Short-term interval combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

Parameters	Total patients (n = 94)
Gender (n), Male/Female	69:25
Age (yr), ≥ 60 : < 60 yr	46:48
Etiology of HCC (n), HBV: HCV: HBV and HCV co-infection: Alcohol: Cryptogenic	70:11:2:9:2
Antiviral agents (n), Yes/No	60/34
Albumin (g/dL), mean ± SD	3.65 ± 0.52
Bilirubin (mg/dL) , mean ± SD	1.17 ± 0.69
Prothrombin time (INR), mean ± SD	1.21 ± 0.16
AST (IU/L), mean ± SD	55.3 ± 29.7
ALT (IU/L), mean ± SD	44.4 ± 40.4
PLT (× 103/mm3), mean ± SD	97.0 ± 41.6
Controllable ascites : no ascites (n)	26:62
Varices (n), Yes/No	48/46
Child-Pugh score, 5:6:7:8:9	51:16:13:11:3
Chid-Pugh classification, A: B	67:27
Tumor size (cm), > 3.0 : ≤ 3.0	22:72
Tumor number, multiple: single	24:70
Tumor location, bilobar: unilobar	7:87
AFP (ng/mL), > 100: ≤ 100	19:75
Interval between TACE and RFA (d), 0:1:2	27:35:32

AFP: α-Fetoprotein; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; INR: International normalized ratio; PLT: Platelet; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; SD: Standard deviation; TACE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Table 2 Sequential changes of laboratory parameters from the baseline levels to the levels at 1, 3, 6, 12 mo after combination therapy

	Pre-TACE+RFA	After TACE+RFA
Liver function parameters	Baseline	At 1 mo	At 3 mo	At 6 mo	At 9 mo	At 12 mo
ALT (IU/L)	44.41 ± 40.48	51.52 ± 46.19	38.71 ± 28.16	38.50 ± 23.88	38.05 ± 27.72	37.69 ± 20.94
Albumin (g/dL)	3.65 ± 0.52	3.50 ± 0.511	3.64 ± 0.50	3.69 ± 0.48	3.67 ± 0.50	3.66 ± 0.48
Bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.17 ± 0.69	1.23 ± 0.80	1.20 ± 0.69	1.22 ± 0.76	1.23 ± 0.73	1.23 ± 0.79
Prothrombin time (INR)	1.21 ± 0.16	1.22 ± 0.19	1.20 ± 0.17	1.20 ± 0.17	1.20 ± 0.18	1.20 ± 0.19

¹Variables were significantly changed from the baseline levels by paired t-test with Bonferroni correction (^bP < 0.01 vs control). ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; INR: International normalized ratio; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; TACE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Table 3 Factors associated with the rise of Child-Pugh scores after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation combination

Factors		n	Rise of CPs at 1mo events		P	Rise of CPs at 12 mo events		P
Gender	Male	69	4	(5.8%)	1.000	2	(2.9%)	0.287
	Female	25	1	(4.0%)		2	(8.0%)
Age (yr)	≥ 60	46	1	(2.2%)	0.362	2	(4.3%)	1.000
	< 60	48	4	(8.3%)		2	(4.2%)
Etiology of HCC	HBV	72	4	(5.6%)	1.000	2	(2.8%)	0.232
	Others	22	1	(4.5%)		2	(9.1%)
CP class	A	67	2	(3.0%)	0.141	2	(3.0%)	0.576
	B	27	3	(11.1%)		2	(7.4%)
CP score	score 5-7	80	2	(2.5%)	0.022	3	(3.8%)	0.481
	score 8-9	14	3	(21.4%)		1	(7.1%)
Diameter of HCC (cm)	> 3.0	22	3	(13.6%)	0.082	1	(4.5%)	0.856
	≤ 3.0	72	2	(2.8%)		3	(4.2%)
Multiplicity of HCC	≥ 2.0	24	3	(12.5%)	0.103	1	(4.2%)	1.000
	single	70	2	(2.9%)		3	(4.3%)
AFP (ng/mL)	> 100	19	1	(5.3%)	1.000	0	(0.0%)	0.579
	≤ 100	75	4	(5.3%)		4	(5.3%)
TACE-RFA interval (d)	same day	27	3	(11.1%)	0.141	2	(7.4%)	0.576
	1-2	67	2	(3.0%)		2	(3.0%)
Major complications	Yes	3	0	(0.0%)	1.000	1	(33.3%)	0.124
	No	91	5	(5.5%)		3	(3.3%)
Rise of CPs at 1 mo	Yes	5				1	(20.0%)	0.199
	No	89				3	(3.4%)

P value was calculated by Fisher’s exact test. AFP: α-Fetoprotein; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; RFA: Radiofrequency ablation; TACE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.