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The patient with liver cancer had recurred three times within eight months, but after undergoing immunotherapy, no recurrence was observed for five years

时间：2026-04-27　人气：

To judge the effectiveness of a treatment case, besides observing the changes in tumor size, the most important thing is how long the duration is. Our Tsinghua Cell Therapy Team conducts long-term tracking and follow-up for every treatment case enrolled, with the longest duration even exceeding 7 years.

Mr. Yan's case is one of the cases we have been continuously tracking and presenting (June 8, 2018). Today, I will report on his condition as he enters the fifth year of treatment.

Case Analysis

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In January 2015, Mr. Yan underwent abdominal CT scan due to discomfort in his upper abdomen and found a low-density mass occupying the lower segment of the right lobe of the liver, measuring approximately 7cm in size. He then underwent right posterior segmentectomy and cholecystectomy. Postoperative pathology revealed: (right liver) poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Due to the poor differentiation of the cells, MRI suggested recurrence of liver cancer three months after surgery. In May of the same year, he underwent left liver resection. Four months after the second surgery, in September 2015, MRI again indicated recurrence of liver cancer, and he underwent a third right liver resection for recurrent liver cancer. Each recurrence showed an alpha-fetoprotein level exceeding 150 ng/ml↑.

Liver cancer is not sensitive to chemotherapy, and there are no specific targeted drugs to choose from. The continuous recurrence and three surgeries have brought Mr. Yan a huge physical and psychological burden.

After analyzing Mr. Yan's case, the Tsinghua Cell Therapy Team believes that:

Mr. Yan's condition assessment

Although the patient did not exhibit distant metastasis, the recurrence cycle was relatively short, only lasting 3 to 4 months.

Three surgical treatments only remove the lesion and cannot completely solve the problem of future recurrence and metastasis. However, NKT cell immunotherapy can prolong the recurrence interval of liver cancer.

Mr. Yan began NKT cell therapy in November 2015, initially undergoing a 2-month intensive treatment regimen. After a stable review, the regimen was changed to one course per month in 2016-1; following another stable review, it was further adjusted to one course every two months in 2016-8, and then to one course every three months in March 2018.

As of August 2020, after 27 consecutive courses of systematic treatment, 4 follow-ups, and imaging examinations, no clear signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis were observed for 56 months, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels did not increase; his mental state and quality of life were both excellent, with self-reported fair and rosy skin tone and abundant physical strength. His quality of life had significantly improved, with a quality of life score of 95.5 out of 100.

Treatment Overview

January 19, 2015: The patient reported discomfort in the upper abdomen for 2 days. Abdominal CT scan revealed a low-density mass lesion in the lower segment of the right lobe of the liver, measuring approximately 6.1cm*6.2cm*6.9cm, with rapid enhancement and washout, suggesting a neoplastic lesion. The patient was subsequently admitted to the Southwest Hospital of Third Military Medical University.

January 26, 2015: The patient underwent "laparoscopic resection of the posterior segment of the right liver (including parts of segments V, VI, VII, and VIII) + cholecystectomy". Postoperative pathology revealed (right liver) poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. Postoperative oral administration of the traditional Chinese medicine "Huai'er Granules" for strengthening the body and promoting stability.

2015 On April 28th of the year:Re examination of upper abdominal MRI:Postoperative changes in the right liver, small nodules in segment III of the liver measuring 0.7cm, suggesting liver cancer recurrence. AFP:211.5ng/ml ↑.

2015 On May 7th of the year:underwent "laparoscopic left liver cancer resection", postoperative pathology:left liver moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. Postoperative oral detoxification and pain relief medication "Huachansu Capsules" treatment.

2015. On September 7th of the year, MRI was performed:After liver cancer surgery, there were small nodules in segment V of the liver, and EBO-MRI indicated liver cancer recurrence. AFP:155.3ng/ml ↑.

2015 On September 18th of the year:underwent laparoscopic right liver resection for recurrent liver cancer. Postoperative pathology:liver moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinomacancer. H332 started using NKT cell immunotherapy in November 2015 and has completed 27 courses of treatment so far (as of July 2020).

Imaging data

Abdominal MRI showed: changes after partial resection of the left and right lobes of the liver and cholecystectomy, with no signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis.