Retreatment with Cisplatin May Provide a Survival Advantage for Children with Relapsed/Refractory Hepatoblastoma: An Institutional Experience
There is no established standard salvage therapy regimen for relapsed hepatoblastoma
Cites a guidelineSophia Schermerhorn0:12
The Cincinnati Children's retrospective review of 30 patients represents one of the largest published cohorts evaluating patients with refractory or recurrent hepatoblastoma
The overall survival for the cohort was about 50%
Children who received cisplatin as part of their salvage therapy had survival of about 80% compared to 25% for those who did not receive cisplatin
The improved survival outcomes with cisplatin may be due to persistent platinum sensitivity or better tumor biology rather than proving causality
Expert opinionSophia Schermerhorn0:36
Most patients underwent additional surgery as part of their salvage therapy, either liver resection, liver transplant, or pulmonary metastasectomy
Salvage therapy for relapsed hepatoblastoma is multimodal
Cisplatin retreatment should be balanced with the risk of cumulative toxicity
Expert opinionSophia Schermerhorn0:59
Indocyanine green is a sensitive adjunct in the identification and surgical management of local and metastatic hepatoblastoma
This is a single institution retrospective review of patients who received ICG prior to either pulmonary metastatectomy or liver resection for hepatoblastoma
ICG was highly sensitive for detecting hepatoblastoma, about 90%
In a meaningful number of cases, ICG was able to detect tumor deposits that were not visible, palpable, or detectable on preoperative imaging
Specificity was lower than sensitivity with false positives
False positives often represented vascular changes or inflammation
There were no adverse outcomes associated with any of the additional resections guided by ICG
ICG was effective in both open and minimally invasive surgery
ICG was effective in both relapse and primary disease
Quality of Life Outcomes for Patients Who Underwent Conventional Resection and Liver Transplantation for Locally Advanced Hepatoblastoma
This is a single institution cross-sectional study using validated pediatric quality of life surveys to evaluate long-term survivors of hepatoblastoma.
Survival for hepatoblastoma continues to improve.
Long-term quality of life is becoming a more important outcome as hepatoblastoma survival improves.
Expert opinionSophia Schermerhorn0:18
Overall quality of life outcomes were similar between liver transplant and resection groups for hepatoblastoma.
There was no significant difference in emotional, social, physical, or school functioning outcomes between transplant and resection groups.
Patients who underwent resection had lower overall procedure anxiety scores than transplant patients.
The finding of lower procedural anxiety in resection patients was mirrored in the parents' surveys.
Long-term quality of life outcomes appear comparable between patients who undergo resection and liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma.
Surgical strategy for hepatoblastoma can be focused on oncologic control given comparable quality of life outcomes.
Expert opinionSophia Schermerhorn1:02
Characteristics of Transfusion and Association With Oncologic Outcomes in Hepatoblastoma Resection
It is not uncommon for a patient with hepatoblastoma to need a transfusion during resection
Host summaryJill Knepprath summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:00
The study was multi-institutional and published in Pediatric Blood and Cancer in 2025
Host summaryJill Knepprath summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:13
The study examined how intraoperative transfusion may affect recurrence and survival in hepatoblastoma resection patients
Host summaryJill Knepprath summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:19
Of those transfused, the majority received red blood cells
Host summaryJill Knepprath summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:25
Only 11% of transfused patients received platelets
Host summaryJill Knepprath summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position0:25