Role of the EASL, RECIST, and WHO response guidelines alone or in combination for hepatocellular carcinoma: Radiologic-pathologic correlation

Ahsun Riaz, Khairuddin Memon, Frank H. Miller, Paul Nikolaidis, Laura M. Kulik, Robert J. Lewandowski, Robert K. Ryu, Kent T. Sato, Vanessa L. Gates, Mary F. Mulcahy, Talia Baker, Ed Wang, Ramona Gupta, Ritu Nayar, Al B. Benson, Michael Abecassis, Reed Omary, Riad Salem

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background & Aims: We sought to study receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for assessing response following locoregional therapies individually and in various combinations. Methods: Eighty-one patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent liver explantation following locoregional therapies. Response was assessed using EASL, RECIST, and WHO. Kappa statistics were used to determine inter-method agreement. Uni/multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the variables predicting complete pathologic necrosis. Numerical values were assigned to the response classes: complete response = 0, partial response = 1, stable disease = 2, and progressive disease = 3. Various mathematical combinations of EASL and WHO were tested to calculate scores and their ROCs were studied using pathological examination of the explant as the gold standard. Results: Median times (95% CI) to the WHO, RECIST, and EASL responses were 5.3 (4-11.5), 5.6 (4-11.5), and 1.3 months (1.2-1.5), respectively. Kappa coefficients for WHO/RECIST, WHO/EASL, and RECIST/EASL were 0.78, 0.28, and 0.31, respectively. EASL response demonstrated significant odds ratios for predicting complete pathologic necrosis on uni/multivariate analyses. Calculated areas under the ROC curves were: RECIST: 0.63, WHO: 0.68, EASL: 0.82, EASL + WHO: 0.82, EASL × WHO: 0.85, EASL + (2 × WHO): 0.79 and (2 × EASL) + WHO: 0.85. An EASL × WHO Score of ≤1 had 90.2% sensitivity for predicting complete pathologic necrosis. Conclusions: The product of WHO and EASL demonstrated better ROC than the individual guidelines for assessment of tumor response. EASL × WHO scoring system provides a simple and clinically applicable method of response assessment following locoregional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)695-704
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Hepatology
Volume54
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Imaging
  • Locoregional therapies
  • Pathologic correlation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology

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