Digestive Disease Interventions 2024; 08(03): 169-172
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786795
Review Article

Recent Hepatocellular Carcinoma Managements in Korea: Focus on the Updated Guidelines in 2022

1   Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
,
Bo Hyun Kim
1   Center for Liver and Pancreatobiliary Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
,
Young-Suk Lim
2   Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a significant contributor to mortality globally, notably in countries like Korea. In an endeavor to offer pertinent guidance for the clinical management of HCC patients, the Korean Liver Cancer Association and National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) Korea Practice Guideline Revision Committee recently updated the practice guidelines for HCC management. Nonetheless, disparities exist between these guidelines and the practical aspects of clinical care due to various factors. This review aims to delineate key recommendations from the 2022 iteration of the practice guidelines and present the real-world clinical landscape in Korea. Additionally, a discourse on the necessary initiatives to narrow down the divide between practice guidelines and actual clinical implementation will be provided.



Publication History

Received: 26 February 2024

Accepted: 08 April 2024

Article published online:
07 June 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 
  • References

  • 1 Zhu RX, Seto WK, Lai CL, Yuen MF. Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asia-Pacific region. Gut Liver 2016; 10 (03) 332-339
  • 2 Kim BH, Park JW. Epidemiology of liver cancer in South Korea. Clin Mol Hepatol 2018; 24 (01) 1-9
  • 3 Chon YE, Jeong SW, Jun DW. Hepatocellular carcinoma statistics in South Korea. Clin Mol Hepatol 2021; 27 (03) 512-514
  • 4 Park JW. Korean Liver Cancer Study Group, National Cancer C, enter, Korea. Practice guideline for diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Korean J Hepatol 2004; 10: 88-98
  • 5 Korean Liver Cancer Study Group, National Cancer Center, Korea. Practice guidelines for management of hepatocellular carcinoma 2009. Korean J Hepatol 2009; 15: 391-423
  • 6 Korean Liver Cancer Study Group (KLCSG), National Cancer Center, Korea (NCC). 2014 KLCSG-NCC Korea Practice Guideline for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gut Liver 2015; 9 (03) 267-317
  • 7 Korean Liver Cancer Association, National Cancer Center. 2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center Korea Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gut Liver 2019; 13 (03) 227-299
  • 8 Korean Liver Cancer Association, National Cancer Center Korea. 2022 KLCA-NCC Korea practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Mol Hepatol 2022; 28: 583-705
  • 9 Chon YE, Lee HA, Yoon JS. et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea between 2012 and 2014: an analysis of data from the Korean Nationwide Cancer Registry. J Liver Cancer 2020; 20 (02) 135-147
  • 10 Sinn DH, Kang D, Kang M. et al. Late presentation of hepatitis B among patients with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma: a national cohort study. BMC Cancer 2019; 19 (01) 286
  • 11 Kim Y, Jun JK, Choi KS, Lee HY, Park EC. Overview of the National Cancer Screening Programme and the Cancer Screening Status in Korea. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2011; 12 (03) 725-730
  • 12 Sohn W, Lee YS, Lee JG. et al. A survey of liver cancer specialists' views on the National Liver Cancer Screening Program in Korea. J Liver Cancer 2020; 20 (01) 53-59
  • 13 Sohn W, Kang D, Kang M, Guallar E, Cho J, Paik YH. Impact of nationwide hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance on the prognosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol 2022; 28 (04) 851-863
  • 14 Kim DH, Hong SB, Choi SH. et al. Surveillance failure in ultrasound for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut 2022; 71 (01) 212-213
  • 15 Sinn DH, Yi J, Choi MS. et al. Incidence and risk factors for surveillance failure in patients with regular hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance. Hepatol Int 2013; 7 (04) 1010-1018
  • 16 Kim SY, An J, Lim YS. et al. MRI with liver-specific contrast for surveillance of patients with cirrhosis at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. JAMA Oncol 2017; 3 (04) 456-463
  • 17 Kim TH, Kim SY, Tang A, Lee JM. Comparison of international guidelines for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: 2018 update. Clin Mol Hepatol 2019; 25 (03) 245-263
  • 18 Park J, Lee JM, Kim TH, Yoon JH. Imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: future directions with special emphasis on hepatobiliary magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Clin Mol Hepatol 2022; 28 (03) 362-379
  • 19 Song KD, Kim SH, Lim HK, Jung SH, Sohn I, Kim HS. Subcentimeter hypervascular nodule with typical imaging findings of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with history of hepatocellular carcinoma: natural course on serial gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging. Eur Radiol 2015; 25 (09) 2789-2796
  • 20 Sinn DH, Choi GS, Park HC. et al. Multidisciplinary approach is associated with improved survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. PLoS One 2019; 14 (01) e0210730
  • 21 Cho Y, Choi JW, Kwon H. et al; Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association. Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29 (03) 521-541
  • 22 Cho Y, Choi JW, Kwon H. et al; Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association. Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: 2023 expert consensus-based practical recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association. J Liver Cancer 2023; 23 (02) 241-261
  • 23 Lee JS, Kim BK, Kim SU. et al. A survey on transarterial chemoembolization refractoriness and a real-world treatment pattern for hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea. Clin Mol Hepatol 2020; 26 (01) 24-32
  • 24 Kim TH, Koh YH, Kim BH. et al. Proton beam radiotherapy vs. radiofrequency ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized phase III trial. J Hepatol 2021; 74 (03) 603-612
  • 25 Sinn DH, Lee HW, Paik YH. et al. Patterns and outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein invasion: a multicenter prospective cohort study. Dig Dis Sci 2021; 66 (01) 315-324
  • 26 Hur MH, Cho Y, Kim DY. et al. Transarterial radioembolization versus tyrosine kinase inhibitor in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29 (03) 763-778
  • 27 Kim KM, Sinn DH, Jung SH. et al. The recommended treatment algorithms of the BCLC and HKLC staging systems: does following these always improve survival rates for HCC patients?. Liver Int 2016; 36 (10) 1490-1497
  • 28 Cho Y, Kim BH, Park JW. Overview of Asian clinical practice guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: an Asian perspective comparison. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29 (02) 252-262