Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Meta-Analysis and International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society Practice Guidelines

Sun Hyun Bae, Seok Joo Chun, Joo Hyun Chung, Eunji Kim, Jin Kyu Kang, Won Il Jang, Ji Eun Moon, Isaure Roquette, Xavier Mirabel, Tomoki Kimura, Masayuki Ueno, Ting Shi Su, Alison C. Tree, Matthias Guckenberger, Simon S. Lo, Marta Scorsetti, Ben J. Slotman, Rupesh Kotecha, Arjun Sahgal, Alexander V. LouieMi Sook Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis reports on outcomes and hepatic toxicity rates after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for liver-confined hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and presents consensus guidelines regarding appropriate patient management. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review was performed from articles reporting outcomes at ≥5 years published before October 2022 from the Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases with the following search terms: (“stereotactic body radiotherapy” OR “SBRT” OR “SABR” OR “stereotactic ablative radiotherapy”) AND (“hepatocellular carcinoma” OR “HCC”). An aggregated data meta-analysis was conducted to assess overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) using weighted random effects models. In addition, individual patient data analyses incorporating data from 6 institutions were conducted as their own subgroup analyses. Seventeen observational studies, comprising 1889 patients with HCC treated with ≤9 SBRT fractions, between 2003 and 2019, were included in the aggregated data meta-analysis. The 3- and 5-year OS rates after SBRT were 57% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47%-66%) and 40% (95% CI, 29%-51%), respectively. The 3- and 5-year LC rates after SBRT were 84% (95% CI, 77%-90%) and 82% (95% CI, 74%-88%), respectively. Tumor size was the only prognostic factor for LC. Tumor size and region were significantly associated with OS. Five-year LC and OS rates of 79% (95% CI, 0.74-0.84) and 25% (95% CI, 0.20-0.30), respectively, were observed in the individual patient data analyses. Factors prognostic for improved OS were tumor size <3 cm, Eastern region, Child-Pugh score ≤B7, and the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage of 0 and A. The incidence of severe hepatic toxicity varied according to the criteria applied. SBRT is an effective treatment modality for patients with HCC with mature follow-up. Clinical practice guidelines were developed on behalf of the International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)337-351
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume118
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2024

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