title: Assessment of response to sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using perfusion computed tomography: results of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective pilot study investigated the feasibility of perfusion computed tomography parameters as surrogate markers of angiogenesis and early response following sorafenib administration in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients were evaluated with perfusion computed tomography before starting sorafenib and after 3 months. Blood flow, blood volume, mean transit time, hepatic arterial fraction, and permeability surface-product were compared in tumour lesions and in hepatic parenchyma at baseline and at follow-up. Correlation between these parameters and changes in alpha-fetoprotein levels was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, blood volume, blood flow, hepatic arterial fraction and permeability surface values were higher in lesions compared to those in hepatic parenchyma, while mean transit time was lower (p<0.05). After sorafenib treatment, only mean transit time was significantly increased versus baseline (p<0.05). At follow-up, plasma alpha-fetoprotein levels decreased in all patients. At follow-up, an inverse correlation was observed between baseline mean transit time and changes in alpha-fetoprotein (r=-0.6685, p=0.0125), as well as a correlation between baseline blood flow and alpha-fetoprotein (r=0.6476, p=0.0167).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study suggests that after sorafenib treatment an increase in mean transit time observed in tumour lesions is inversely correlated with alpha-fetoprotein reductions after therapy. Mean transit time may represent a possible marker of response irrespectively of alpha-fetoprotein values.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: r.sacco@ao-pisa.toscana.it.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faggioni
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bargellini
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ginanni
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bresci
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D000077157:Sorafenib; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; MDCT; Perfusion CT; Sorafenib