Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2013; 19(22): 3473-3480
Published online Jun 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i22.3473
Combination treatment with comprehensive cryoablation and immunotherapy in metastatic hepatocellular cancer
Li-Zhi Niu, Jia-Liang Li, Jian-Ying Zeng, Feng Mu, Meng-Tian Liao, Fei Yao, Li Li, Chun-Yan Liu, Ji-Bing Chen, Jian-Sheng Zuo, Ke-Cheng Xu
Li-Zhi Niu, Jia-Liang Li, Jian-Ying Zeng, Fei Yao, Ji-Bing Chen, Jian-Sheng Zuo, Ke-Cheng Xu, Surgical Department, Fuda Cancer Hospital, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou 510665, Guangdong Province, China
Li-Zhi Niu, Jia-Liang Li, Jian-Sheng Zuo, Ke-Cheng Xu, Surgical Department, Fuda Institute of Cryosurgery for Cancer, Guangzhou 510665, Guangdong Province, China
Feng Mu, Meng-Tian Liao, Li Li, Chun-Yan Liu, Ji-Bing Chen, Jian-Sheng Zuo, Ke-Cheng Xu, Surgical Department, Fuda Hospital, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou 510305, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Niu LZ, Li JL and Zeng JY contributed equally to this work and share first authorship; Niu LZ and Mu F performed cryosurgery; Zeng JY, Liao MT and Yao F performed immunotherapy; Li L and Liu CY contributed to patient follow-up; Chen JB and Li JL analyzed the material and wrote the paper; Zuo JS and Xu KC contributed to plan designing and fund supporting.
Correspondence to: Ji-Bing Chen, MD, PhD, Surgical Department, Fuda Cancer Hospital, Jinan University School of Medicine, No. 2 Tangdexi Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510665, Guangdong Province, China. fudaclab@gmail.com
Telephone: +86-20-38993994 Fax: +86-20-38993996
Received: December 21, 2012
Revised: March 21, 2013
Accepted: May 9, 2013
Published online: June 14, 2013
Processing time: 174 Days and 23.9 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To retrospectively assess the effect of comprehensive cryosurgery (ablation of intra- and extra-hepatic tumors) plus dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy in metastatic hepatocellular cancer.

METHODS: We divided 45 patients into cryo-immunotherapy (21 patients), cryotherapy (n = 12), immunotherapy (n = 5) and untreated (n = 7) groups. Overall survival (OS) after diagnosis of metastatic hepatocellular cancer was assessed after an 8-year follow-up.

RESULTS: Median OS was higher following cryo-immunotherapy (32 mo) or cryotherapy (17.5 mo; P < 0.05) than in the untreated group (3 mo) and was higher in the cryo-immunotherapy group than in the cryotherapy group (P < 0.05). In the cryo-immunotherapy group, median OS was higher after multiple treatments (36.5 mo) than after a single treatment (21 mo; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy and, especially, cryo-immunotherapy significantly increased OS in metastatic hepatocellular cancer patients. Multiple cryo-immunotherapy was associated with a better prognosis than single cryo-immunotherapy.

Keywords: Cryoablation; Dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cell; Immunotherapy; Metastatic hepatocellular cancer; Survival time

Core tip: Fourty-five patients of metastatic hepatocellular cancer were divided into cryo-immunotherapy, cryotherapy, immunotherapy and untreated groups. Median overall survival (OS) was higher following cryo-immunotherapy (32 mo) or cryotherapy (17.5 mo) than in the untreated group (3 mo); In the cryo-immunotherapy group, median OS was higher after multiple treatments (36.5 mo) than after a single treatment (21 mo). In a word, cryotherapy and, especially, cryo-immunotherapy significantly increased OS in metastatic hepatocellular cancer patients. Multiple cryo-immunotherapy was associated with a better prognosis than single cryo-immunotherapy.