Education
M.D., University of Barcelona
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol
Hepatology
Research
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), clinical research
The clinical research in liver cancer was carried out in the Liver Unit of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (1995-2003). We have published articles on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), surgical treatment, living donor and cadaveric donor liver transplantation, percutaneous treatments, and systemic treatments in the setting of phase II-III-IV studies, meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis. The most relevant aspects of the research are:
- Liver cancer classification and treatment strategy, with the acronym BCLC (Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer) Group, [Llovet et al Semin Liv Dis 1999, Bruix et al Hepatology 2002; Llovet et al Lancet 2003], which has been postulated as an optimal treatment approach to this neoplasm.
- Chemoembolization improves survival of patients with advanced HCC. Evidence-based statement through randomized controlled trials [Llovet et al, Lancet 2002] and meta-analysis [Llovet et al, Hepatology 2003] of survival advantages of chemoembolization in patients with unresectable HCC. This treatment is now considered the standard of care.
Hepatocellular carcinoma, genomic research
As Director of HCC Research of the Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, I'm currently involved in several research projects along with other investigators from the Division of Liver Diseases, the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, the Center of Genomic Medicine, and the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology (Department of Medicine). We have permanent international partners in the University of Barcelona (BCLC Group, Hospital Clinic) and the Instituto di Tumori in Milano. The main aim of the group is to assess the molecular pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the genes and pathways involved in the initiation and progression of the disease. In addition, we are investigating the molecular markers of early diagnosis and biomarkers of prognosis. The results will provide a molecular classification of HCC, and will allow us to identify targets for chemoprevention and treatment.
Publications
Sarasin FP, Majno PE, Llovet J, Bruix J, Mentha G, Hadengue A. Living donor liver transplantation for early hepatocellular carcinoma: A life-expectancy and cost-effectiveness perspective. Hepatology 2001 May; 33(5): 1073-1079.
Llovet J, Vilana R, Bru C, Bianchi LI, Salmeron JM, Sala M, Ayuso C, Pages M, Boix L, Ganau S, Sole M, Rodes J, Bruix J. Increased risk of tumor seeding after radiofrequency thermal ablation for single hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2001; 33: 1124-1129.
Llovet J, Real MI, Montana X, Planas R, Coll S, Aponte JJ, Ayuso C, Sala M, Muchart J, Sola R, Rodes J, Bruix J. Arterial embolization or chemoembolization vs symptomatic treatment in patients with unresectable HCC: a randomized controlled trial. The Lancet 2002; 359: 1734-1739.
Forns X, Ampurdanes S, Llovet J, Aponte J, Quinto L, Martinez-Bauer E, Bruguera M, Sanchez-Tapias JM, Rodes J. Identification of chronic hepatitis C patients without hepatic fibrosis by a simple predictive model. Hepatology 2002 Oct; 36(4 Pt 1): 986-992.
Llovet J, Mas X, Aponte JJ, Fuster J, Navasa M, Christensen E, Rodes J, Bruix J. Cost effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma during the waiting list for liver transplantation. Gut 2002 Jan; 50(1): 123-128.
Llovet J, Bruix J. Systematic review of randomized trials for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: Chemoembolization improves survival. Hepatology 2003 Feb; 37(2): 429-442.
Burrel M, Llovet J, Ayuso C, Iglesias C, Sala M, Miquel R, Caralt T, Ayuso JR, Sole M, Sanchez M, Bru C, Bruix J. MRI angiography is superior to helical CT for detection of HCC prior to liver transplantation: an explant correlation. Hepatology 2003 Oct; 38(4): 1034-1042.
Armengol C, Boix L, Bachs O, Sole M, Fuster J, Sala M, Llovet J, Rodes J, Bruix J. p27(Kip1) is an independent predictor of recurrence after surgical resection in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2003 May; 38(5): 591-597.
Garcia-Retortillo M, Forns X, Llovet J, Navasa M, Feliu A, Massaguer A, Bruguera M, Fuster J, Garcia-Valdecasas JC, Rimola A. Hepatitis HCV virus disease recurrence is more severe after LDLT compared with CLT. Hepatology 2004 Sep; 40(3): 699-707.
Sala M, Llovet J, Vilana R, Bianchi L, Sole M, Ayuso C, Bru C, Bruix J. Initial response to percutaneous ablation predicts survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2004 Dec; 40(6): 1352-1360.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Llovet during 2012 and/or 2013. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting:
- Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals / Onyx Pharmaceuticals Partnership; Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd.; ImClone Systems (Eli Lilly and Company); Jennerex Biotherapeutics; Merck Serono; Merit Medical Systems Inc.; Novartis; Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Scientific Advisory Board:
- Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals / Onyx Pharmaceuticals Partnership
Other Activities: Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership.
- Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals / Onyx Pharmaceuticals Partnership; Bristol-Myers Squibb
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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