Published online Apr 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i13.3970
Peer-review started: September 4, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: November 2, 2014
Accepted: December 5, 2014
Article in press: December 8, 2014
Published online: April 7, 2015
Processing time: 216 Days and 4 Hours
AIM: To investigate transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with hepatic infusion of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil and Lipiodol chemoembolization in large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS: In this retrospective study, 132 patients with unresectable HCCs larger than 10 cm were treated with hepatic infusion of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by Lipiodol chemoembolization. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Sixteen-week disease-control rate, time to progression (TTP), and major complications were also studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors affecting OS and TTP.
RESULTS: A total of 319 procedures were performed in the 132 patients. Eleven (8.3%) patients received radical resection following TACE treatment (median time to initial TACE 4.3 ± 2.3 mo). The median OS and TTP were 10.3 and 3.0 mo respectively, with a 50.0% 16-wk disease-control rate. Major complications were encountered in 6.0% (8/132) of patients following TACE and included serious jaundice in 1.5% (2/132) patients, aleukia in 1.5% (2/132), and hepatic failure in 3.0% (4/132). One patient died within one month due to serious hepatic failure and severe sepsis after receiving the second TACE. The risk factor associated with TTP was baseline alpha-fetoprotein level, and vascular invasion was an independent factor related to OS.
CONCLUSION: Hepatic infusion of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by lipiodolized-chemoembolization is a safe and promising treatment for patients with HCCs larger than 10 cm in diameter.
Core tip: Treatment of large unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with diameters exceeding 10 cm is clinically challenging due to the low response rate and high rate of major complications. In this study, the safety and efficacy of a transarterial chemoembolization modality that included a combination of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorourcil infusion followed by embolization with a mixture of mitomycin and Lipiodol was tested in patients with large HCCs. The results indicate that this modality is a promising treatment for certain patients with large HCCs.