Aims: To report on the long-term impact of tumor and non-tumor related parameters on local recurrence, distant recurrence and survival in patients with naïve or recurrent type hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Methods: We performed 240 RFA sessions on 133 patients with 156 HCC nodules developed on a background of liver cirrhosis and analyzed the outcomes.Results: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound performed one month after RFA showed complete ablation in 119 out of 133 (89.65%) patients. With a median follow-up of 46 months, 3-, 5- and 7-year survival rates were 61.7%, 35.7%, and 22.6%, respectively. Previous ethanol injection and histological grade were significantly related to local tumor progression. Child-Pugh class, incomplete ablation, histological grade, previous ethanol injection, alpha-fetoprotein level before the treatment, and local recurrence were all significantly related to distant recurrence. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, Child-Pugh class, distant recurrence and multiple incomplete ablations were significantly related to survival.Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation could be locally curative for HCC, resulting in a survival longer than 7 years. Previous ethanol injection and incomplete ablations were strongly associated with poor outcomes.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most frequent primary hepatic malignant tumor, after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its incidence has risen worldwide, yet the only potentially curative treatment, surgical resection, is seldom applicable, and the median overall survival remains extremely low. So far, there are no personalized therapy regimens. This study investigated whether routine immunohistochemical stains have diagnostic and/or prognostic value in iCCA. Clinical, imaging, and pathology data were retrospectively gathered for patients diagnosed with iCCA, HCC, or liver metastases assessed using liver needle biopsies. Three study groups with an equal number of cases (n = 65) were formed. In the iCCA group, CK19, CA19-9, CK7, and CEA demonstrated the highest sensitivities (100%, 100%, 93.7%, and 82.6%, respectively). The most relevant stains used for diagnosing HCCs were Glypican 3, CD34 (sinusoidal pattern), and Hep Par 1, with corresponding sensitivities of 100%, 100%, and 98.2%. The immunohistochemical panels for diagnosing metastatic tumors were chosen after correlating the clinical data and morphologic H&E aspects. Moderate/intensely positive CK7 expression and absent/low amount of intratumoral immune cells were favorable prognostic factors and correlated with increased overall survival in both the univariate analysis and the multivariate regression adjusted for age, existence of cirrhosis, number of tumors, and tumor differentiation.

Aim: Percutaneous radiofrequency (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are currently the best treatment options forpatients with liver metastases (LM) who cannot undergo a liver resection procedure. Presently, few studies have evaluated theefficacy of tumor ablation in beginner’s hands but none at all in hepatic metastasis. Our aim was to report the initial experiencewith ultrasound as a tool to guide tumor ablation in a low volume center with no experience in tumor ablation.Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, on a series of 61 patients who had undergone percutaneous US-guided ablations for 82 LM between 2010 and 2015. Long term outcome predictors were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.Results: Complete ablation was achieved in 86.9% of cases (53/61). All MWA sessions (20/20) attained ablation margins >5mm, compared to 79% (49/62) for RFA sessions (p=0.031). Ablation time was significantly shorter for MWA, with a median duration of 10 minutes (range: 6-12) vs. 14 minutes (range: 10-19.5, p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in local tumor progression (LTP)-free survival rates between MWA and RFA (p=0.154). On univariate analysis, significant predictors for local recurrence were multiple metastases (p=0.013) and ablation margins <5 mm (p<.001), both retaining significance on multivariate analysis. Significant predictors for distant recurrence on both univariate and multivariate analysis were multiple metastases (p<0.001) and non-colorectal cancer metastases (p<0.05).Conclusion: A larger than 5 mm ablation size is critical for local tumor control. We favor the use of MWA due to its ability to achieve ablation in significantlyshorter times with less incomplete ablations.

Statins, which are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, are an effective pharmacological tool for lowering blood cholesterol levels. This property makes statins one of the most popular drugs used primarily to prevent cardiovascular diseases, where hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor that increases mortality. Nevertheless, studies conducted mainly in the last decade have shown that statins might prevent and treat liver cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This narrative review summarizes the scientific achievements to date regarding the role of statins in liver tumors. Molecular biology tools have revealed that cell growth and proliferation can be inhibited by statins, which further inhibit angiogenesis. Clinical studies, supported by meta-analysis, confirm that statins are highly effective in preventing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. However, this effect may depend on the statin’s type and dose, and more clinical trials are required to evaluate clinical effects. Moreover, their potential hepatotoxicity is a significant caveat for using statins in clinical practice. Nevertheless, this group of drugs, initially developed to prevent cardiovascular diseases, is now a key candidate in hepato-oncology patient management. The description of new drug-statin-like structures, e.g., with low toxicity to liver cells, may bring another clinically significant improvement to current cancer therapies.

Background/Objectives: Liver cancer is an exceedingly heterogeneous malignancy with high mortality rates, and despite extensive research, there have been no significant improvements in treatment outcomes. In the process of navigating the complex landscape of liver cancer, AI has arisen as the “knight in shining armour”, sparking hope and offering invaluable insight into early detection, diagnosis, staging, treatment selection, and post-treatment surveillance. By integrating imaging, clinical, pathological, and molecular data, AI emerges as a transformative tool that offers unique opportunities to enhance patient care. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and Scopus, was conducted using the terms “artificial intelligence,” “machine learning,” “deep learning,” “radiomics,” and “liver cancer.” Eligible studies included peer-reviewed original research applying AI to detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment planning, or surveillance of liver cancer. Key findings are organized along the clinical continuum. Results: Imaging-based AI models for tumor detection were the most advanced, with several achieving diagnostic accuracy above 90% in retrospective studies. Applications for treatment decision-making are emerging, but most remain at proof-of-concept stages. Generally, few of these innovations have progressed to large-scale clinical trials or received regulatory approval, slowing their integration into clinical practice. Conclusions: This narrative review highlights AI’s potential to transform liver cancer management and addresses the ethical, regulatory, and logistical barriers to its clinical adoption, serving as a call to action for integrating AI into practice to improve patient outcomes.