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Digestive Disease Interventions 2020; 04(02): 187-194
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712083
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Shauna R. Campbell
1   Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Timothy D. Smile
1   Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Sarah M.C. Sittenfeld
1   Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
,
Kevin L. Stephans
1   Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

21 November 2019

19 March 2020

Publication Date:
25 May 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Primary liver cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for three-quarters of primary liver cancers and less than a third of patients present with curable disease. Liver-directed therapy is essential for the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC and the advancement of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has made radiation a safe and effective treatment option in a range of clinical presentations. In this review, we discuss the technical aspects of SBRT and the general approach to treatment of HCC. We explore the use of SBRT for bridging to transplant, downstaging, and the treatment of large tumors and portal vein tumor thrombus. Although there is limited high-quality randomized data, we review the evidence comparing SBRT with other liver-directed therapies and explore areas for future investigation.

Keywords

stereotactic body radiation therapy - hepatocellular carcinoma - liver directed therapy - stereotactic ablative radiation therapy
 

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