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Transarterial Chemoembolization Monotherapy Versus Combined Transarterial Chemoembolization–Microwave Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumors ≤5 cm: A Propensity Analysis at a Single Center

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with microwave ablation (MWA; TACE–MWA) with TACE alone for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors ≤5 cm.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed data of 244 patients treated for HCC by TACE–MWA or TACE from June 2014 to December 2015. Median follow-up period was 505 days (TACE–MWA group: 485 days; TACE group: 542 days). Patients were propensity score matched (1:2 ratio); outcomes of TACE–MWA and TACE groups were compared. Primary endpoints were tumor responses, including tumor necrosis rates after initial treatment, tumor responses at 6 months [per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)], and time to tumor progression (TTP). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and re-intervention times.

Results

After initial treatments, tumor necrosis rates were higher in the TACE–MWA group (n = 48; 92.1% [58/63]) than the TACE group (n = 96; 46.3% [56/121]; P < 0.001). At 6 months’ follow-up, the TACE–MWA group had better tumor responses (CR + PR + SD [per mRECIST]: TACE–MWA, 95.8%; TACE, 64.5%; P < 0.001). The TACE–MWA group had better TTP (P < 0.001), but did not significantly differ in OS (P = 0.317). TACE–MWA decreased re-TACE times from 1.90 to 0.52; and re-MWA times from 0.22 to 0.17. In subgroup analysis, TACE–MWA also showed better TTP in patients with tumors ≤3 cm (P < 0.001) and 3–5 cm (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Compared with TACE, TACE–MWA leads to better responses for HCC tumors ≤5 cm.

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Author notes

  1. Qi-Feng Chen and Zhen-Yu Jia have contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China

    Qi-Feng Chen, Zhen-Yu Jia, Zheng-Qiang Yang, Wen-Long Fan & Hai-Bin Shi

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  1. Qi-Feng Chen
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  2. Zhen-Yu Jia
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Correspondence to Zheng-Qiang Yang.

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On behalf of all of the authors, the corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Chen, QF., Jia, ZY., Yang, ZQ. et al. Transarterial Chemoembolization Monotherapy Versus Combined Transarterial Chemoembolization–Microwave Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumors ≤5 cm: A Propensity Analysis at a Single Center. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 40, 1748–1755 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-017-1736-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-017-1736-8

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