-hepatic disease] should be considered for liver transplantation.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence, (33)
4.1.e. Thermal ablation by RFA or MWA are recommended as an alternative for resection for a single nodule ≤ 3 cm, BCLC stage 0, and those early stages that are not candidates for resection.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Meta-analysis), (34)
4.1.f. The number and diameter of lesions treated by RFA in one session should not exceed three lesions, 3 cm each.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Narrative review), (35)
4.1.g. Unresectable lesions measuring up to 4 cm are recommended to be subject to local ablative therapy by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation.
Strong recommendation, HighQuality Evidence (Systematic review), (36)
4.1.h. Percutaneous ethanol injection is considered an option in some cases of very early HCC with tumor size up to 2 cm when thermal ablation is not technically feasible.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Systematic review), (37)
4.1.i. EBRT (i.e. IMRT, SRS/SBRT) is recommended as a potential first line single option for patients with liver-confined HCC who are not candidates for curative options (surgery or thermal ablation) and for whom TACE is being considered.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence (systematic review and meta-analysis of
observational studies), (38)
4.1.j. Single lesions (4–6 cm) that are beyond local ablative therapy and are ineligible for surgical resection and transplantation could benefit from a combination of heat ablation and chemoembolization and/or radiotherapy.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Metaanalysis of RCTs), (39)
4.1.k. TACE may be considered as an eligible option in intermediate HCC for bridging and down staging before liver transplantation and in case of non-feasibility or failure of other curative options in single lesions up to 8 cm.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(Observational cohort study),(40)
4.2.Management of Management of locally advanced/metastatic disease and palliative treatments HCC
4.2.a. TACE is recommended for BCLC-B patients with Child score up to B7 and tumor burden less than 50 % of liver volume.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Systematic review), (41)
4.2.b. TACE should not be recommended for patients with decompensated liver disease (Child-Pugh score > 7), advanced liver and/or kidney dysfunction, main portal vein or its main branches invasion, extrahepatic spread, or tumor occupying>50 % of the liver size.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(Systematic review), (42)
4.2.c. TACE should not be repeated after two consecutive sessions, with at least one month interval, and there is no response or there is tumor progression or decompensation of liver beyond Child-Pugh score B7).
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study (43)
4.2.d. Transarterial bland embolization may be used in same indications of TACE as A second choice if TACE is not feasible.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study),(44)
4.2.e. Radiotherapy in HCC is recommended to be integrated in the treatment plan through expert MDT and should be carried out in well trained and equipped centers with image guided, stereotactic radiotherapy, and radiosurgery facilities.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(systematic review ),(45)
4.2.f. Radiotherapy could be implemented for unresectable or medically inoperable disease irrespective of the location (3D conformal RT, intensity-modulated RT [IMRT], or stereotactic body RT [SBRT]).
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(systematic review), (45)
4.2.g. To give radiotherapy, there should be no extrahepatic disease or it should be minimal and addressed in a comprehensive management plan. Most of the data on radiation for HCC liver tumors arise from patients with Child-Pugh A liver disease; safety data are limited for patients with Child-Pugh B or poorer liver function. Those with Child-Pugh B (max 7) cirrhosis can be safely treated, but they may require dose modifications and strict dose constraint adherence.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (46)
4.2.h. Image-guided RT is strongly recommended to improve treatment accuracy and reduce treatment related toxicity.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (47)
4.2.i. SBRT or SRS can be considered after ablation/ embolization techniques have failed or are contraindicated.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(A systematic review and meta analysis), (48)
4.2.j. SBRT (typically 3–5 fractions) is recommended for patients with 1 to 3 tumors. And could be considered for larger lesions or more extensive disease, if there is sufficient uninvolved liver and liver radiation tolerance can be respected.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence (observational cohort study),(49)
4.2.k. SBRT or SRS are recommended for compensated cirrhotic patients with HCC and portal vein thrombosis and when patients are ineligible for other modalities with building-up results.
Conditional recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (50)
4.2.l. Palliative RT is indicated for symptomatic control and/or prevention of complications from metastatic lesions as bone or brain, and extensive liver tumor burden.
Strong recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(phase 2 trial), (51)
4.2.m. The recommended doses of radiotherapy should be based on meeting normal organ constraints and underlying liver function as follows:
◾ SBRT, SRS: 30–50 Gy (typically in 3–5 fractions)
Strong recommendation,
Moderate Quality Evidence(a systematic review and meta-analysis of
observational studies), (52)
◾ Hypofractionation: 37.5–72 Gy in 10–15 fractions
Strong recommendation,
Moderate Quality Evidence(observational cohort study), (53)
◾ Conventional fractionation by IMRT: 50–66 Gy in 25–33
fractions
Strong recommendation,
High Quality Evidence (a systematic review and metaanalysis), (54)
4.2.n. Systemic therapy should be offered to patients with preserved liver function(ChildTurcotte -Pugh A or well-selected Child-Turcotte-Pugh B cirrhosis),ECOG PS0-1,who have BCLC Stage C HCC,or BCLC Stage B HCC not amenable to or progressing after locoregional therapy.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(a systematic review and meta-analysis), (55)
4.2.o. Sorafenib is the standard of care as first line for patients with advanced HCC and those with intermediate-stage (BCLC B) disease not eligible for, or progressing despite, locoregional therapies. It is recommended in patients with well-preserved liver function and ECOG PS 0-2.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(a systematic review ),(56)
4.2.p. Regorafenib is the standard of care for patients with advanced HCC who have tolerated sorafenib but progressed. It is recommended in patients with well- preserved liver function and ECOG PS 0-1.
Strong recommendation, High Quality Evidence(randomized controlled trial)(57)
4.2.q. Patients with BCLC-Stage-D HCC should receive the best supportive care (BSC), including pain management, palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastasis, nutrition optimization, and psychological support.
Conditional recommendation, low Quality Evidence(review articles) (58,59)
5.Follow up of HCC
5a.Follow-up of patients who underwent radical treatments should consist of clinical evaluation, multiphasic, high-quality, cross-sectional imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis(ie,CT or MRI) every 3 to 6 months for 2 years, then every 6 months and AFP should be measured every 3 to 6 months for 2 years, then every 6 months. Surveillance imaging and AFP should continue for at least 5 years and thereafter screening is dependent on HCC risk factors.
Conditional Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational study), (60)
5b. Follow-up of patients with advanced stages of HCC treated with locoregional treatments or systemic therapies, periodic response assessment with cross-sectional imaging including chest, multiphase abdomen, pelvis and serum level of AFP
(every 3 months)
Good practice statement
5c. Using the mRECIST Criteria in the assessment of progression and radiological response after HCC 100% Low management is recommended.
Conditional Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence(observational study)(61)