©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Review of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Zhi-Hui Gao, Dou-Sheng Bai, Guo-Qing Jiang, Sheng-Jie Jin, Hepato-bilio-pancreatic Surgery Department, Subei People’s Hospital, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Gao ZH and Bai DS performed the majority of the work for this review; Bai DS designed the review; Gao ZH wrote the manuscript; Jiang GQ and Jin SJ assisted with designing, literature searching and manuscript editing.
Correspondence to: Dou-Sheng Bai, MD, Professor, Chief, Hepato-bilio-pancreatic Surgery Department, Subei People’s Hospital, Yangzhou University, 98 Nantong West Road, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China. bdsno1@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-514-87373375 Fax: +86-514-87990188
Received: July 20, 2014
Peer-review started: July 20, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: October 28, 2014
Accepted: November 17, 2014
Article in press: November 19, 2014
Published online: January 27, 2015
Processing time: 174 Days and 4.8 Hours
Peer-review started: July 20, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: October 28, 2014
Accepted: November 17, 2014
Article in press: November 19, 2014
Published online: January 27, 2015
Processing time: 174 Days and 4.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common neoplasm and third most frequent cause of cancer deaths. Resection of HCC offers the only hope for a cure, yet post-resection recurrence is common. The effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a neoadjuvant therapy for resectable HCC has not been conclusively demonstrated. All published meta-analyses have consistently failed to demonstrate its effectiveness. We believe these articles have several limitations and TACE is theoretically helpful in multinodular or infiltrative types of HCC.