BioScience Trends. 2021;15(3):148-154. (DOI: 10.5582/bst.2021.01173)
The multidisciplinary management of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus
Qiu GT, Xie KL, Jin ZX, Jiang C, Liu H, Wan HF, Huang JW
Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is one of the most common complications of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which refers to the advanced stage of HCC and indicates an extremely poor prognosis. Monotherapy cannot effectively prolong the survival benefit of patients with HCC-PVTT characterized by a high recurrence rate. With great progress in the area of immune and molecular targeted therapy, there comes a promising era of multidisciplinary management of HCC. Survival benefits can be achieved based on accurate diagnosis, staging, and multidisciplinary management. Additionally, in terms of the presence of controversy about the standard treatment algorithm and the absence of universal treatment guidelines, a multidisciplinary management program may afford the best hope for HCC-PVTT patients via appropriate implement of various treatment protocols.