1.Comparison of lung shunt fraction and intrahepatic distribution obtained from postoperative 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy and preoperative 99Tc m-MAA images
Hongji YOU ; Min XIONG ; Ao LI ; Zhaozhong WU ; Jingmin FENG ; Licong LIANG ; Liteng LIN ; Kangshun ZHU ; Shengnan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025;45(6):330-334
Objective:To compare the lung shunt fraction (LSF) of 90Y imaging after 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and preoperative 99Tc m-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) imaging in patients with liver malignant tumors, and compare the volume and visual score of intrahepatic distribution of both nucleins on SPECT/CT images. Methods:A total of 91 patients with liver malignant tumors (78 males, 13 females; age (56.7±13.7)years; 99 cases) who underwent 90Y-SIRT in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from November 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. All patients underwent preoperative 99Tc m-MAA simulation and postoperative 90Y distribution verification by whole-body planar scintigraphy and hepatic SPECT/CT imaging. ROIs of the liver and lungs under the anterior-posterior position were delineated on the planar scintigraphy and LSF of 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y were calculated. The volume of interest (VOI) was drawn on the SPECT/CT images to calculate the nuclide distribution volume of both 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y within the liver. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the difference between two groups. In addition, the liver was divided into five lobes, namely left lateral lobe, left medial lobe, caudate lobe, right anterior lobe and right posterior lobe. Visual assessment of 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA radioactive distribution was performed ( 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA uptakes were graded on a scale of 0-3, where 0 indicated no nuclide accumulation and 3 indicated heavy accumulation). Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the scores of the corresponding lobes between two groups. Results:LSF for 99Tc m-MAA was 11.60%(4.27%, 15.03%), and LSF for 90Y was 11.80%(9.70%, 13.30%), without significant difference ( Z=-1.50, P=0.134). The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA within the liver was 542.63(204.00, 818.00)ml, which was significantly different from that of 90Y (688.69(287.00, 954.00)ml; Z=-7.37, P<0.001). Kappa values of the score of each lobe between 99Tc m-MAA imaging and 90Y imaging were 0.469-0.740 (all P<0.001). Conclusions:99Tc m-MAA simulation is reliable for assessing LSF for 90Y-SIRT. The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA is generally smaller than that of 90Y, but the consistency of the visual score of radioactive distribution is high. Overall, 99Tc m-MAA may well simulate the distribution pattern of 90Y-SIRT.
2.Research progress of Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in downstaging and conversion of hepatocellular carcinoma
Licong LIANG ; Yuchan LIANG ; Wensou HUANG ; Yongjian GUO ; Jingjun HUANG ; Liteng LIN ; Mingyue CAI ; Kangshun ZHU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):9-14
The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China are among the highest in the world, imposing a heavy social burden. Liver resection and liver transplantation are the primary radical treatments for HCC, although most patients are no longer able to meet the surgical requirements at initial diagnosis. Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (90Y-SIRT) has the advantages of shrinking tumors, enlarging residual liver, regressing portal vein tumor thrombus and improving the quality of life, which can be used for conversion, downstaging and bridging therapy for HCC before surgical treatment, enabling patients regain the chance of radical treatment and reducing the postoperative recurrence rate. This review focuses on the clinical application and progress of 90Y-SIRT in this field.
