Transarterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma with stage C

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Systemic therapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) are the recommended treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage C in China. However, some late stage HCC patients because of economic reason can’t apply systemic therapy. It is known that TACE plays an important role in the non-operative treatment of advanced HCC. But TACE alone is difficult to cause complete tumor necrosis. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a valid treatment strategy for early HCC. Nevertheless, it also has a limited range, and for large HCCs, complete ablation is difficult to achieve. Some studies have shown that the combination of TACE and RFA(TACE-RFA) can improve overall survival (OS) in patients with large HCC with a better efficacy than either RFA or TACE alone.

Research motivation

There have been no studies to explore the efficacy of TACE-RFA in large HCC patients with stage C.

Research objectives

This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of TACE-RFA in HCC with large (≥ 5.0 cm in diameter) and BCLC stage C.

Research methods

The complications were observed. The associations between OS and treatment method were analysed.

Research results

The combination of TACE and RFA was safe. The median OS of the TACE-RFA group was significantly higher than that of the TACE group.

Research conclusions

TACE-RFA was better than TACE alone in improving survival for large HCC patients with BCLC stage C. Moreover, the combination therapy appeared to be relatively safe.

Research perspectives

A large clinical trial is necessary to assess curative effects.