Clin Mol Hepatol.
2023 Apr;29(2):230-241. 10.3350/cmh.2022.0421.
Clinical practice guidelines and real-life practice in hepatocellular carcinoma: A Taiwan perspective
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- 2Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- 3Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- 4Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- 5Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- 6Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- 7Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- KMID: 2541402
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2022.0421
Abstract
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan. The Taiwan Liver Cancer Association and the Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan developed and updated the guidelines for HCC management in 2020. In clinical practice, we follow these guidelines and the reimbursement policy of the government. In Taiwan, abdominal ultrasonography, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) tests are performed for HCC surveillance every 6 months or every 3 months for high-risk patients. Dynamic computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound have been recommended for HCC surveillance in extremely high-risk patients or those with poor ultrasonographic visualization results. HCC is usually diagnosed through dynamic imaging, and pathological diagnosis is recommended. Staging of HCC is based on a modified version of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system, and the HCC management guidelines in Taiwan actively promote curative treatments including surgery and locoregional therapy for BCLC stage B or C patients. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), drug-eluting bead TACE, transarterial radioembolization, and hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy may be administered for patients with BCLC stage B or C HCC. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are reimbursed as systemic therapies, and regorafenib and ramucirumab may be reimbursed in cases of sorafenib failure. First-line atezolizumab with bevacizumab is not yet reimbursed but may be administered in clinical practice. Systemic therapy and external beam radiation therapy may be used in specific patients. Early switching to systemic therapy in TACE-refractory patients is a recent paradigm shift in HCC management.
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