3.Lenvatinib combined with drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 7 cm with portal vein tumor thrombosis
Licong LIANG ; Kangshun ZHU ; Huanwei CHEN ; Jian ZHANG ; Nianping CHEN ; Wensou HUANG ; Yongjian GUO ; Yaohong LIU ; Cao DAN ; Xiaoguang LIU ; Mingyue CAI
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(5):353-359
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and FOLFOX-based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC) versus lenvatinib plus DEB-TACE (Len+DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 7 cm with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).Methods:The data from patients diagnosed with HCC (>7 cm) and PVTT who received either Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC ( n=99) or Len+DEB-TACE ( n=102) between July 2019 and June 2021 at six institutions in China were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Tumor responses were evaluated based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) were compared between the two groups by propensity score matching. Subgroup analyses were performed for TTP and OS. Results:After propensity score matching, 83 pairs of patients were included in the study cohorts. The ORR for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and the Len+DEB-TACE group was 66.3% and 38.6% ( χ2=12.78, P<0.001), respectively. The DCR for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and the Len+DEB-TACE group was 91.6% and 79.5% ( χ2=4.87, P=0.027), respectively. The median TTP and median OS for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group were significantly longer than those for the Len+DEB-TACE group (TTP, 10.1 months vs. 6.1 months, χ2=35.28, P<0.001; OS, 17.3 months vs. 12.9 months, χ2=16.84, P<0.001). The incidence of ≥grade 3 TRAEs was 38.6% in the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and 33.7% in the Len+DEB-TACE group ( χ2=0.42, P=0.518). Conclusion:Compared with Len+DEB-TACE, Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC led to improved tumor response, TTP and OS with an acceptable safety profile in patients with large HCC and PVTT.
4.Comparison of lung shunt fraction and intrahepatic distribution obtained from postoperative 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy and preoperative 99Tc m-MAA images
Hongji YOU ; Min XIONG ; Ao LI ; Zhaozhong WU ; Jingmin FENG ; Licong LIANG ; Liteng LIN ; Kangshun ZHU ; Shengnan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025;45(6):330-334
Objective:To compare the lung shunt fraction (LSF) of 90Y imaging after 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and preoperative 99Tc m-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) imaging in patients with liver malignant tumors, and compare the volume and visual score of intrahepatic distribution of both nucleins on SPECT/CT images. Methods:A total of 91 patients with liver malignant tumors (78 males, 13 females; age (56.7±13.7)years; 99 cases) who underwent 90Y-SIRT in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from November 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. All patients underwent preoperative 99Tc m-MAA simulation and postoperative 90Y distribution verification by whole-body planar scintigraphy and hepatic SPECT/CT imaging. ROIs of the liver and lungs under the anterior-posterior position were delineated on the planar scintigraphy and LSF of 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y were calculated. The volume of interest (VOI) was drawn on the SPECT/CT images to calculate the nuclide distribution volume of both 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y within the liver. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the difference between two groups. In addition, the liver was divided into five lobes, namely left lateral lobe, left medial lobe, caudate lobe, right anterior lobe and right posterior lobe. Visual assessment of 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA radioactive distribution was performed ( 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA uptakes were graded on a scale of 0-3, where 0 indicated no nuclide accumulation and 3 indicated heavy accumulation). Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the scores of the corresponding lobes between two groups. Results:LSF for 99Tc m-MAA was 11.60%(4.27%, 15.03%), and LSF for 90Y was 11.80%(9.70%, 13.30%), without significant difference ( Z=-1.50, P=0.134). The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA within the liver was 542.63(204.00, 818.00)ml, which was significantly different from that of 90Y (688.69(287.00, 954.00)ml; Z=-7.37, P<0.001). Kappa values of the score of each lobe between 99Tc m-MAA imaging and 90Y imaging were 0.469-0.740 (all P<0.001). Conclusions:99Tc m-MAA simulation is reliable for assessing LSF for 90Y-SIRT. The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA is generally smaller than that of 90Y, but the consistency of the visual score of radioactive distribution is high. Overall, 99Tc m-MAA may well simulate the distribution pattern of 90Y-SIRT.
