Sarcopenia and Systemic Therapy in HCC

Prognostic Model of Survival of Patients With Hepatocarcinoma and Sarcopenia Treated With Systemic Therapy

This is a multi-center, retrospective observational study in patients with liver cancer (HCC) to assess the impact of sarcopenia (muscle loss) on the prognosis, duration, and tolerance of systemic treatment.

The impact of sarcopenia will be assessed 12 months after the start of chemotherapy. Additionally, other factors affecting prognosis will be investigated to develop a specific predictive model for the risk of death at 12 months. Finally, an external validation of this predictive model for the risk of death will be carried out.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged ≥18 years.
• Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma based on histological and/or radiological results as defined by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). The staging of hepatocellular carcinoma was obtained through contrast-enhanced liver CT and/or MRI.
• Patients with advanced (BCLC-C) or intermediate (BCLC-B) stage hepatocellular carcinoma, or patients with early-stage (BCLC-A) hepatocellular carcinoma who have not responded to previous locoregional ablative treatments and/or liver resection.
• Treatment with TKIs according to the indications and prescription criteria defined by AIFA, with no requirement to reach a minimum treatment period.

Availability of a CT scan performed within no more than 8 weeks prior to the start of TKI therapy.

- Obtaining written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• None