Spontaneous Regression Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Kondo, S., Okusaka, T., Ueno, H., Ikeda, M., & Morizane, C. (2006). spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma. International journal of clinical oncology, 11(5), 407–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-006-0591-4
View Original Source →Abstract
We report four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (all men, with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus infections) who showed spontaneous regression of the tumor. When the spontaneous regression occurred all of the patients were over age 67 years. They showed a rapid increase of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels just before the spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma. In all the patients, the alpha-fetoprotein level decreased to within normal limits and the tumor was partially to completely reduced in size. One patient revealed regression after bleeding of esophageal varices and blood transfusion. Another showed spontaneous regression after taking several complementary and alternative medicines. However, the mechanisms underlying this intriguing phenomenon remain unknown.
Case Details
Disease Location
Liver with lung mets
Personal Characteristics
67-year-old man, hcc diagnosis
Clinical Characteristics
Admitted to followup, CT showed a tumor, measuring 3.0 × 3.5cm, in segment 5, and he had an elevated AFP level. Biopsy showed poorly different- ated hcc. Rfa was carried out for local recurrent tumor. It was resected. CT showed multiple lung metastases and a mass in liver segment 3 and ascites; the AFP level had rapidly increased it was resected after 3 years.
Remission Characteristics
Six months after cams his performance status had improved and the AFP level had decreased. The multiple lung nodules and liver tumors had clearly disappeared.
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Not discussed
Clinical Treatment
Rfa, resection
Non-Clinical Treatment
Clompementary and alternative medicine