Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal hypertension and variceal bleeding during receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy: Beyond and known frontiers

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant global burden, with most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to poor prognosis due to the lack of systemic treatment. The approval of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), immune checkpoint inhibitors, and anti-angiogenic agents has rapidly expanded the treatment prospects for HCC. However, the use of these drugs has also increased the incidence of portal hypertension (PHT) and upper gastrointestinal variceal bleeding in HCC patients. The diagnosis, screening, emergency treatment, and secondary prevention of upper gastrointestinal variceal rebleeding in advanced HCC patients undergoing oral TKIs therapy have become clinically urgent and critical issues. This review provides an overview of the existing understanding regarding the uses and limitations of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion for managing HCC in cirrhosis patients with PHT and variceal hemorrhage. Additionally, it explores the potential of TIPS in managing acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and preventing rebleeding in advanced HCC patients undergoing TKIs therapy. The placement of TIPS within the treatment hierarchy is determined by the specific clinical environment and the individual attributes of the patient.