5.Lenvatinib combined with drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 7 cm with portal vein tumor thrombosis
Licong LIANG ; Kangshun ZHU ; Huanwei CHEN ; Jian ZHANG ; Nianping CHEN ; Wensou HUANG ; Yongjian GUO ; Yaohong LIU ; Cao DAN ; Xiaoguang LIU ; Mingyue CAI
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(5):353-359
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib plus drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and FOLFOX-based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC) versus lenvatinib plus DEB-TACE (Len+DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 7 cm with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).Methods:The data from patients diagnosed with HCC (>7 cm) and PVTT who received either Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC ( n=99) or Len+DEB-TACE ( n=102) between July 2019 and June 2021 at six institutions in China were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Tumor responses were evaluated based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) were compared between the two groups by propensity score matching. Subgroup analyses were performed for TTP and OS. Results:After propensity score matching, 83 pairs of patients were included in the study cohorts. The ORR for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and the Len+DEB-TACE group was 66.3% and 38.6% ( χ2=12.78, P<0.001), respectively. The DCR for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and the Len+DEB-TACE group was 91.6% and 79.5% ( χ2=4.87, P=0.027), respectively. The median TTP and median OS for the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group were significantly longer than those for the Len+DEB-TACE group (TTP, 10.1 months vs. 6.1 months, χ2=35.28, P<0.001; OS, 17.3 months vs. 12.9 months, χ2=16.84, P<0.001). The incidence of ≥grade 3 TRAEs was 38.6% in the Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC group and 33.7% in the Len+DEB-TACE group ( χ2=0.42, P=0.518). Conclusion:Compared with Len+DEB-TACE, Len+DEB-TACE+HAIC led to improved tumor response, TTP and OS with an acceptable safety profile in patients with large HCC and PVTT.
6.The status and progress of gene therapy delivery techniques for retinal diseases
Licong LIANG ; Kaiqin SHE ; Fang LU
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2024;40(1):67-75
Gene therapy is designed to introduce genetic material into the cells of a patient via virus to enhance, inhibit, edit or add a genetic sequence, results in a therapeutic or prophylactic effect. Gene therapy has brought positive influence and great potential for the treatment of retinal diseases including genetic retinal diseases and acquired retinal diseases. In addition to the constant optimization of gene vectors, the exploration of different drug delivery techniques has brought different therapeutic effects for gene therapy of retinal diseases. The main delivery methods include subretinal injection, intravitreal injection, suprachoroidal injection. Considering the transfection efficiency and safety of delivery methods, emerging sub-inner limiting membrane injection and noninvasive gene delivery are under investigation. The selection of gene delivery method is very important for the safety and effectiveness of gene therapy for retinal diseases. It is not only related to the development of equipment and technology, but also related to the modification of adeno-associated virus, the selection of promoter and the specific retinal cells that the target gene wants to be transfected. Therefore, the most appropriate method of gene delivery should be selected according to the final gene therapy agent and the specific transfected cells after taking all these factors into consideration.
7.Clinical characteristics and effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in retinopathy of prematurity in Sichuan province
Guina LIU ; Ming HU ; Anna JIANG ; Licong LIANG ; Tingting YANG ; Fang LU
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2023;39(2):170-178
Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and evaluate the effect and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Sichuan province.Methods:A retrospective study. From January 2013 to January 2022, 156 patients (306 eyes) with ROP who received intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for the first time in the Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University were selected. According to the type of anti-VEGF drugs, the children were divided into intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) group and intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) group; IVC group was divided into hospital group and referral group according to the different paths of patients. After treatment, the patients were followed up until the disease degenerated (vascular degeneration or complete retinal vascularization) or were hospitalized again for at least 6 months. If the disease recurred or progressed, the patients were re-admitted to the hospital and received anti-VEGF drug treatment, laser treatment or surgical treatment according to the severity of the disease. Clinical data of these children was collected, including general clinical characteristics: gender, gestational age at birth (GA), birth weight (BW), history of oxygen inhalation; pathological condition: ROP stage, zone, whether there were plus lesions; treatment: treatment time, postmenstrual gestational age at the time of the first anti-VEGF drug treatment; prognosis: re-treat or not, time of re-treatment, mode of re-treatment; adverse events: corneal edema, lens opacity, endophthalmitis, retinal injury, and treatment-related systemic adverse reactions. The measurement data between groups were compared by t test, and the count data were compared by χ2 test or rank sum test. Results:Of the 306 eyes of 156 children with ROP, 74 were male (47.44%, 74/156) and 82 were female (52.56%, 82/156). Each included child had a history of oxygen inhalation at birth. The GA was (28.43±2.19) (23.86-36.57) weeks, BW was (1 129±335) (510-2 600) g, and the postmenstrual gestational age was (39.80±3.04) (31.71-49.71) weeks at the time of the first anti-VEGF drug treatment. All patients were diagnosed as type 1 ROP, including 26 eyes (8.50%, 26/306) of aggressive ROP (A-ROP), 39 eyes (12.74%, 39/306) of zone Ⅰ lesions, and 241 eyes (78.76%, 241/306) of zone Ⅱ lesions. The children were treated with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs within 72 hours after diagnosis. Among them, 134 eyes (43.79%, 134/306) of 68 patients were treated with IVR, and 172 eyes (56.21%, 172/306) of 88 patients were treated with IVC. In IVC group, 67 eyes of 34 patients (38.95%, 67/172) were in the hospital group and 105 eyes of 54 patients (61.05%, 105/172) were in the referral group. 279 eyes (91.18%, 279/306) were improved after one treatment, 15 eyes (4.90%, 15/306) were improved after two treatments, and 12 eyes (3.92%, 12/306) were improved after three treatments. The one-time cure rate of IVR group was lower than that of IVC group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=1.665, P=0.197). In different ROP categories, IVC showed better therapeutic effect in A-ROP, and its one-time cure rate was higher than that in IVR group, with statistically significant difference ( χ2=7.797, P<0.05). In the hospital group of IVC group, the GA, BW and the postmenstrual gestational age at first time of anti-VEGF drug treatment were lower than those in the referral group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.485, -2.940, -3.796; P<0.05). The one-time cure rate of the hospital group and the referral group were 94.94%, 92.38%, respectively. The one-time cure rate of the hospital group was slightly higher than that of the referral group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( χ2=0.171, P=0.679). In this study, there were no ocular and systemic adverse reactions related to drug or intravitreal injection in children after treatment. Conclusions:Compared with the characteristics of ROP in developed countries, the GA, BW and postmenstrual gestational age of the children in Sichuan province are higher. Both IVR and IVC can treat ROP safely and effectively. There is no significant difference between the two drugs in the overall one-time cure effect of ROP, but IVC performed better in the treatment of A-ROP in this study.
8.Transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib plus programmed death 1 inhibitor for the treatment of unresectable intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Jingzheng HUANG ; Mingyue CAI ; Wensou HUANG ; Yongjian GUO ; Jingjun HUANG ; Qunfang ZHOU ; Liteng LIN ; Bihui CAO ; Licong LIANG ; Juan ZHOU ; Kangshun ZHU
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2022;56(8):879-885
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor (TACE+Len+PD-1) versus TACE combined with lenvatinib (TACE+Len) for patients with unresectable intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The data of 94 patients with intermediate-advanced HCC who received TACE+Len+PD-1 (One week after TACE, the patient were treated with lenvatinib and PD-1 inhibitor. lenvatinib, 8 or 12 mg/d, orally; PD-1 inhibitor, 200 mg/3 weeks, iv) or TACE+Len (One week after TACE, the patient were treated with lenvatinib.lenvatinib, 8 or 12 mg/d, orally) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from June 2019 to February 2021 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 44 were in the TACE+Len+PD-1 group and 50 were in the TACE+Len group. Tumor responses were evaluated according to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. The potential prognostic factors for PFS and OS were determined.Results:The ORR of TACE+Len+PD-1 group and TACE+Len group was 72.8% (32/44) and 52.0% (26/50) (χ2=4.25, P=0.039), respectively. The DCR of TACE+Len+PD-1 group and TACE+Len group was 86.4% (38/44) and 62.0% (31/50) (χ2=7.12, P=0.008), respectively. The median PFS and median OS in TACE+Len+PD-1 group were significantly longer than those in TACE+Len group (PFS, 7.9 vs. 5.6 months, χ2=7.91, P=0.005; OS, 18.5 vs. 13.6 months, χ2=4.40, P=0.036). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that TACE+Len (HR=2.184,95%CI 1.366-3.493), incomplete tumor capsule (HR=2.002,95%CI 1.294-3.209) and extrahepatic metastasis (HR=1.765,95%CI 1.095-2.844) were the independent risk factors for PFS, while TACE+Len (HR=2.081,95%CI 1.097-3.948) and BCLC stage C (HR=7.325,95%CI 2.260-23.746) were the independent risk factors for OS. The incidence of ≥grade 3 AEs in TACE+Len+PD-1 group was similar to that in TACE+Len group (χ2=0.45, P=0.501). Conclusion:Compared with TACE+Len, TACE+Len+PD-1 resulted in a better tumor response and a longer PFS and OS in patients with intermediate-advanced HCC.
9.Applying optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neuro-ophthalmic diseases
Fang LU ; Kaiqin SHE ; Licong LIANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2021;37(3):169-172
With the development of ophthalmic optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA), including the improving of light source, resolution, scanning depth and upgrade of analysis softwares, they can more accurately display the structure of retinal layers and give accurate quantitative measurement. In neuro-ophthalmic diseases, the OCT indicators (the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer around optic disc and plexus layer in macular gangle cells) and OCTA indicators (the blood flow density of capillaries around optic disc, superficial and deep capillaries in macular area, and the area of foveal avascualr zone) had special changes. It has important value in the differential diagnosis of central nervous system diseases and retinal diseases with visual dysfunction as the first symptom, the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmic disease, the evaluation of progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Neuro-ophthamologists should pay more attention to the exploration and application of OCT and OCTA in the field of neuro-ophthalmology.
10.Radioactive I-125 seed implantation in treatment of TACE-refractory hepatocellular carcinoma
Jingqiang WU ; Wensou HUANG ; Yongjian GUO ; Jingwen ZHOU ; Mingyue CAI ; Licong LIANG ; Jingjun HUANG ; Hui LIAN ; Mingji HE ; Kangshun ZHU
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2021;27(8):570-574
Objective:To study the use of radioactive I-125 seed implantation in the treatment of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)-refractory hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 70 patients with HCC who were initially treated with TACE between July 1, 2016 and August 31, 2019 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. After these patients were found to be refractory to TACE, 29 patients were converted to radioactive I-125 seed implantation (the 125I seed group), and 41 patients were continued with TACE (the TACE group). The objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), total overall survival (TOS) of the two groups were compared. Results:There were 59 males and 11 females, aged (60.5±11.9 ) years in this study. At 1, 3, 6 months after treatment, the objective response rates of the 125I seed group were 20.7%, 40.7%, 34.6%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the TACE group of 2.6%, 3.3%, 5.0%, respectively. The PFS, OS, TOS in the 125I seed group were 7.6, 21.1, 32.1 months, respectively, which were significantly better when compared with the TACE group (3.5, 8.5, 14.8 months, respectively, all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the embolization syndrome between the two groups [93.1%(27/29) vs 100.0%(41/41), P>0.05]. Child-Pugh B grading ( HR=0.311, 95% CI: 0.160-0.603, P=0.005) and TACE ( HR=0.308, 95% CI: 0.159-0.597, P=0.002) were independent risk prognostic factors for survival. Conclusion:This study showed better treatment efficacy and safety using radioactive I-125 seed implantation in TACE-refractory HCC and this treatment significantly improved survival of patients when compared with TACE alone.

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